Zoom details will be shared with registered attendees via email before the conference.
On-demand (pre-recorded) sessions will be available to stream the week of the conference.
With the exception of Thursday’s Equity and Inclusion panel, all sessions are being recorded, and access details will be shared with registered attendees following the conference.
A number of studies investigate the usability of library websites, but usability is less commonly associated with the electronic resource life cycle. The usability of a website or electronic resource is a combination of several factors, including “intuitive design, ease of learning, efficiency of use, memorability, error frequency/severity, and subject satisfaction” and may be measured using a variety of quantitative and qualitative approaches (https://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/usability-evaluation.html). Through usability testing, websites or electronic resources are evaluated by actual or potential users of the resources. Testing can include various methods but it commonly involves users attempting to complete tasks while being observed by researchers. During observations, researchers can ask open-ended questions to gain an idea of how users feel about the ease of use of the website or resource being evaluated. Usability influences library patrons’ use and satisfaction with electronic resources and services which in turn affects library employees’ acquisition, provision of access, administration, support, and evaluation of electronic resources. Librarians may integrate usability into the electronic resource life cycle in a variety of places and using numerous methods. This presentation will provide an introduction to usability testing, discuss a usability case study of EBSCO’s Curriculum Builder, and highlight examples of how librarians might fruitfully incorporate usability methods into the electronic resource lifecycle.
