User Experience Projects
About this department: The User Experience Department helps users navigate and understand the Libraries. In collaboration with other Libraries units, we identify and act on opportunities for user-centered design across the organization. We develop and maintain web and signage solutions; we advise on space and service design; we contribute to Ask Us operations; we lead a User Research Team to identify and advocate for the needs of our users. The department learns from the techniques and insights of the broader realm of UX, and actively contributes to the field of library user experience. More about User Experience
Projects on this page represent a selection of the work of this department.
Designing the Special Collections Research Center's homepage
The SCRC's homepage was collaboratively reimagined to highlight collections, use engaging visuals, and appeal to researchers and new users alike.
Completed onData Experience Lab (DXL) Discoverability Study
The Data Experience Lab (DXL) is the NC State University Libraries’ community hub for data science support and learning, as well as advanced desktop computing. We conducted a usability study to understand how students discovered the DXL inside the…
Completed onStudent Experience Survey: Fall 2023
Students rated our spaces highly and had positive things to say about Ask Us staff members.
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Collaboration with Access ServicesStudy Rooms Observational Study Report
We observed how patrons use the study rooms at the D. H. Hill Jr. Library and the James B. Hunt Jr. Library to inform future choices about technologies and the size of rooms.
Completed onExplore Our Devices: User Interface
Our technology lending program is one of the Libraries' most-used services. Users can check out cameras, laptops, projectors, and even model skeletons. We created an interactive, attractive interface so users can find and browse the 200+ devices in…
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Collaboration with Access Services, External RelationsHow we recruit participants for user research
Each year, 100+ students opt in to our user research participant pool. They are notified about surveys, interviews, and usability studies coordinated by our User Research Team.
Completed onHomepage Redesign 2023
After a decade of roughly the same layout, we rebuilt the Libraries homepage from the ground up.
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Collaboration with External RelationsDatabases usability study
After launching our updated discovery platform for research databases, we conducted a set of usability tests and interviews to evaluate the success of the new application and discover opportunities for improvement.
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Collaboration with Digital Library Initiatives (DLI)Annonatate Usability Study
Students provided feedback on Annonatate, a web app for annotating images. Their feedback focused on the appearance of the application and confusion regarding navigation and sharing their work.
Completed onVML Diary Study
A diary study of veterinary medicine students that examined their reasons for doing academic work at the Veterinary Medicine Library or elsewhere.
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Collaboration with William Rand Kenan, Jr. Library of Veterinary MedicineReadability Widget + Tiny Café
Participants gave us feedback on a pilot project—the Readability Widget. Overall, they had positive feedback. They especially liked the “Warm Background” option.
Completed onStudent Experience Survey, Spring 2022
Working to answer several questions regarding the Libraries and its operations, the User Research Team (URT) surveyed a group of 120 students who had agreed to volunteer in user research for the spring 2022 semester, with a total response rate of 49…
Completed onCreating sensory friendly maps
We designed floor maps for users with sensory sensitivities who are looking for study spaces that fit their needs. These maps highlight spaces in the Hill and Hunt Libraries that have natural or warm lighting, tend to be quiet, or tend to be…
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Collaboration with External RelationsQuickSearch + Drupal Usability Study
We conducted a usability test of how our custom search application shows results from our website, and interviewed participants to capture their thoughts on recently added QuickSearch (QS) features. Our results challenged several previously held…
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Collaboration with Digital Library Initiatives (DLI)Innovation Studio Usability Study
The Innovation Studio is a new type of learning space for the Libraries that focuses on showcasing the innovative work of NC State’s students and faculty and teaching innovation methods to the campus community. We conducted a usability study and,…
Completed onImproving Our Web Forms
We audited the Libraries’ most visited web forms, assessing accessibility issues and performance. We found that many of these forms would benefit from styling and functionality updates.
Completed onCitation Builder User Research
Citation Builder is one of the most popular parts of our website, with over 300,000 pageviews in 2020–21 alone. We conducted a usability study and, based on the results, found ways to improve Citation Builder's usability and accessibility.
Completed onFriends of the Libraries: Usability Study
We conducted a usability study on parts of our website with members of the Friends of the Libraries. While we had positive feedback overall, we identified several areas where the user experience needed improvement.
Completed onStudent Experience Interviews, Fall 2020
We conducted six interviews to gain additional user feedback from a student survey conducted in October 2020.
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Collaboration with Access Services, Organizational StrategyStudent Experience Survey, Fall 2020
We sent a survey about the Libraries’ spaces, website, and services to students in October 2020.
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Collaboration with Access Services, Organizational StrategyControlled Digital Lending Application Diary Study
Students gave us feedback about a new textbook scanning service in this diary study. We also asked about their reading habits and scheduling preferences.
Completed onTextbooks User Research
We did a usability test to determine if students could find out whether their textbook was available through the Libraries and how they could request a PDF of a scanned excerpt. We found that users could accomplish these two tasks successfully, with…
Completed onExplore Spaces Version 2 interviews + usability tests
We conducted six combination interviews + usability tests to test an early prototype of a new version of our Explore Spaces website. Participants responded positively to the overall concept of our prototype and helped us refine it.
Completed onBusiness Research Guide + Tiny Café
Students told us about their expectations regarding a business research guide. We also asked about how they conducted research for business-related class projects.
Completed onCommunication + Tiny Café
We conducted a brief survey and interview with participants to find out how they prefer to be contacted by the Libraries. Participants responded positively to prototypes of both text messages and emails regarding room reservations and upcoming due…
Completed onEbooks + Tiny Café
We conducted a usability test to observe how users locate ebooks in the Libraries. We found that most users could successfully find an ebook through QuickSearch and the Catalog. We also found that users did not expect chapter-level metadata or…
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Collaboration with Acquisitions & DiscoveryIdentifying user needs through interviews and participatory prototyping
Through interviews and hands-on participatory paper prototyping, we learned about students' ongoing research projects and workflows. Many of the user needs we uncovered revolved around getting one-on-one help and project management.
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Collaboration with Acquisitions & DiscoveryEvents + Tiny Café
We conducted brief interviews and a card-sorting activity to find out how users conceptualize our events, workshops, and exhibits. We found that users liked browsing by topic.
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Collaboration with Community EngagementCatalog search context + Tiny Café
We conducted usability tests on two proposed designs for context-switching in the catalog. Tests showed that between the designs tested, a radio button design was clear and usable.
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Collaboration with Information TechnologyPerceptions of the D. H. Hill Library Renovation + Tiny Café
In September 2019, we asked students how much they knew about the ongoing renovation of the D. H. Hill Jr. Library. Most knew the entrance to the Hill Library had changed and that there is a renovation going on. They found the signs pointing…
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Collaboration with External Relations, Harrye B. Lyons Design LibraryWebsite Navigation + Tiny Café
We conducted usability tests on a proposed website navigational system to decide if it was good enough to launch in March, 2019. Tests showed the new system, with a few tweaks, was ready.
Completed onWorkshops in REPORTER + Tiny Café
In March 2019, we conducted usability testing to learn more about our users’ experiences in navigating through the workshop registration process and attending workshops.
Completed onSoftware + Tiny Café
In February 2019, we held a pop-up user research station event, Tiny Café, where we found out more about our patrons’ software and programming needs.
Completed onSummon Configuration Usability Test
In November, 2018, we conducted usability tests to see if a proposed change to our configuration of the Summon database would aid users searching for known-item articles without leading to confusion for those searching by topic.
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Collaboration with Acquisitions & DiscoveryInterviews with undergraduates about research
In November 2017 we conducted hour-long interviews with three undergraduate students about how they conduct research for their course work. Listening to these students led to recommendations for improving our website and our instruction program.
Completed onUsability test for loaning PlayStation Virtual Reality headsets
In October 2017 the Libraries acquired PlayStation Virtual Reality headsets. We had questions about how easy it would be for patrons seamlessly use these devices. We conducted usability tests that revealed a few tips patrons will need to know.
Completed onUsability test for Hunt Library touchscreens, Round Two
In June 2017 we conducted a usability test on 16 touchscreens in Hunt Library.
Completed onDigital Privacy User Research
In January through March 2017 we conducted a survey and a series of focus groups to help inform service design around the topic of digital privacy.
Completed onWebVR Virtual Tour Usability Testing
In January 2017 we conducted a usability test on *WebVR Virtual Tour*, a web-based application for viewing 360˚ photos, and a tutorial that allows people to develop this 360˚ virtual tour app themselves. Overall the app and tutorial were easy to use…
Completed onUsability test for Hunt Library touchscreens, Round One
In December 2016 we conducted a usability test on 16 touchscreens to be deployed in Hunt Library in Spring 2017.
Completed onE-Boards Follow-Up Report
In 2014, Josephine McRobbie and Andreas Orphanides conducted a number of interviews that looked to better understand how users interacted with and comprehended the information on electronic billboards (e-boards) throughout the D. H. Hill Jr. Library…
Completed onLibrary Hours
Hours are hard, especially with five libraries and custom hours within many of them. To solve this problem we created a custom solution inside Drupal.
Completed onCitation Builder
A web-based tool designed to quickly and easily generate citations for sources consulted during the research process.
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Collaboration with Digital Library Initiatives (DLI)User Personas
In preparation for a major website redesign, we created personas representing types of users, their goals and motivations, and their online research behaviors
Completed onHunt Library Touchscreens
An in-house, custom web application -- including wayfinding, room availability, events, and an "explore" feature -- is available on touchscreens in the Hunt Library.
Report published onRoom Reservation System
A web-based user interface for viewing availability and reserving student and faculty spaces in the Hill and Hunt Libraries.
Report published onLibrary Article Linker
Tool for creating stable links to articles that work on and off campus.
Report published onData Views
A system for storing and publishing high level metrics about the Libraries' services and collections.
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