User Interface Group
Membership + work process
Membership
- Permanent members (3)
Web Manager & Usability Specialist - Nicole Hennig
Librarian web assistants - Darcy Duke and Remlee Green- Rotating members (4 members from any library unit) (1 year term)
Useful experience:
We would like a variety of these in our group, not all in one person.a) experience working with our users and expertise in one of our subject areas
or
b) cataloging or metadata expertise
or
c) having a fresh & visionary outlook that is more like our students than like a librarianRequired is the ability to commit to the schedule of meetings & usability tests as a top priority for the 2 semesters you are a member.
Full group meets only in Fall and Spring to conduct tests. Permanent members meet year-round, including summer and IAP.
Periodically, we will put out a call for volunteers. The Web Manager in consultation with AD for Public Services will select from available volunteers. Rotating members will serve a 1-year term, with some new members joining in the Fall and others in Spring, to provide overlap with experienced members.
Regular usability testing schedule:
We will set up a regular schedule of usability tests or ethnographic studies (such as the 2006 Photo Diary Study) every Fall and Spring to test any new interfaces under development or recently changed.The full group would meet in the Fall and the Spring as needed to plan, carry out tests, and evaluate results. The schedule would be set up at the beginning of each semester.
A typical schedule might be:
- 2 planning meetings early in semester
- a break for 2-3 weeks while members carry out tests with individual MIT community members
- 2 more meetings to evaluate results.Usability reports:
- The outcome of usability tests result in reports that list the observed problems along with recommendations for chages. Sample reports:
http://libstaff.mit.edu/usability/vera-multi/problems-solutions.html
or
http://libstaff.mit.edu/usability/dspace/problems-solutions.html- Communication to all-lib.
Instead of sending minutes to all-lib, the group will send out periodic announcements to all-lib, as needed. The group will keep regular task lists and other records for itself on the UIG wiki.
Task forces for specific projects
For specific projects, task forces will be recruited. These should include at least one member from UIG to provide overlap.The Task Force will carry out the work of the project and UIG will do the testing and provide feedback. Members of specific task forces will be invited to join the usability results meetings and discussion for reviewing results from their specific projects.
For example, after doing usability tests of the Video Tutorials, task force members from that project will be invited to the meetings where we interpret the results and make recommendations about changes and improvements.
Examples of recent successful task force work include:
- Worldcat Local Task Force
- Video Tutorials Task Force
- LibGuides Task ForceCommunication with other Public Services committees
The chair of UIG Working Group will meet on a monthly basis with the other public service committee chairs to share information about what each group is doing and to look for opportunities to collaborate and avoid duplication of effort.