Archives web site usability test results: MIT LIbraries

Archives web site usability test results

Site tested: http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/

Nicole Hennig, Web Manager
May 2003

The Test
Two versions of the test were used. 2 users were tested for Records Management and 5 users were tested for Research.

Results Summary:

The following is a draft of the observed problems and brainstormed solutions from a meeting on May 21, 2003. The solutions will be implemented sometime during the Summer or Fall.

Records Management Test: Download Records Management Test-PDF

All 8 testers found the answers to all 9 questions in the Records Management Test, with the exception of 1 person who did not find #7 or #8, and another person did not find #1.

Problem Solution

question 1:
- reading room was not a known term
- Archives staff is available outside of the reading room hours
-change link on home page to "Reading Room Hours"

- add a note to the Staff page that says, "Archives staff is available from X to Y hours"

question 3:
- users were not clear which staff person was responsible

-zip codes missing from phone numbers on a few pages

-add a phrase to the bottom of Managing Your Records (managing/index.html) that says, "For more information, please contact X (include phone number)
-add this phrase to sending-archives.html as well

- add zip codes

-add a link to the MIT student information policy to archives/managing/sending-archives.html

question 4:
- terminology problem- users did not associate time cards with financial records or payroll records

-agreed that this was a difficult question. users could find the page, but didn't see the answer.

-model after http://libraries.mit.edu/search/, if looking for X, begin here

-add examples of different types of records

-give a background color to ever other row on the chart, change borders, & add cell padding

question 5 & 6 :
-users did the opposite on each question, (for 5 found 6 and vice versa)

question 5:
- users couldn't get back up to the upper level of pages from /managing/policy-collection.html

-add links from /managing/policies.html to all lower level pages, maybe within the sidebar or as a footer

-look at http://dspace.org/mit/policies/index.html as an example

-consider a table of contents style list of policies on policies/index.html

-add link to financial records policy to managing/policies.html

question 6:
-users confused

-this question isn't answered specifically, but is covered throughout

-add heading on managing/sending.html such as "no records can be stored until..."

question 9:
- not sure if a receipt is a permanent or non-permanent record

-users looking for the word receipt

- not a web issue

question 10:
- users who searched for faculty minutes within the collections expected a live link to the minutes

-users wanted live links from /archives/mithistory/index.html

-some users didn't see the link from home page or Digital Documents

-user said that Digital Documents doesn't make sense

-add link to minutes from research/archives-list-mit-e-l.html, add phrase like, Faculty Minutes from 1995- are available."

-consider adding live links from each item

-consider changing Digital Documents to Selected Items, Selected Core Publications, or other phrase

-consider moving link to Digital Documents under MIT History

-add link to Biographies under MIT History on home page

general comments:
-some testers didn't link anchor links on the pages

-users with glare screens can't see Archives Search link from page header

-do nothing

-make Archives Search link permanently yellow, or reverse rollover colors. Consider reversing the colors of Archives Search. [Nicole showed a mockup of this, and it will be implemented on the Archives home page for now]

Researcher Test: Download Researcher Test-PDF

Problem Solution

question 3:
-links to finding aids on AIP external web site are confusing

-links on list vs. finding aids confusing

-linked record numbers confusing

-change link text or add to bullets on top of page: "these links will take you to the AIP..."

-change top bullets on the manuscript collection lists, have bullet for Finding Aids, with sub bullets for Online Finding Aids and Paper Copies

unlink collection numbers, add link to "finding aid" or link to "description"

question 4:

-users had trouble, policy page confusing

-on longer policy pages, highlight the important points at the beginning with bullets at the top of page

-on policies-practice.html, rephrase list of policies with important words first, like "access"

-hyphenate "permisssion-to-publish"

-list policies in alpha or logical order

question 5:

-links to presidential papers listed differently on different pages

-users not sure if they are accessing biography, finding aid, or description

- on mithistory/histories-admin.html, change wording from Presidential papers, 1930-1959 (Compton-Killian), to Presidential Papers, linking to /mithistory/histories-offices/prespapers.html
-reword links to documents:
ex. Karl Taylor Compton-biography, AC4-Finding Aid

question 6:

-users didn't find biographies

-add Biographies under MIT History category on home page

question 9:

-users didn't see quick links menu

-users commented on "wasted space" on home page

-consider working on a modified home page layout for Archives with similar look and feel to bring quick links higher on the page

-consider only showing Object of the Month on home page, eliminate image of the Archives itself

general:

-on longer pages, such as thesis specifications, users get lost

-some pages had no link back to Archives home

-add links to Institute Archives Home above horizontal rule at bottom of the page

-link Institute Archives & Special collections image on each page to Archives home on all new pages, and as pages are edited