Best Practices and User Testing for Resource Record and Databases-by-Subject Page Design in the Millennium ERM

Amy Fry, Electronic Resources CoordinatorBowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

EGL-IUG 2009, Akron, Ohio

“Fred, Checking Out the Computer.” Flickr photo by Lauren Pressley.

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Homegrown system built by the University of Minnesota (LibData)

used at Gustavus Adolphus College

Homegrown system built by Kent State University and used at

John Carroll University

Ex Libris

Innovative

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University of Western Ontario

a-z list

databases-by-subject list

resource record with full description

Need screen shot of JC with descriptions on

a: authorb: resource formatc: tickler logd: subjecte: descriptionf: public noteg: user supporth: coveragei: incident logj: access informationk: resource advisoryl: usage statisticsm: administrationn: noteo: subscription identifierp: resource idq: not usedr: local contacts: pricing and paymentt: resource nameu: trial or trial informationv: resource type (not used)w: resource containsx: alt. resource namey: resource urlz: resource management tickler

For definitions:UMKC ERM wiki UNH descriptions

Others available at IUG Clearinghouse

A note on descriptions…• be succinct• be correct• give an idea of scope (amount of a discipline covered)• give an idea of subject coverage

Example: Regional Business News

Old description (not correct!): Regional Business News is a collection of full text newswires that incorporates news information from all over the world. Information provided by these sources covers business, political, economic and other diverse, international news events. In order to maintain the most current collection of news, this database contains the most recent 30 days of information from each of these wire sources.

Current description: Full text news articles and radio and television transcripts from over 80 business news sources in the United States. Information provided by these sources covers business, political and economic news and current events.

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Web Developer 1.1.8by Chris PederickFirefox add-on

briefcit_resource.htmlfields: t,e,h,k,j

icon_resource_record in ERM wwwoptions

k (resource advisory): red

j (access info): orange

resource_display.htmlfields: y,t,h,b,e,k,j,g,r,d

old new old new

“Pawzu at the Computer.” Flickr photo by Kris Stokes.

“Cat on Computer.” Flickr photo by Doug Woods.

Questions to answer:

How do users get to known databases?

How do users choose a database if they don’t know which one to use?

What would help users choose a database if they don’t know which one to use?

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“Zumi…” Flickr photo by Malingering.

How do we find out? Specific tests, observation (qualitative research).

Who do we test?Undergraduate and graduate students.

When do we test?January 2010.