UW Libraries - Usability testing forms

Autumn 2001

Catalog General:

Purple buttons in catalog are hard to read [15,125]
Buttons move around/shift too much [15,22]
As part of the search results, give the major categories the search terms fit under (Like Alta Vista) [92]
Show more than 12 items in catalog search results [113]
Visual mapping from catalog search results to library shelves [115]
More info in browse list; go straight to item, not another list [3]
Make sure catalog records all have electronic access info in them [7]
Make it easier to save a list of items found in the catalog -- associate it with a user instead of a browser [125]
Limits should "stick" until user changes them [7]
Allow user to set delayed hold (active or inactive; user set) [29]
Tell me where in the building a book is (not just building, but floor, etc.) [69]
Format isn't clear ("video" --> DVD, VHS, etc.) [15]
Clarify format options; some are confusing [7]
Standardize course naming within ERes [71]
Terminology and functionality of pages isn't consistent [7]
Likes ABEbooks.com interface for catalog [54]

Searching the Catalog:

Provide more advanced search functions right up front. [15]
Advanced search with multiple criteria (author, title, etc.) [82]
Search for journal articles by author or title from catalog [24]
Search multiple fields at once [2]
Limit searched before doing them [3]
One “Quick Search” box [23]
More intelligent search engine; not so “strict,” returns items that are ‘like’ the search [27]
Make the Author/Title search more obvious [54]
It sometimes requires librarian “tricks” to find a book, journal, etc. [98]
Search table of contents of books [65]
Keywords are not smart about synonyms [68]
One intuitive super search engine that recognizes author, title, or keyword on its own…like Amazon.com [96]
Search by translated language and original language [108]
Server time-out while searching [95]
Make media selections more specific (DVD, VHS, CD, etc.) [45]
Easier switching between search parameters [107]

Look and Feel:

Not eye-appealing [85]
Needs a more UW Theme (Husky icon, etc.) [4]
Make it more colorful and more like the ASU page [4]
Pop-up link descriptions [13]
More text contrast; too much text in same format -- comes at eyes in "globs" [31]
Links on homepage not spaced out enough [126]
Pictures instead of text for sub-headings [18]
The current layout is "clunky" [30]

New Features:

Database selector/Wizard [21,91,93]
Renew/Check records with UW username -- not barcode [9,117]
List of all new library acquisitions and what's on order [4]
Integrate courses.washington.edu with course reserves [71]
Links to other library systems [64,72]
Searchable staff index [122]
Site map [34]
Trivia answer wizard (Ask Jeeves of the Library) [2]
Help in identifying keywords for searches (thesaurus/index) [32]
More online info about books; not just title, author etc.; reviews and in-depth info (like Amazon) [3]
Portal for beginning research in a certain field [122]
Weekly or monthly rotating alert/highlight to a library service [69]
Tutorial! [28,60,101]
Visual mapping from catalog search results to library shelves [115]
Support for non-English sources (i.e. special keyboards, etc.)
Live chat -- ask librarians questions [125]
Online media services [62]
Saturday Night Live video [94]
Add $100 to my bank account [73]

Current Features That Need More Prominence:

Make help links more visible [23]
Email notice of overdue items [6]
Contact Us [6]
Emailing results to self [49]
Ebook [62]
Electronic Course Reserves hard to find [72]
Give Law library more prominence (from frontpage) [82]
Journals search shouldn't be hidden in catalog -- it should be prominent like databases, catalog, E-Journals (Under Find It!) [83]
On course reserves page, links for searching by class or by instructor are too small [129]
How fines are assessed [118]
Advice on how to search (truncating terms, etc.) [90]
How do I sign up for a pin number? [87}
Info on connecting via proxy server [96]
Interlibrary loan is too hidden [107]

By Subject:

Need better periodical index by subject [54]
Fewer layers in By Subject; quicker access [114]
Too many general indexes are listed under specific topic areas [127]
Unclear categorization; Website vs. Bibliographies/Resources...what is the difference? [1]
Search within sub-disciplines of specific majors [76]

Wording:

Unclear topic headings make it easy to get lost [13]
Why is it called "The Gateway"? [89]
Change "By Subject" to "By Discipline" [41]
Provide 2 levels of explanation; basic is default, click to learn more about "how to" [62]
Use "Interlibrary Loan" and not some other term [107]
Notations on the database lack clarity (esp. for new users) [92]
Make references for CD-ROM usage more clear; specify which library unit [1]
Inconsistent use of "databases" and "indexes" in By Subject [122]

Navigation:

Flyout Menus; keep 6 main categories with flyouts for each [31]
Too many choices on homepage [4,85]
Add catalog search to homepage with drop-down list of author, title, etc. [33]
Easy to get lost [7]
Provide brief explanation of each link from the main page - title? [56,123]
More redundancy. Ex. proxy erver instructions under "Starting Points" [122]
Simplify search options [4]
Too many steps to get to where I want to be [111]
Use pull-down menus instead of links to present information [34]
Hard to find proper resource for multidisciplinary works [21,59]
Alphabetical journal listing is cumbersome [83]
Unified search for articles, books, journals -- everything on a topic at once [7]

Journals and Databases:

Distinguish between full-text and abstracts for online journals [65,72]
Indicate whether journals are available online or not [9,123]
Better indication of whether or not a journal article is available at UW [115]
More info about journal content [68]
Easier access to journals; by title, by subject/keyword [126]
E-Journal categorization is confusing; can fit multiple categories [80]
Alphabetical journal listing is cumbersome [83]
Inconsistent listing on online journals [96,105,106]
Show vendors (Proquest, webspirs, etc.) on database list; let users narrow from there; explain what is in each [7]
Databases grouped by category [131]
An all-purpose database instead of having so many [119]
Alphabetical list of databases is only helpful is you know exactly what you are looking for [122]
Better explanation of the databases [16,128]
Notations on the database lack clarity (esp. for new users) [92]
Search the databases instead of just listung their names [125]
Need more back runs of periodicals -- several decades, not just the last few years [54]

Other Comments:

Autumn 2001