Overview User Behavior and Needs Unified Discovery: Primo @ Notre Dame Why Focus Groups? Process and Results Lessons Learned Summary & Questions

How Users Search User Behavior Norms Most people make typos at least some of the time Most searches are 2, 3, 4 words with no Boolean operators Most searches use keyword Search is hesitant, iterative, often random process of discovery Most people start elsewhere Few read help screens Few use advanced search – this is true even in Google

Meet the User in Their Space Few users start at the Library Extend your data to where they are Extend your services to where they are Facebook? InsideND: University portal Browser integration/widgets/toolbars

Multiplicity of Systems & Interfaces Content Silos Science -Direct Web of Science JSTOR ETDs EEBO Catalog ILL Website Meta- search eReserve System Silos

Connecting Users with Content 2008 Unified Resource Discovery 2001 Citation Linking 2003 Federated Search 1998 Catalog

Phased Plan Primo Content Phased Rollout Deep Search Adapter MALC LAW Phase I Phase II Phase III Latino Studies A&I Others CRL MALC Archives Fulltext MBooks IUSB LAW WorldCat Deep Search Adapter Primo

Characteristics of Next Generation Search Enhanced Search Functionality Faceted browse Relevance ranking Did you mean / Spell Checking auto-correction, resubmit search De-silo-ization Integrating search for books, articles, etc. Single, Simple Search Box FRBR – functional requirements for bibliographic records, grouping editions

Characteristics of Next Generation Search Enhanced Experience Sometimes fun and engaging Interactive/Collaborative User centered design Enhanced Services Find it / Get it for me Book Covers / Synopsis Full text Availability on same page as results

Characteristics of Next Generation Search Enhanced Content Article Searching Commercial Data Merging Special Collections Harvesting Online Collections Grey Literature Free Content Enhanced Access Syndication - Getting into users tools Course Management Systems Browser and Desktop Tool Bars Portals

Primo Project Goal To identify users’ preferences: Contents Features Services

What is a Focus Group? A “carefully planned discussion designed to obtain perceptions in a defined area of interest in a permissive, non- threatening environment.” Krueger, R. (1988). Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research. Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage Publications.

Strength of Focus Groups It can be used at any point in a research project to: Obtain general background info Generate impressions Generate research hypothesis Diagnose the potential for problems

Focus Groups vs. Surveys Qualitative Data Quantitative Data User-Focused Researcher-Focused

How we did it Developed a standardized script Identified essential elements of conducting focus groups Conducted a trial run with library students as participants

Who were involved? A committee involving members of different departments: Library Systems Digital Access & Information Architecture Electronic Resources & Serials Access Law Library Technical Staff St. Mary, Holy Cross & Bethel Librarians

12 Focus Groups Colleges Undergrads Grads Faculty UND 2 3* SMC 1 n/a 2* HCC 1* BC Law * Includes one Library Faculty and Staff Training Session each

Essential Elements of F.G. A homogeneous group of participants 5 to 10 participants in a group A non-threatening environment for open & honest discussions Open-ended questions Neutral feedback A Moderator, a Recorder & a Flipchart

Components of our Script KEY Questions WARM UP Questions WRAP UP Questions

Challenging & time-consuming Lessons Learned Challenging & time-consuming Crafting standardized Script involved research (how best to conduct focus group studies) Soliciting volunteers for the one hour discussion Guiding participants’ discussions Ensuring accuracy in data gathering Analyzing the data, opinions & suggestions

The Payoffs: We were able to identify: What kinds of contents users expect to find Which features they prefer in a library finding tool Where users’ want access to this enhanced finding tool (Facebook..??) What users find confusing or unsatisfactory about their library experience (a bonus)

A Pleasant Surprise Warm-Up & Wrap-Up questions were indispensible. They: Set the stage for open & honest discussions Gave us an opportunity to find out what users like & dislike about our current offerings Gave users an opportunity to offer us their opinions & suggestions

Some unexpected comments Need more scanners Cloudiness – how to best use library website Need to digitize older engineering print journals Make Inter-Library Loan faster

Thank You – Any Questions?