Maps & library wayfinding Jim Hahn & Alaina Morales, University of Illinois, Undergraduate Library

Android App: Library Helper 2

CAD CAD map – architectural layout – CAD maps are to scale Also does not auto-rotate – But not preferred by students

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Five users per map Process – We asked students in the library to try out our app – Think aloud, interview, observation for each map

Comments from CAD Maps If the map had labels on top showing the Dewey ranges, with sections labeled to understand where you are. helpful if it told you what section you were in Student wants more exact map rather than general area 6

Upper and Lower level 2 nd iteration: map scope is 2 floors and uses directional arrows

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Comments for 2 nd map if the arrows worked it wouldn’t be confusing want to see the entire floor and then zoom in Map did not reload to lower level – Students confused by directional arrows 9

Distorted maps Student conceptual frame is a bookstore model – They expect the library to be organized by subjects like a bookstore so they liked how the call numbers were shown as sections on the map – as opposed to individual stacks.

Third iteration Scope of map reduced to one level

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Single floor view Confused by directional arrows Wish I could see the title of the book (on map), if I see the title, I could remember what I’m looking for Surprised that it could find the aisles of the books, saved time in looking it up 13

Final iteration Before we uploaded to Android Market we removed directional arrows since it seemed those worked against wayfinding.

Future Data Points Datapoints – Worldview map / Placefinder map (you are here) Libraries need gaming mechanists to help build immersive and engaging maps – Influenced by Google maps Turn by turn directions 15

Worldview data 16

Turn by turn 17

Questions? Alaina – Jim – 18

Publications Hahn, J. & Morales, A. (2011). Rapid prototyping a collections-based mobile wayfinding application. Journal of Academic Librarianship 37 (5) – Hahn, J. & Zitron, L. (2011). How first-year students navigate the stacks: implications for improving wayfinding. Reference & User Services Quarterly 51 (1) –

Acknowledgements Presenters wish to acknowledge the Research and Publication Committee of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library and the University of Illinois Campus Research Board, which provided support for the completion of this research. Many thanks also to Dennis Matthews, PhD candidate in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois for his technical expertise in the development of the wayfinding app and in building positioning software. 20