1. “Work smarter, not harder”
Innovation through evaluation at HYms
Introduction
Penelope Dunn
HYMS/University of York
@Lady_PGD

2. Service Evaluation: What?: Why? eBook use and interface preference
Variance in cost
Student demand
Over 40% of the reading list titles are available as eBooks
eBooks are largely viewed as a suitable alternative to/replacement for print
Service Evaluation:

3. Evaluation Method: Focus Groups Why? How?
Usage statistics do not tell the whole story
New approach
How?
One focus group at each site
Pre-focus group questionnaire – quantitative
Focus groups lasted 1 hour– split into two sections
- Discussion & interface specific tasks
Used a different method to previous evaluations.
Only 1 at each site – busy time of year not as much uptake as would have hoped.

4. eBook Focus Groups: Results
Supports rather than replaces print
“dip in and out”
“great for when I go home”
Good alternative if print not available/affordable
Access issues: multiple log-ins & “choppy” internet
Download period too short
Too much variance in design
Extra features not easy to spot/use (& not always wanted)
No standout choice for preferred interface
We learnt a lot from this process and the results informed a set of recommendations.

5. eBook Focus Groups: Recommendations Longer download periods
Interactivity
Improved interface design
Optimisation for tablets/eReaders
eBook ‘Favourites’ folder
‘Search topic’ function on HYMS eBook cross-search
Increased availability of dual screen PCs
Clarity on reading lists
This is what users wanted – some have obviously got to be tackled by publishers/providers and we will/have passed on feedback to each provider that we looked at. Some of the points, however, can be tackled at HYMS level.

6. Innovation through evaluation
Collection development
Key text books
Specialist items if possible
Improving student experience
Satisfaction with resources = happy students
Forwarding design and usability concerns to providers
Development of ‘topic search’ (long term)
Evaluate reading lists for clarity and rectify
Discuss potential for more dual screen PCs with IT
Future evaluations
Planning to run more focus groups in 2013/14
Innovation through evaluation
So how can the results and recommendations allow us to innovate?
Key text books “don’t feel as much at a disadvantage if the eBook is available when print copies are all out of the library”
We have areas we can begin to work on to improve things for students.
Successful even on small scale – got a lot of information out of the process – it is worth while doing evaluative activities that involve the students – informed evidence-based decisions