1. Optimizing Resource Discovery Service Interfaces in Statewide Virtual Libraries: The Library of Texas Challenge William E. Moen, Ph.D. Texas Center for Digital Knowledge University of North Texas Denton, Texas Presented at Libraries Without Walls 5: The Distributed Delivery of Library and Information Services September 19-23, 2003 Lesvos, Greece

2. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-232 Presentation Overview

3. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-233 Library of Texas A Virtual Library Reaching Across Boundaries to Extend Access to Information Resources Collection Boundaries Organizational Boundaries Format Boundaries

4. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-234 ZLOT project Z Implementation Component of the Library of Texas (ZLOT) –Develop standards-based approach for the virtual library Project Focus –Identify requirements for resource discovery service –Demonstrate feasibility and utility of resource discovery tools –Assist in implementation and testing Phase 1 – 2002: Design and specifications Phase 2 – 2003: Implementation

5. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-235 Characterizing the virtual library An environment for provision of –Services –Resources Not a digital library –Not all resources available are in digital/electronic form An evolving product that responds to –Users’ needs –Available resources –Current and emerging technologies

6. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-236 Service-centric virtual library Virtual Library Services User Group User Group User Group User Group Library Resources Library Technology

7. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-237 Virtual library services Standard Information Interchange Among Services FinancialAuthorization Resource Sharing Patron Account Library Information Education Resource Discovery ReferencePersonalization

8. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-238 Resource discovery

9. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-239 Resource discovery: Supporting user tasks Browse Select Collection Evaluate Search Common User Interface Personalize Save Acquire

10. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2310 Content OAI Repository Standards-based Search & Retrieval Protocols Proprietary or Non-standard Search & Retrieval Protocols Content Common Search Interface Resource discovery: Operational view User Interface

11. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2311 Resource discovery: LOT RDS functional view 1.Library catalogs 2.Licensed databases 3.Archive of government information 4.Other collections Search Targets/Collections Middleware LOT RDS Interface 1.Broadcast searching a.Similar resources b.Dissimilar resources 2.Common retrieval display 1.Translates searches 2.Formats retrievals 3.Interacts with multiple IR systems Information Retrieval Systems

12. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2312 LOT RDS: Summary of key requirements Customizable interface –For local library presence –For personalization Common interface for search and retrieval –Simple and advanced searching –Single database searching –Broadcast searching across similar/dissimilar databases Tools to help users select search targets Common display for results Indications of availability and “how to get”

13. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2313 Optimizing the RDS Assumptions –Multiple user groups –Diversity of information needs, behaviors, and expectations –Users may not understand distributed search applications –User interface presents complex functionality Strategy to optimize –Usability assessment –Helping users develop new mental model

14. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2314 Usability considerations Users –Categorization of users based on demographics, skills, needs, behaviors –Current library users vs. new users Interface is really about functionality –Presents application and its components –Components support various user tasks Usability criteria, measures, and procedures

15. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2315 Usability criteria Jakob Nielsen –Learnability –Efficiency –Memorability –Errors –Satisfaction –Other quality attributes (e.g., utility) Whitney Quesenbery –Effective –Efficient –Engaging –Error tolerant –Easy to learn Nielson, J. (2003). Usability 101. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html Quesenbery, W. (2002). Getting Started: Using the 5Es to understand users. http://www.wqusability.com/articles/getting-started.html

16. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2316 Application & components Technical components Interoperability components User interface components Task components –Collection selection components –Searching components –Retrieval components –Personalization components

17. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2317 Usability framework

18. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2318 Priority usability issues Do user understand the service? Are user tasks supported? –Tasks represented by application functionality –Selection of search targets –Searching Simple Advanced Refining searches –Reviewing results –Navigating –Accessing/acquiring Is system performance adequate?

19. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2319 RDS example

20. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2320 RDS example

21. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2321 RDS example

22. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2322 RDS example

23. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2323 RDS example

24. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2324 RDS example

25. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2325 RDS example

26. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2326 RDS example

27. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2327 RDS example

28. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2328 RDS example

29. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2329 Informing the RDS product Heuristic evaluation by usability expert Acceptance testing by ZLOT staff –Use of original technical specifications –Identified usability issues User testing Ongoing testing by developers, ZLOT and TSLAC staff

30. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2330 5 Es of usability revisited Resource Discovery Service Effective Efficient Easy to Learn Engaging Error Tolerant Adapted from Quesenbery, W. (2002). Getting Started: Using the 5Es to understand users.

31. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2331 Next steps Prepare a formal usability assessment Develop measures based on 5 Es to assess RDS components Develop scenarios for users to exercise all functionality Conduct user testing Inform enhancements to the product Generalize usability assessment methodology other for metasearch applications, resource discovery services, and virtual libraries

32. MoenLibraries Without Walls 5 – September 19-2332 William E. Moen wemoen@unt.edu Library of Texas ZLOT Project Texas Center for Digital Knowledge