Usability & Contemporary User Experience in Digital Libraries
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UX2.0
Balsamiq
User Research
Usability Testing

This work described in this wiki is related to both the UX2.0 (objective 2,3) and AquaBrowserUX (objective 1) initiatives.

The Use of Personas in Digital Libraries

Persona is a hypothetical individual that represents a particular character facet of real users. It is a form of user modelling for user-centered and interaction design. Compared to the other methods such as use case modelling in which users are represented as 'stick figures' in system contexts, persona is more user-centric and realistic. If created appropriately, personas can provide archetypal and rich portraits of the users and their background, behaviour patterns and motivations (Cooper 2007, Allison).

Ux2 is intending to use personas as a tool to inform the development of digital library UI prototypes and prevent self-referential design. The personas will facilitate communication and design elaboration as a common language in decision making and building consensus. Digital library personas are also used in usability testing and evaluation.

Approach

Constructing useful personas is resource intensive. It demands qualitative research involving extensive observations and interviews of users (ethnographic interviews). Given the contextual dependency, it is difficult to reuse existing personas 'off-the-shelf' without further work. In addition to 'rigorous' personas, an alternative is to use provisional personas when it is not possible to undertake user research. Provisional personas are created through the use of existing user data and knowledge from domain stakeholders and subject experts.

UX2.0 / AquaBrowserUX approach:

  • Undertake qualitative research and usefulness evaluation (Apr 2010 - Oct 2010)
  • Analyse research results, create and validate personas (Apr 2010 - Oct 2010).
  • Advertisement

See User Research and Usefulness for details of the qualitative research and data analysis.

Existing Personas

UX2 is reviewing personas and persona research from the following work:

Exiting personas from other libraries:

  • Jason (nominate surname), "love to be near books" (Cornell University Library)
  • Rahul Singh, "it's all about social interactions" (University of Colorado)
  • Stacy (nominate surname), "no boundaries" (Cornell University Library)
  • ..

While the review is ongoing, the above personas have been useful as case studies. They correspond to Ux2 work to explore the usefulness of digital library as workspaces and environments for social interaction (compared to repository centric roles). Jason likes to be surrounded by books, explore library stacks looking for relevant materials. Rahul urges OA repository providers to be less short-sigthed, to support post publication research workflow and social interaction. Stacy uses the library as a positive environment to get ideas and inspirations for projects. How would these needs be fulfilled and provided by digital libraries?

Personas - UX2 / AquaBrowser UX

Four personas were created to reflect the students and librarians interivewed for the study.

  • Eve the e-book reader: "I like to find excerpts of books online which sometimes can be enough. It saves me from having to buy or borrow the book."
  • Sandra the search specialist:"In a quick-fire environment like ours we need answers quickly"
  • Pete"Aquabrowser and Classic, it's like night and day"
  • Baadalthe search butterfly: "Classic is simple and direct but Aquabrowser's innovative way of browsing is also good for getting inspiration."

A full description of the personas can be found on the Persona profiles page.

Contribution & Comments

Contribution and comment on all aspects of this development are welcome. Do get in touch if you wish to have editing access to this wiki:

Short URL access to this wiki: http://bit.ly/jiscux2personas.

Reference

1. N Allison, usability ed blog

2. A Cooper, R Reimann, D Cronin (2007), Modelling Users: Personas and Goal, in: About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design

3. Cornell University Library Web Vision Team, TKG Consulting LLC (2007), Cornell University Library Personas

4. JM, Maness, T Miaskiewicz, T Sumner (2008), Using Personas to Understand the Needs and Goals of Institutional Repository Users, D-Lib, Vol 14, No 9/10

5. L Pausic (2009), Designing Complex Applications and Websites, Usability Week 2009 Berlin

6. S Mulder, Z Yaar (2007), The User Is Always Right, A Practical Guide to Creating and Using Personas for the Web