Improving the Effectiveness of LibGuides through Usability Testing

Abstract

As information professionals, one of our primary responsibilities is to make information findable. As the amount of information continues to grow exponentially, the need to organize content and simplify the search process becomes imperative. We are eager to adopt any tools that can help us in this endeavor. Over 1,800 libraries throughout the world have adopted Springshare's LibGuides as a viable tool to organize resources. But how effective is our use of this powerful, highly-customizable tool? Have we structured content in a way that is intuitive and effective for our users? Miami University Libraries conducted formal testing on their LibGuides to determine the usability and effectiveness of the system. The results of these tests were used to compose a set of best practices for guides. This poster details the process and findings of our study.