Usability testing and redesign of library Web pages at Lund University, Faculty of Engineering: a case study applying a two-phase, systematic quality approach

Introduction: The Lund University Faculty of Engineering's LibQual+® survey 2007 showed that students and faculty had difficulties finding the information they needed at the libraries' Websites. To be able to improve the Websites, we needed to find out how the users navigated the Websites, as well as what content they needed.
Method: Twenty-four students and faculty members were filmed and audio-taped while performing tasks with the Websites as tools.
Analysis: The films were analysed according to the search path the participants used (usefulness) and the time each task took (effectiveness). The participants' perception of ease of use and finding what they need on the Websites were also analysed.
Results: The results show that students want to search for books without having to use the catalogue and that they like graphic-based Web pages, which stand out from the rest of Lund University's Website. Faculty members scroll for links and do not want informative texts; rather they want more of a local connection such as lists of publications from the department and suggestions of what journals to publish in.
Conclusions: The usability study clearly showed what worked and what did not work on the three Websites and provided an insight into the different needs of our user groups. It led to a complete rethinking and redesign of the Websites.