Re-imagining the users' experience: An ethnographic approach to web usability and space design

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe the process and work undertaken by the library anthropologist and the Usability Task Force (UTF) for reconfiguring the library's physical and virtual spaces to meet the educational needs and expectations of users, including students, faculty, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reference services review 2011-01, Vol.39 (3), p.369-389
Main Authors: KIM WU, Somaly, LANCLOS, Donna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic libraries
Anthropology
Communities
Education
Exact sciences and technology
Habits
Information and communication sciences
Information science. Documentation
Learning
Libraries
Library and information science. General aspects
Policies
Professional aspects
Professional aspects : training, employment
Sciences and techniques of general use
Space planning
Students
Tasks
User studies
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe the process and work undertaken by the library anthropologist and the Usability Task Force (UTF) for reconfiguring the library's physical and virtual spaces to meet the educational needs and expectations of users, including students, faculty, and community patrons. Design/methodology/approach - Through formal usability studies and ethnographic research, the paper describes the process and work undertaken by the library anthropologist and the UTF. Findings - Through surveys, focus groups observation data were obtained about the current study and web habits of undergraduates and faculty. Originality/value - This paper presents an ethnographic approach to policy development and implementation to re-orient the physical and virtual library environments at a large research library. Libraries and library administrators will find value in the policies established and processes outlined for the development of user-centered learning spaces.
ISSN:0090-7324
DOI:10.1108/00907321111161386