It's 2013: Do You Know Where Your Users Are?

It’s 2013…Do You Know Where Your Users Are?

User Experience

Ideal mix of online services and technologies five years from now?

Use positive user experience as guiding principle

The Service Challenge

Library building is no longer the primary source of information

Dispersed users + dispersed resources = challenge

Offer convenient, intuitive access to information

Focus on Content

User experience should be about getting the content needed -- not about interface

Library users do need web and research skills, but that’s not the primary info they seek

Leverage good web design and flexibility to offer content at point-of-need

Key Themes

Positive user experience will require:

Integration

Mobility

Collaboration

Custom Toolbar

Embed library in the user’s workspace

Streamlined access to most-used library resources

Social Networks

Library presence in Facebook and other networks where users spend time

Makes library site a click away

Another way to disseminate library news

Library Catalog

Next generation catalog interfaces offer a more integrated and satisfying user experience

Scoping, filters, and context add value

Integrate catalog into Facebook and iGoogle

Create lists and feeds give the user control

Mobile Content

New York University Libraries for mobile devices

Boston University Medical Center for mobile devices

Yale Science Library text messaging

Mash-ups and RSS Feeds

APIs and XML enable data to be reformatted and repurposed

Feeds from custom database searches, medical blogs, and other sources can be aggregated by the library or by individual users

Citation Management

Collect, manage, and cite sources

Browser plug-in

Free and open source

Integrates with MS Word and OpenOffice

Instruction & Collaboration

Wiki spaces to share discussion, research, and documents

Video conference via Skype

Virtual reality collaboration spaces and simulations (e.g. SecondLife)

Instruction & Collaboration

Short how-to screencasts to be viewed at point of need

Audio and video podcasts enable time shifting for instruction or presentations

All optimized for mobile viewing/listening

Change is the Only Constant

Integrated

Interactive and flexible

Open and extensible

Thank you.Questions?