Upcoming Workshop – DIY Usability and User Experience: Is Your Library People-Focused?

Join us and the Rochester Regional Library Council on Tuesday, February 5 at 9am for the “DIY Usability and User Experience: Is Your Library People-Focused?” workshop.

With budget cuts and staff shortages, libraries are asked to do more with less. As a result, libraries are increasingly using technology, self-service models and other trends to make services and processes more efficient. What tends to be overlooked is how these implementations affect the overall library experience for patrons and staff. Is it really more efficient and efficiency at what cost? Whether your library is looking to renovate, relocate, rebrand, or introduce a new service/program, people-centered design is crucial to the process.

In this DIY-style workshop, you will learn how to use people-centered design methods at your library to help you plan, coordinate, assess and evaluate your services and processes to ensure that they are cost- and time-efficient. While you may not have the staff, time, or funding to do a full-fledged library usability and user experience study; together, participants will experience how to use these methods to make small changes for a big impact. Filled with examples, case studies, and activities, participants will leave this workshop with the framework and tools for completing their own DIY usability study.

World Usability Day 2012

Today is World Usability Day 2012. “It’s about making our world work better. It’s about “Making Life Easy” and user friendly.”

This year’s theme is the usability of financial systems. Last year’s World Usability Day theme was designing for social change. There are events happening all over the world, organized by various groups and associations like the NYC User Experience Professionals Association (formerly known as the NYC Usability Professionals Association).

Everyday Usability: Accessibility and Self-Service

On a recent field trip to Farmingdale Public Library, we came across these self check machines. They are height-adjustable. First one we’ve seen anywhere.

Check out more posts in our Everyday Usability series.

Upcoming Workshop – DIY Usability & User Experience: Is Your Library People Focused?

Join us and the Long Island Library Resources Council on October 12, 2012 from 10am-12pm.  Registration required.

DIY Usability & User Experience: Is Your Library People Focused?

With budget cuts and staff shortages, libraries are asked to do more with less. As a result, libraries are increasingly using technology, self-service models and other trends to make services and processes more efficient. What tends to be overlooked is how these implementations affect the overall library experience for patrons and staff. Is it really more efficient and efficiency at what cost? Whether your library is looking to renovate, relocate, rebrand, or introduce a new service/program, people-centered design is crucial to the process.

In this DIY-style workshop, you will learn how to use people-centered design methods at your library to help you plan, coordinate, assess and evaluate your services and processes to ensure that they are cost- and time-efficient. While you may not have the staff, time, or funding to do a full-fledged library usability and user experience study; together, participants will experience how to use these methods to make small changes for a big impact. Filled with examples, case studies, and activities, participants will leave this workshop with the framework and tools for completing their own DIY usability study.

 

Upcoming Workshop – DIY Usability & User Experience: Is Your Library People Focused?

Join us and the Massachusetts Library System on October 2, 2012 from 10:30am-2pm.  Registration required.

DIY Usability & User Experience: Is Your Library People Focused?

With budget cuts and staff shortages, libraries are asked to do more with less. As a result, libraries are increasingly using technology, self-service models and other trends to make services and processes more efficient. What tends to be overlooked is how these implementations affect the overall library experience for patrons and staff. Is it really more efficient and efficiency at what cost? Whether your library is looking to renovate, relocate, rebrand, or introduce a new service/program, people-centered design is crucial to the process.

In this DIY-style workshop, you will learn how to use people-centered design methods at your library to help you plan, coordinate, assess and evaluate your services and processes to ensure that they are cost- and time-efficient. While you may not have the staff, time, or funding to do a full-fledged library usability and user experience study; together, participants will experience how to use these methods to make small changes for a big impact. Filled with examples, case studies, and activities, participants will leave this workshop with the framework and tools for completing their own DIY usability study.