Earlier this week, Tara the Cool asked how you like to find stuff. A couple of you responded (thanks!) We in library land are really, really interested in how you find stuff. At K-State Libraries, we're looking at our catalog and wondering how you use it, why you don't, what you'd prefer, and what you can't live without. So, sometime in November, don't be surprised if a very nice librarian approaches you and asks if you have about 15-30 minutes to participate in a usability study of our catalog.
Usability testing is fairly painless. We ask you to sit at a computer with software on it that records your clicks and typing and your voice. Then, we ask you to search for a few things and talk through what you're thinking as you search. There's no right or wrong way to search, we just need to know how you go about it.
It might sound like a snooze, but it's actually exciting. It's a bit like we're at that point in learning a language when the jokes make sense. Or when I finally got my eyes to cross just right and could see the 3-D picture in those Magic Eye posters. I know, what won't those librarians do for fun?








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