Brooklyn Public Library
Executive Summary
Overview:
The Brooklyn Public Library helped us gain insight and support for our ideas for a navigation redesign, which resulted in a Hi-Fidelity prototype.
Method:
Our plan is to conduct two rounds of tree studies with ten users apiece, followed by two rounds of closed card sorts with five users, before requiring five users to participate in an open card sort.
Reasoning:
We believe with this method of testing we will have a better understanding of how to make a reliable and overall more experience for our targeted
Design:
For redesigning the website, we reviewed all the research to justify any changes to the navigation of the site. We believe reorganizing the navigation will make the site more enjoyable and functional for users while also sticking with the best usability practices.
Takeaways:
Competitor navigation provided more options for the user throughout the process.
According to Heuristic data, accessibility was a problem across all channels. The tests showed many problems in the areas of navigation, consistency, and location.
According to our persona Priya’s user data, her needs are not met without significant friction in her user experience.
Introducing Pryia
We used Priya’s persona to help us remain focused on her needs and goals as we proceeded with our user research and determined how best to improve the BPL website.
Problem Statement
Readers at the library are not updated on newly released books, and also are not shown clearly what is available to borrow.
From that we would like to know
How might we help Pryia find new releases that are right for her?
RESEARCH PHASE
Goal of Research
How might we help Pryia find new releases that are right for her?
Business Model Canvas
Overview
As a team, we have been assigned to conduct a deeper study on the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) website based on our Persona’s needs and goals.
Methodology
We chose to use the Business Model Canvas (BMC) over the Mission model because although our client is a nonprofit, it is driven by revenue.
Takeaways
BPL’s values primarily lie in providing their users with learning services such as access to books, internet service, podcasts, admissions to partnering museums, and educational programs.
BPL is actively involved in strengthening their relationships with both their customers and key partners across all channels.
BPL generates a significant amount of revenue streams mostly through government funding, donations, and event space rentals.
Competitive Matrix
Overview
Our team created a competitive matrix in order to gain a better understanding of where the Brooklyn Public Library stands in the marketplace compared to its competitors.
Methodology
We started by drawing out a competitive set to determine who our competitors and comparators might be
Takeaways
BPL’s closest competitors are the New York Public Library and Queens Public Library.
Both Libby and Amazon Kindle offer a catalog full of books and audiobooks to either buy or rent.
With both resources and in-store experiences, Barnes & Noble became a more specialized competitor.
FEATURE ANALYSIS
Overview
Our project in this section compared and contrasted the competitive nature of Brooklyn Public Library companies.
Methodology
Firstly, we looked at the differences and similarities between the competitors as well as the comparators.
Takeaways
While comparing competitors, we noticed that at first glance they all seemed to have similar features.
As we compared the companies, we began to notice big differences.
Tree Study
Overview
The next step in our research after understanding what our competitors and competitors offer is to conduct Tree Testing, a method that evaluates the navigability of topics in a website.
Methodology
When conducting these tree studies we used optimal workspace to get user feedback on the primary navigation of the Brooklyn Public Library.
Takeaways
Participants found that completing Tree Testing was confusing to navigate and that the wording of the tabs were not related to the categories.
Conducting tree studies helps us gather data which is synthesized in order to better understand the user’s interface with the Brooklyn Public Library website.
We learned from the results user’s generally never knew the exact path to navigate, but mainly had indirect success.
Card Sorting
Overview
In performing this exercise we sought to assess the users’ mental models of how hierarchical concepts relate to one another within the site’s primary navigation.
Methodology
This activity required us to write each of the secondary navigational elements on individual cards.
Takeaways
The classification of certain cards was split 60 / 40 among users and their mental models did not match when sorting.
The labels found on the primary navigation are incompatible with their mental model and may cause confusion.
Given no context, the age categories were particularly difficult for users to categories successfully.
Heuristic Evaluation
Overview
Through Heuristic evaluation, we were able to draw conclusions regarding whether or not the Brooklyn Public Library website meets basic usability principles.
Methodology
We conducted heuristic evaluations in order to ensure that our client’s website meets basic usability principles.
Takeaways
The most problematic heuristic offense that our team discovered lay within ‘Accessibility
Across all pages, the site proved to meet the most expectations with credibility, ranging from scores of 2–3 on all pages.
The eBook & Audiobooks page met the best practices overall, with the most 3s and the accessibility being the most troublesome.
Revised Problem Statement
INSIGHT: The average reader struggles on the day to day of finding enough time to find the perfect book for their time of leisure, only to realize it is not available.
PERSONA: Pryia
PROBLEM: Loves both books in the nonfiction and fiction category but is frustrated when she selects a book but can’t see if it’s available or not.
GOAL: How might we help Pryia refine her selection?
Sitemaps
Overview
Creating the sitemap for the original website helps narrow down what could be organized and also what could be added or taken away to enhance the user experience.
Takeaway
Target user will be able to navigate directly to their desired location
Target user will now view categories in a clear and concise way
The user will have less options to pick from but the options offered are well organized and will bring them directly to where they have to go
User Flow
Overview
The reason we decided to use a user flow was to see how a common task goes for the target user.
Takeaway
There are many steps it takes for a user just to find new arrival books.
Availability is not well displayed before clicking on a book to borrow.
Going back to previous steps while searching for books is not easy for the user.
Revised Problem Statement
INSIGHT: The average reader struggles on the day to day of finding enough time to find the perfect book for their time of leisure, only to realize it is not available.
PERSONA: Pryia
PROBLEM: Loves both books in the nonfiction and fiction category but is frustrated when she selects a book but can’t see if it’s available or not.
GOAL: How might we help Pryia refine her selection?
DESIGN PHASE
Next Steps
In our next steps, we would conduct usability testing with users to see how our proposed designs work. After the first round of testing, we would analyze the data and make improvements. After the second round, the project would hopefully be approved for release.
