Usability Testing and Needs Assessment ( UCLA Library )

The Usability Assessment Committee (UAC) is charged by the UCLA Library Cabinet with establishing and managing a sustainable usability process and environment within the UCLA Library. The committee will implement or facilitate various usability processes, including IRB certification, data archiving, and compliance with university policies, usability testing protocols and technologies and the development of usability skills among the university community. The UAC will also evaluate and recommend software tools and other technologies for usability testing. UAC will strive to raise awareness of the many benefits of usability testing through presentations and workshops to the library staff and as appropriate to various campus organizations.
—Sharon Shafer, Chair UAC

Interested in Serving on UAC or want to collaborate on usability resources for UCLA?
Please contact Sharon Shafer at sshafer@library.ucla.edu or 310. 206-4066

Currently, UAC is putting together a Usability Website. We are conducting an environmental scan of Usability Centers & Labs.
I hope to share all the information I’ve learned about IRB Exemptions and issuing participant incentives.

Usability Lab

The UCLA Library conducts some usability studies in a Usability Lab located withinon the 2nd floor of Young Research Library Informationin Technologyroom department22484 in staff area.only space. The lab is is the process of being developed and is currently only for library staff use, but it is possible to contact Sharon Shafer (sshafer@library.ucla.edu) to examine the lab and inquire about using it on a case by case basis.
Thefor UCLAnon Librarylibrary isstaff considering the possiblity of including a usability lab within the Young Research Library Renovation.use.

Software

Morae usability testing and market research software version 3.2.03.2 (TechSmith)
http://www.techsmith.com/tutorial-morae-current.html

JingPro Version 2.3
Express Scribe (free digital transcription software)
http://docs.library.ucla.edu/

Transcription Software currently under investigation:

http://waxy.org/2008/09/audio_transcription_with_mechanical_turk/
http://www.uiaccess.com/transcripts/transcript_services.html

Hardware

HP
• SixTouchSmart PCs.9300 (onlyElite one of the PCs has Logitech camera andwith Morae Software)
usability
• Logitech Camera / with Audio
• 3.3.2
  Transcription Foot Pedal
• 
  digital audio recorder (my personal little Sony thing)

Sony
• Video Camera - I borrow from Biomed Library Staff

HandyCam

Physical Space

CubicleThe usability lab consists of one pc station with largeMorae windowsusability and room for six workstations
Cubicle is adjacent tosoftware, a glassed off conference room. The Glass conference room equiptedsmartboard with a PC,overhead projector and Moraea Observersmall software.conference table that can seat 10. Click the link below for a visual tour.

https://www.thesphere.com/direct_embed/331624

Directions to LIT Usabililty and Assessment Lab

The

OnUsability theand EastAssessment sideLab ofis Powell Library (across from the Humanities Bldg) – Take the large steps to first floor entrance door. Upon entering the door, you will belocated on the first2nd floor andof theYoung elevatorResearch Library in room 22484. It is onlocated thein right.a Takelibrary thestaff elevatoronly area behind a key access door or a code access door. Contact sshafer@library.ucla.edu to schedule access to the third floor and you will enter directly in to 390 Powell. Take the elevator because the stairway leads to a locked door.

lab.