Chapter 9: User-driven Design: Usability Testing to Improve an Academic Library's Research Guide

This chapter describes a mixed-methods user experience and usability study of the Robert E. Kennedy (REK) Library’s Research 101 LibGuide. This guide supports undergraduate students in developing foundational information literacy skills. Using surveys, focus groups, card sorting, and usability testing, this study explored the research needs of target users and how they interacted with a modular design prototype of the LibGuide. The findings informed practical improvements to the guide including visual decluttering, improved font size, hierarchy, and more. The author offers a reflection of their first time doing a user experience and usability research study including lessons learned from design missteps and considerations for practitioners designing research guides and conducting similar assessments.