New Library Catalogue Interface Proposal 3

Introduction This presentation will outline the design decisions for the new interface of the on-line library catalogue for Liverpool university. The design decisions will be split into three main phases: Tasks performed by the user Metaphor development Interface design Changes to the design of the physical interface will be minimal as users are already familiar with the current design Tasks will be added where appropriate Subtle changes will be made to improve the experience for current users and to simplify training for new users

Tasks Performed The interface will allow the user to perform the following main tasks: Search books Browse books Renew books Reserve Books Log into a personal account Gather basic details about the Library

Tasks Performed Searching Searching The user will be enabled to search for a book using a keyword. The keyword can be specific to a particular items of information (e.g. ISBN no., author, etc) or can be generalised. The search can be specified to the following items of information using a drop-down list: (All), Title, Author, Keyword, Subject, Class number, ISBN. The controls available to the user will be the same as with the current design. This means that the search criteria will be entered with a text box, the search area will be selected using a drop-down list and a button will be used to perform the search. User Login This task will be performed by the user so as to ascertain details about their current withdrawals and to gather any other basic information about the current status of their library account. They will have their own personal account which will be setup when they join the library If there are complications with the login, the user will be given helpful feedback (unlike the current design)

Tasks Performed: Browse This task wasn’t part of the old interface, it will allow the user to browse through a database of all the books available at the library. The image to the right illustrates the sort of organisation that would be adopted. The following points will be the main considerations for the development of such an interface: Logical hieratical organisation Well laid out webpage design which keeps the user well informed about their location in the hierarchy. Dynamic design, making the database easy to edit regularly. Books Journals ScienceArts Social Veterinary Engineering Medicine Engineering Civil Electronics Robotics Electrical JavaFlashPhotoshop Multimedia

Tasks Performed: Renew/Reserve Renew This task allows the user to renew a book which has already been taken out from the university library, this will be constructed using a simple form. This feature is accessible from the webpage of the book, therefore the details of the book will automatically be entered into the form User provides details of the book and their account for this task to be performed Accessible from the “book details” webpage (found using the search or browse tasks) Reserve As well as the ability to renew a book, the interface will allow the user to reserve books. The reserve and renew facilities will be displayed in the same portion of the interface as they are both similar tasks. This is a new task and has been added to improve the customer service. As this feature is accessed from either the book or the users webpage, the details of either the book or the user will be entered into the form automatically depending how the page was accessed. Again, the user provides details about the book and their account.

Metaphor As with most software interfaces, a metaphor will be adopted to make it easier for the user to operate and to make it more familiar. The metaphor will only be used as a rough guide, trying to keep too true to a metaphor can sometimes defeat the object and only make tasks more complex. The following is a small discussion of the possible metaphors and an evaluation of the decisions made for this project. Candidate Metaphors The following metaphors are regarded as the most suitable in this case: Desktop – documents, files, Library Help Desk – general information, search help Book – end product, source of information

Metaphor: Respective Tasks Desktop Browse/ Search = File cabinet General library information = Post-it notes Login = Computer Reserve/Renew = letters (requesting services from others) Library Help Desk General library information = notice board Search = assistant Book Browse = contents Search = index General library information = book content

Metaphor: Final Metaphor As the following slide shows, all the tasks were covered in the Desktop metaphor. This is the main reason why this has been selected as the final metaphor. The appearance will only take a small influence from the metaphor. The main influence will be in the relationships. The browse feature is a good example of where this will be used, the hieratical form is ideal for the metaphor of a filing system. The user will use their experiences from desktops to help them to use the interface: Objects will be laid out on a background as they would on a desk. File (page) names will be displayed at the top of the page in a similar way to the use of tabs on a modern filing system. Related items will be grouped together using frames, this is similar as the grouping documents into a paper file. Separate tasks will be located on different pages, similar to the way in which different books have different subjects/tasks.

Interface Design As with the current design, the manipulation style will be direct. The colour scheme will be taken directly from that of the existing university website, it is hoped that this will help to give better continuity between the two sites. The following samples show these colours. The design has been created so as to be true to the current design but to rectify the problems that have been highlighted by this analysis. Familiar formats & tools have been used, this should make the site easier for the user to operate. Layouts will be as simple as possible. In circumstances where the user may need help, a help facility will be setup and will be accessible from a textual link.

Navigation Map The following is a basic plan of the navigation throughout the site. Textual links and graphical links will be used to full fill the navigation needs. All links allow the user to go both forward and backward. In addition to the links shown on the map, every page will have a “home” button which will return them to the home page The following slides show the basic layout of the main pages in the website (textual links are shown using underlining). Home Personal Account Login Search Results Search Database Hierarchy Browse Book Details

Page Layouts (1) University of Liverpool Library What would you like to do: Search Browse Login Uni Crest Home Page Search Page University of Liverpool Library Uni Crest Search: GO Help < Main

Page Layouts (2) Search Results University of Liverpool Library Uni Crest Search: GO Help TitleAuthorSubject AreaAvailability < Main Browse Layout University of Liverpool Library Uni Crest You are in: Books > Electrical > Multimedia Help TitleAuthorSubject AreaAvailability < Main Java : Flash : Photoshop Available Subjects:

Page Layouts (3) University of Liverpool Library Uni Crest Username: GO Help < Main Log In Personal Account Password: University of Liverpool Library Uni Crest < Main Welcome (NAME) (Books currently on loan) $%^ Renew Book Reserve Book

Page Layouts (4) University of Liverpool Library Uni Crest Search: GO Help Title: (book title) Author: (author name) Subject Area: (Subject area) Availability: (availability) < Main Reserve Book Book Details