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Posts by Ben Howell

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Frequency of Library Search Use chart
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  • Ben Howell
  • Robyn Ness
What We Learned from the 2022 Library Search Benchmarking Survey
The U-M Library UX + Design Team conducted a benchmark survey in late 2022 aiming to understand people’s experience with Library Search. Objectives included measuring user satisfaction, identifying audience needs, and comparing results with Harvard University’s survey using the same methodology. Survey findings guided the development of the Library Search Product Statement as well as user centered improvements such as implementing LibKey Direct-to-PDF API, and refining catalog results filters.
Photo taken above a busy crowd. Some figures are actively walking and their figure is blurred from their movement. Others figures are clear and sharp and they are standing, talking to or watching other people in the crowd.
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  • Ben Howell
Strategies to Improve Participation in User Research and Assessment Activities
How can we improve the familiarity and credibility between Library experts, resources and services we offer and the students, faculty and staff who use them? Whether we’re building new relationships or reconnecting with patrons/colleagues during assessment or user research activities, we have the opportunity to use certain marketing and communication best practices and tools during our user research to align clear and targeted communication with our key audiences.
Delicious looking cake with a piece missing.
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  • Ben Howell
'Baking in' digital accessibility at the Library: Services and experiences from the U-M Library Digital Accessibility Team (DAT)
Web accessibility is a key ingredient to successful product development that can make or break many peoples’ experience. The U-M Library Digital Accessibility Team (DAT) helps library teams 'bake in' web accessibility from the beginning of their projects and helps coordinate accessibility work across the Library. Read about DAT's services and how collaboration with teams and staff across the library has led to improved products and services for our Library staff, faculty and students.
Pen and ink drawing of a figure sprawled on a couch in a dirty living room.
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  • Ben Howell
5 Ways to Improve Your Living Situation with Bias, the Unruly Roommate of Qualitative Research
Maybe you’ve heard of or lived with a roommate who never washed the dishes, who talked loudly on the phone late into the night or who stiffed you on rent. Not fun. Bias in our research isn’t fun either. It distorts the nature of the data we collect, analyze and share.

Representation of a User Journey visualization
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  • Ben Howell
Developing Pathways to Full-text Resources with User Journeys
How does a library present the right information to patrons at the right time and place in the face of changing services, new technologies and vendors? User Journeys provide a way to create and improve what information, services and tools will help users on their path to the resources and services they seek. Find out what insights our team gained from developing User Journeys and we'll tell you about tools, resources and templates you can use to make your own!