Overview of tools to improve the user experience with your online collections/resources. Presented at NELIG 2009 on June 5, 2009 by Michael Howser & Bill Miller of the University of Connecticut Libraries Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC

1. Library Collections
Meet Web 2.0 - Tools for…

2. WOW!
COOL!
AWESOME!
User Experiences

3. Presented by:
Michael Howser & Bill Miller
University of Connecticut Libraries
Map and Geographic Information Center –
MAGIC – magic.lib.uconn.edu

4. 10 Tips to Improve the User Experience
- Where to Start -
• Problem • Solution
– User identified issues – Free or Cheap
– Confusing – Little to no programming
– Advanced User Only – Flexible
– Jargon – Web 2.0 (when
– Metadata takes possible)
priority over image(s) – Intuitive
– Money – Little or No IT help
needed

5. P roblem
We are having problems
with distributing images of
our historical map
collection. One of the big
stumbling blocks is the
size tiffs and our storage
capability and budget is
very limited.
Do you know of a way
to allow our patrons to
search metadata and
download images
without having to
contact our office; and
do it for less than
$5,000?

6. S olution
flickr
• Price = $24.95/yr
•Unlimited Storage
•Download feature
•Rights-management
•Multiple Image sizes
•Tagging
•Searchable
Flickr flickr.com

7. P roblem
We have diverse
resources available
through the MAGIC
website and several links
of outside resources that
are useful to our patrons.
How can we provide a
comprehensive search
capability that would
allow our patrons to
find available
resources with one
search?

8. S olution
Google CSE
•Price = FREE!
•Completely
Customizable
•Identify website(s) to
include in search
•Branding
•Ad Free
(for non-profits)
Google Custom Search Engine google.com/cse

9. P roblem
I am off-campus patron
and I’m looking for the
location of old stone
walls in Connecticut.
How can I find the
Clark and Tackabury's
Topographic Map of
Connecticut from
1859? I would also
like to have a copy of
the map for my
research.

10. S olution
cooliris
•Price = FREE!
•Visual Wall
•Embed into
website
•Customizable
•Searchable
cooliris cooliris.com

11. P roblem
We are purchasing a
collection of guidebooks
and maps for the UConn
Travel Abroad Program.
I would like to make
the students aware of
these resources using
interactive technology
they are already using.
Any ideas?

12. S olution
Google
Maps
•Price = FREE!
•My Maps enables
collaboration
•Cloud-based
•Searchable
•Includes data & data
can be added/
created
Google Maps & My Maps maps.google.com

13. P roblem
Metrics are starting to
drive decisions in our
library. It is becoming
increasingly important
that we have granular
stats showing
who, when, and what
resources are being
used on the MAGIC
website.
How can I gather
statistics about my
users?

14. S olution
Google
Analytics
•Price = FREE!
•User-data
•Keywords
•Traffic sources
•Visitor Locations
•Much more!
Google Analytics google.com/analytics

15. Data Analysis – Fall 2008
Key Indicators:
Average Time on site
1 minute 58 seconds
Pageviews
42,167
Pages/Visit
1.79
Content
/ (homepage) 26,380
/help/help_sid 4,058

16. Data Analysis – Spring 2009
Key Indicators:
Average Time on site
3 minute 28 seconds
Pageviews
84,117
Pages/Visit
3.41
Content
/ (homepage) 25,925
/historical_maps 7,354

17. P roblem
I would like our users to
be able to label
resources and see how
other users are
describing them.
How do we make our
recommended links to
additional resources
easily accessible to
our users?

18. S olution
Delicious
•Price = FREE!
•Flexible
•Searchable
•Tagging
•Can be used to
improve Google CSE
Delicious delicious.com

19. P roblem
The UConn Library system
is becoming a more
collaborative organization.
There is increasing need
for communication
between the main campus
and the branch campuses.
Is there a way we can
use the web to facilitate
inexpensive live video
conferencing?

20. S olution
DimDim or
Yuuguu
•Price = FREE!
•Flexible
•Recording option
•Minimal/no installs
•Screen sharing
•VoIP
•Mac + Windows
DimDim OR Yuuguu yuuguu.com dimdim.com

21. P roblem
We are starting to work
with multiple
departments across
campus. We need to
understand what their
students are researching
and what areas are
growing.
Do you know of a way
we can begin a dialog
and brainstorm?

22. S olution
Bubbl.us
•Price = FREE!
•Flexible
•Collaborative
•Embed capable
•Multiple Uses!
Bubbl.us bubbl.us

23. P roblem
We provide data to the
undergraduates at
UConn. They have to
make choices on what
they will download from
our site. We find that
they often download the
wrong data.
Is there a program that
will allow them to
preview the data
before they actually
begin to download?

24. S olution
Google Maps
Preview
•Price = FREE!
•Flexible
•Need to have KML
or KMZ file first
•Easy to use
interface
•Google My Maps
friendly
Google Maps & My Maps maps.google.com

25. P roblem
We have provided data
and maps through the
MAGIC website
assuming that patrons
actually want what we
provide.
How can I survey my
users cheaply and with
no IT help?

26. S olution
Google Docs
- Forms
•Price = FREE!
•Flexible
•Statistics reporting
•Easy to edit/update
•No limit on # of
questions
Google Docs - Forms docs.google.com

27. Questions?
Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC
University of Connecticut Libraries
369 Fairfield Way
Phone: 860-486-4589 (p)
E-mail: magic@uconn.edu
IM (AOL): uconnlibmagic
magic.lib.uconn.edu
Digitizing the Past to Empower
21st Century Research