Remote usability testing carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic on the example of Primo VE implementation in an Academic Library

Journal of academic librarianship. 2023 May;49(3):102700. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102700. Epub 2023 Mar 17.

Abstract

The article presents usability tests of Primo VE carried out as part of the implementation of the Alma library services platform at the Nicolaus Copernicus University Library. Remote usability tests were carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the tests was to assess the ease of use of selected system functionalities and the ease of learning how to use them by users. The method of remote usability testing using the Office365 application package, including MS Teams, was used. The tests allowed for the preparation of a report that took into account the identified problems and became the basis for introducing modifications to the configuration of the system's functionality and some elements of its interface, as well as for the preparation of instructional materials. The results indicate a fairly high level of intuitiveness of the interface and the analyzed functionalities. Test participants had no major problems with using Primo, apart from handling facets and full record services.

Keywords: Academic Library; COVID-19; Nicolaus Copernicus University Library; Primo VE; Remote usability testing.