Introduction

The User Experience Standing Group (UXSG) is developing resources in response to a 2024 community needs survey that asked Alliance member staff to share their thoughts and experiences about accessibility and user experience (UX). Responses indicated high interest for observational, participatory, survey, data-driven, and interview research methods. Responses also revealed that demonstrations and documentation are more helpful formats for learning about UX topics and research methods.

Members of the 2024-2025 UXSG focused on developing demonstration-based resources for UX research methods, along with creating initial documentation for members of the 2025-2026 UXSG to develop and complete.

UX Sampler Sessions

A community learning series that will offer an introduction to a variety of user experience (UX) research methods intended for all experience levels and all areas of library work.

Facilitators: Members of the User Experience Standing Group – Leah Cover, Chair (The Evergreen State College), Tom Dodson (Southern Oregon State University), Darla Garcia (Linfield University), Emily Pearson (Whitman College), Amanda Pirog (University of Washington Tacoma), Christy Scott (Walla Walla University), and Kathleen Veldhuisen (Chemeketa Community College)

Description: UX (User Experience) research can be used to evaluate and improve a user’s experience in spaces, at service points, with navigating processes, and more. This five-part community learning series will offer a “sampler” of UX research methods that can be used in a variety of contexts. The sessions are divided by broad categories of UX research, and each session will focus on two UX research methods within that category, followed by time for discussion. This series is open to all levels of experience with UX research and may be especially useful for those who are curious about UX methods but haven’t implemented them on their own.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn the basics of eight UX research methods, including how and in which contexts to employ each method.
• Participants will receive practical strategies and best practices for conducting studies using the UX methods.
• Participants will reflect on questions of data management and analysis that allow for data-driven decision making.

Topics with Recordings and Slides:

• Observational UX Research Methods. Recording (40:18, YouTube) and slides
  Space observational studies from Leah Cover, and usability testing from Tom Dodson.
• Interview & Survey UX Research Methods, part 1. Recording (27:40, YouTube) and slides
  Photo studies from Kathleen Veldhuisen, and love letters from Emily Pearson.
• Interview & Survey UX Research Methods, part 2. Recording (28:14, YouTube) and slides
  Survey methods from Christy Scott, and focus groups from Amanda Pirog.
• Participatory UX Research Methods. Recording (34:25, YouTube) and slides
  Cognitive mapping from Leah Cover, and journey mapping from Darla Garcia.
• Data Town Hall Conversation. Recording (40:01, YouTube) and slides
  A panel discussion about data management, data mapping and analysis, and storytelling and action.

Selected Resources

These are collected resources from the UXSG members’ sessions, along with some recommendations from participants.

UX Research Design

• McDonald, C., & Trujillo, N. (2024). Library terms that users (don’t) understand: A review of the literature from 2012-2021. College & Research Libraries, 85(6), Article 6.
• Rohrer, C. (2022). When to use which user-experience research methods. Nielsen Norman Group.

Observational Methods

Space Observation Studies

• Boyer, J. (2024). Study rooms observational study report. NC State University Libraries.
• Davis, R. C. (2024). How to run a space observation study at your library. Choice Lib-Tech Insights Blog.
• Farrell, S. & Fessenden, T. (2024). Field studies. Nielsen Norman Group.
• Gullikson, S., & Meyer, K. (2016). Collecting space use data to improve the UX of library space. Weave: Journal of Library User Experience, 1(5).
• NC State University Libraries. (2020) Suma.
• Think Design Collaborative. (2025). Fly on the wall.

Usability Testing

• Blakiston, R. (2015). Usability testing: A practical guide for librarians. (Practical guides for librarians, No. 11). Rowman & Littlefield.
• Dodson, T., & Juliani, J. (2025). Hannon library web properties: Fall 2024 usability testing (PDF). Hannon Library.
• Guay, S., Rudin, L., & Reynolds, S. (2019). Testing, testing: A usability case study at University of Toronto Scarborough Library. Library Management, 40(1–2), 88–97.
• Lewis, C. H. (1982). Using the “thinking aloud” method in cognitive interface design (Technical Report No. RC 9265). IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center.
• Nielsen, J. (2000). Why you only need to test with five users. Nielsen Norman Group.
• Nielsen, J. (2012). Usability 101: Introduction to usability. Nielsen Norman Group.
• Nodder, C. (2022). UX foundations: Usability testing. [Online course]. LinkedIn Learning.
• Sexton, M. (2022). Convenience sampling and student workers: Ethical and methodological considerations for academic libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 48, Article 102539.

Survey Methods

Photo Studies

• Careaga, G. A. (2016). Using a photo survey to inform space planning in an academic library. UC Santa Cruz University Library [presentation at] LLAMA/MAES, ALA Orlando.
• Du, Y., Zou, Z., He, Y., Zhou, Y., & Luo, S. (2022). Beyond blue and green spaces: Identifying and characterizing restorative environments on Sichuan Technology and Business University campus. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13500-.
• Gabridge, T., Gaskell, M., & Stout, A. (2008). Information seeking through students’ eyes: The MIT photo diary study. College & Research Libraries, 69(6), 510-523.
• Luo, L. (2017). Photovoice: A creative method to engage library user community. Library Hi Tech, 35(1), 179-185.
• Poljak, L., Webster, B. M., & Kiner, R. (2023). Exploring belonging through photovoice: Examining the impact of space design on diverse student populations in an academic library. Performance Measurement and Metrics, 24(3/4), 195-210.

Surveys

• Carlsson, H., & Torngren, T. (2020). Understanding library users via surveys and other methods—Best practices for evidence-based library development. Journal of Library Administration, 60(8), 925-944.
• Fink, A. (2017). How to conduct surveys: a step-by-step guide (Sixth edition.). SAGE.
• Halpern, R., Eaker, C., Jackson, J., & Bouquin, D. (2015). #DitchTheSurvey: Expanding methodological diversity in LIS research. In the Library with the Lead Pipe, 1–13. 
• Scoulas, J. M., & De Groote, S. L. (2020). University students’ changing library needs and use: A comparison of 2016 and 2018 student surveys (PDF). Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 15(1), 59-89.
• Stephen, P., & Hornby, S. (1995). Simple statistics for library and information professionals. Library Association Pub.

Interview Methods

Focus Groups

• Fessenden, T. (2022, July 31). Focus groups 101. Nielsen Norman Group.
• Johnson, B. & Odhner, K. (2021, June). Focus groups from home: Conducting virtual focus groups during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. College and Research Libraries News. 82(6).
• Wicen, S. (2022, June 15). Reading (and recording) the room: Focus groups. Library Research Service, Colorado State Library.

Love/Break Up Letters

• Diller, K. R., & Wallin, S. B. (2023). Place attachment, libraries, and student preferences. Portal: Libraries and the Academy, 23(4), 683–715.
• Oddone, K. (2021). Storytelling with data: Evidence-based advocacy. Access, 35(3), 10–15.
• Priestner, A. (2018). Love letters straight to your library (PDF). Information Professional, 46-47.
• UC San Diego Library. (2025). Love and break up letters to the library.

Participatory Methods

Cognitive Mapping

• Gibbons, S. (2024). Cognitive mapping in user research. Nielsen Norman Group.
• Priestner, A. (2018). Cognitive maps: Instant access to the worlds of your users (PDF). Information Professional, 28-29.
• Priestner, A. (2021). A handbook of user experience research & design in libraries. UX in Libraries.
• Young, S. W. (2024, November 6). Practicing participation: Tools, techniques, and process for participatory design in library assessment [conference workshop]. Library Assessment Conference.
• Young, S. W., & Brownotter, C. (2021, April 29). Building a university that deserves indigenous students: A participatory design approach [virtual presentation]. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Library User Experience.
• Young, S. W., Fargo, H., Borrelli, S., Chao, Z., Gass, C., & Swedman, D. (2018). Assessing and improving the experience of underrepresented populations: A participatory design approach (PDF).

Journey Mapping

• Fichter, D. & Wisniewski, J. (2015). Control-shift: Customer journey mapping. Online Searcher, 39(4), 74-76.
• National Library Wellington. (n.d.). Journey mapping for school library design. National Library of New Zealand.
• Samson, S., Granath, K, & Alger, A. (2017). Journey mapping the user experience. College & Research Libraries, 78(4), 459-471.