Assessment:User Needs

What are the best methods for assessing user needs with regards to digital libraries?

The User Studies Working Group will be compiling resources, conducting research, and drafting literature to assist those who are interesting in evaluating users of digital repositories and their needs.

Addressing users and user needs: The User Studies Working Group white paper

Participants identified four assessment topics to explore during the Assessment Breakout Session at the 2014 DLF Forum:

1. User/Usability studies
2. Identifying users and uses
3. Return On Investment (ROI)
4. Reuse of content/what do users do with content

These four groups will make up the focus of a white paper on assessing users and user needs. The working group will complete a series of tasks to generate the white paper:

1. Compile a bibliography
2. Develop a literature review -- completed
3. Draft and publish a white paper on assessing users and user needs in digital libraries - In Progress

The working group will publish a draft of the the white paper for public comment prior to the 2015 DLF Forum. The final draft will be released shortly after the forum. Volunteers will be completing tasks in the order listed above to build up to the publication of the white paper.

Future efforts

Future efforts from the group may include generating complementary content, such as:

1. Templates/guides
2. Toolkits
3. Original Research

Learning more and getting involved

The sub-group maintains a Google Drive folder, which contains meeting notes and drafts of working documents. If you are interested in participating in one of the tasks, please fill out our User Studies Participant spreadsheet.

If you have any questions, or are interested in participating in the sub-group, please contact Santi Thompson.