(Go Live) Rename UC-eLinks

Legend: not started IN PROGRESS STALLED decided

Status

DECIDED

Description

Should we rename UC-eLinks? If we do rename, should we also restyle the button?

Decision

We recommend renaming UC-eLinks to “Get it at UC” and we also recommend using a new button style

Owning group

Discovery FG

Approver

Discovery FG

Stakeholders

R = Discovery FG
A = Discovery FG
C =  EUOS, CDL UC-eLinks team, Local Teams, Fulfillment FG
I = Cohort

Decision-making process

  • Consulted with CDL UC-eLinks team regarding feasibility of renaming and new button

  • Reviewed an existing published environmental scan of link resolver labels and re-checked campuses to ensure currency of scan results

  • Reviewed literature regarding usability of variously named link resolver buttons/links

  • Considered two final candidates of name “Find it at UC” and “Get it at UC”

  • Asked EUOS to review candidates for new button style

Priority

Mandatory before Go-live

Due date

May 20, 2021

Recommendation

We recommend renaming UC-eLinks to “Get it at UC” and restyling the button to depict the new name and incorporate branding aspects of UC Library Search.

 

 

Reasoning

  • We will no longer be using the SFX link resolver, thus the user flow for accessing full text or request options from the link resolver will change. A new name will help set expectations for a new experience.

  • Highly transparent and meaningful link resolver names are more usable, particularly to novice users (such as new undergraduate students)

  • It is preferable to use a button rather than a plain link when possible because initiating the link resolver is performing an action, and UX design best practices suggest buttons should be used in such cases

Background

We will no longer be using the SFX link resolver in favor of the built-in Alma link resolver. This will change the user experience for accessing full text or request options.

Users generally encounter the UC-eLinks button in Abstracting & Indexing databases such as PubMed and Web of Science or research tools such as Google Scholar. (See “Where will you see the UC-eLinks button?” for a more comprehensive list.)

As the new Alma link resolver will also be used for submitting interlibrary loan requests from Worldcat, users will also encounter the new button in that interface.

UC-eLinks (SFX) vs Alma Link Resolver User Flow

When users click the current UC-eLinks button, the SFX link resolver will either connect them directly to the full text of an item or to a menu where from they can get it online (if available), check local availability for the item, request it, or Ask a Librarian.

When users click the new Get it at UC button, the Alma link resolver will use an OpenURL to connect them to a Primo record for the item. From this Primo record, the user will either be able to click a View Online link to access the full text of the item or use the “Request through Interlibrary Loan” link in How to Get It to request the item.

Since the user flow will change with our implementation of Alma/Primo, we can help set user expectations for this new flow by renaming the button.

Environmental Scan Results

We consulted “SFX Label & Options Menu -Comparative Analysis” by Kat Hagedorn (2006). Hagedorn scanned SFX labels across 9 institutions and found that most labels included the term “find it.”

We completed a new scan of these 9 institutions and found that very little had changed since the 2006 study. Only the University of Michigan had made a substantial change, relabeling from “SFX @ M” (indexes) and “Find It!” (SearchTools) in 2006 to “MGet It.” We also found that Indiana, which was recorded as “[not available]” in 2006 is now “IU-Link.” The majority of labels continued to include the term “find it.”

Literature Review Summary

We reviewed 4 articles or white papers on the topic of link resolver usability. In our review of these sources, we found that:

  • Meaningful and recognizable labeling for link resolver links/buttons is essential for usability

  • Labels relying on recall may have poor usability even among advanced (ie. Faculty) users

  • “Get It” and “Find It” are both viable and usable options with “Get It” being slightly preferred by users (in the reviewed literature)

  • Including the institution name in the link label is a common practice

We also reviewed Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics and some relevant portions of recent LibKey usability testing at UC Santa Cruz (in connection with the Nomad browser extension) and found that:

  • “The design should speak the users' language. Use words, phrases, and concepts familiar to the user, rather than internal jargon.”

  • Users are concerned about site security/trustworthiness and having the term “UC” in the link label might help alleviate these concerns

Working assumptions:

  • We will be using the Alma link resolver rather than SFX after Go-Live

  • CDL has the resources available to change the UC-eLinks name and button

Dependencies

  • Need to give local stakeholders adequate time to update existing instruction and outreach materials that refer to UC-eLinks

  • Need to give local staff adequate time to coordinate with local/Tier 3 database providers

  • Need to give local staff adequate time for testing

  • Need to give CDL staff adequate time to coordinate with database providers.

  • Need to give CDL staff adequate time for testing

Questions to consider

Should we rename UC-eLinks as part of our implementation to Alma/Primo?

If we do rename, should we restyle the button as well?

What link resolver names are used at peer institutions?

How does the link resolver name impact usability?

Options considered

Description

Keep the UC-eLinks name and button

Rename UC-eLinks and style a new button

Description

Keep the UC-eLinks name and button

Rename UC-eLinks and style a new button

Pros and cons

  • Existing instruction and outreach materials will need less updating (any explanations of user flow would still require updating)

  • Existing users already recognize UC-eLinks

  • The term “UC-eLinks” is not inherently meaningful to novice users

  • Existing users may be surprised by the new user flow coupled with the old name

  • Opportunity to select a more meaningful link resolver name

  • Set user expectations that the user flow has changed for accessing full text or request options

  • Increased workload for CDL staff

  • One less change for both staff and existing users

Description

New Name: Get it at UC

New Name: Find it at UC

Description

New Name: Get it at UC

New Name: Find it at UC

Pros and cons

  • “Get It” was preferred among tested users in studies from the literature review

  • Might frustrate users when the item must be requested and they cannot get it immediately

  • Does not over-promise (in some cases the user will need to request the item before they can get it)

  • Might sound to the user as if they need to run their search again in the next interface

Description

New button: Gold bar with Bookmark

New button: Plain Gold Bar

New button: Plain Blue Bar

Description

New button: Gold bar with Bookmark

New button: Plain Gold Bar

New button: Plain Blue Bar

Pros and cons

  • Gold color will be familiar to existing user (same color as UC-eLinks)

  • Bookmark ties in with UC Library Search, which is where users will land after they click

  • Gold color readily “pops out” on the page

  • Bookmark extends beyond boundaries of a traditional button, potentially making this less identifiable as a button

  • Gold color will be familiar to existing user (same color as UC-eLinks)

  • Gold color readily “pops out” on the page

  • Does not tie in with UC Library Search visually

 

  • New color will not be familiar to existing users

  • Does not tie in with UC Library Search visually

Action Log

Action/Point Person

Expected Completion Date

Notes

Status

Action/Point Person

Expected Completion Date

Notes

Status

Conduct environmental scan of existing link resolver labels

3/17/2021

See Report

Complete

Conduct literature review on usability of link resolver labels

3/17/2021

See Report

Complete

Work with graphic designer to mock up potential new buttons

4/10/2021

 

Complete

Gather feedback and concerns from local teams

4/13/2021

 

Complete

Consult with CDL UC-eLinks team on button options

4/15/2021

 

Complete

Consult with EUOS on button styling and decision

5/14/2021

 

Complete

Consult with Fulfillment Group

5/14/2021

 

Complete

Approved by Discovery FG

May 18, 2021

 

Complete

 

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