Open AccessUsing UX Personas to Improve Library GIS and Data Services
Author(s) -
Taylor Hixson,
Justin Parrott
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
weave
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2333-3316
DOI - 10.3998/weaveux.221
Subject(s) - persona , computer science , institution , process (computing) , world wide web , data collection , data science , knowledge management , sociology , human–computer interaction , social science , operating system
This study describes the process of persona-creation in a liberal-arts university well-integrated within a global network of Geographic Information System researchers. We introduce the concept of personas as an effective user experience research methodology with potential applications to academic library services. We detail the collection of data from high-level researchers as a way to inform the library’s strategic planning and programming. We present the results of the study in the form of three personas: Rachel the Novice, A.J. the Professor, and Jean-Paul the Big-Thinker. These results are specific to our institution, but the method itself can transfer to other contexts. We note the study’s limitations in the final analysis, and make suggestions for maintaining and refining the personas to accurately represent the community of users.