University of Michigan Library Search
Improving the first-time experience of using Library Search for undergraduate students.
Role
UX Researcher
Timeline
May - July 2024
Skills
User interviews
Subject matter expert interviews
Usability testing
Competitive analysis
Mockups
Tools
Figma
Miro
Google Analytics
Hotjar
The Project
In the summer of 2024, I completed a UX research fellowship at the University of Michigan Library, focusing on improving the search experience for novice users. Previous library research revealed that many students say that learning how to use Library Search is difficult when they first arrive on campus. We were interested in discovering why that was so, and what can we do to make onboarding easier.
✨As of March 2025, three of my design recommendations have been implemented, contributing to a 5% increase in user satisfaction according to our biennial benchmarking survey!✨
The Problem
The Novice Researcher Experience
Navigating Library Search, the University of Michigan library's discovery layer, can be daunting for novice users, especially for new undergraduate students, as it requires a different academic research skill set than they have used in their previous educational experience. If students can't easily access research materials, they may resort to lower-quality sources or avoid using the library altogether.
The Solution
To better understand these challenges, I conducted an 8-week mixed-methods study:
Literature Review → Reviewed previous literature on current approaches to library search interface design and previous UofM Library Search user research.
Comparative Analysis → Analyzed 13 university library search tools to identify common features in library search UI.
Librarian Interviews → Interviewed 11 teaching librarians to understand students’ search habits and challenges.
Usability Testing → Conducted hands-on usability tests with two undergraduates to observe pain points.
My research led to key design recommendations that:
Clarified search navigation
Improved search results readability
Enhanced access to online materials
Beyond the implemented recommendations, other insights from this research have helped the library better understand our users and continue to shape ongoing improvements to the search experience. You can explore my full research report at the bottom of this case study.
Secondary Research → Competitive Review → User Interviews → Usability Testing → High-Fidelity Mockups → Handoff to development team
Key Research Insights
1. Limited Prior Library Experience Shapes Expectations
Most first-year students have little to no experience with large library systems and databases, yet are highly familiar with tools like Google and Amazon. This mismatch leads to unrealistic expectations for speed, ease of use, and search term interpretation within Library Search.
2. Search results can be unclear and overwhelming
Novice users often misunderstand distinctions such as “Catalog” vs. “Articles,” struggle to interpret large result sets, and rely heavily on titles because summaries and key details aren’t visible enough in search results.
3. Barriers to Accessing Chosen Resources
Students face uncertainty when multiple access links appear or when physical and electronic formats aren’t clearly differentiated.
UofM Library's 'Everything' search results page (the default landing page) prior to my project.
UofM Library's 'Everything' search results with two of my design improvements.
Design Recommendations
My user research on novice users led to three UI updates aimed at easing the challenges faced by new users. After my fellowship was completed, the UX Design team at the UofM Library iterated on my design suggestions, leading to the design and development of the following UI design improvements.
Provide a description of categories in ‘Everything’ search results
Students struggle to differentiate between categories like Catalog and Articles, leading to confusion about where to find specific resources. To improve clarity, we should display brief descriptions within the ‘Everything’ search view, explaining what each category includes.
✨Update: This improvement was implemented in December 2024!✨
Include Summaries, Abstracts, and Keywords into Search Results
Students rely heavily on summaries and abstracts to evaluate whether a resource is relevant, yet the search results did not surface this information. To reduce unnecessary clicks, I recommended that summaries be added to the search results in the Catalog and Articles, rather than buried within the individual record view.
✨Update: This improvement was implemented in December 2024!✨
Improve Access Information for Search Results
Students frequently struggle to determine how to access an item due to vague or unclear labels. Many mistakenly assume print books are digital or vice versa. To reduce confusion, I propose adding clear access labels or icons to indicate physical vs. digital formats.
✨Update: This improvement was implemented in February 2025!✨
Improve Visibility of Help Documents
Many students are unaware of existing research guides and help documents, as they are currently buried in dropdown menus. To make these resources more accessible, I recommend placing a prominent link near the search bar for helpful guides, such as ‘Tips for Using Library Search.’
For more detailed findings, read my full research report:
Reflection
I had a wonderful experience with this research fellowship and I greatly improved my user research skills! Through leading 13 research sessions, I honed my interviewing skills, becoming better at writing interview questions to draw out key insights. I also learned the importance of adapting my questions on the spot to dig into any unexpected insights that come up.
Upon reflection, I acknowledge that this research had some limitations due to the short timeline and school being on break. For example:
The small sample size for usability testing (two students) limited the generalizability of our findings. While I identified key usability issues, a larger and more diverse participant pool would have provided a broader understanding of user needs and pain points. In future research, I would prioritize recruiting a larger sample size of five to seven students.
Conducting the tests in a controlled setting allowed us to focus on specific tasks, but it may not have fully captured the nuances of real-world library research. Observing students searching for actual coursework in their natural environment would provide richer insights into their search strategies and information-seeking behaviors. For future studies, I would explore incorporating contextual inquiry methods.
The skills and insights I gained during this fellowship, including experience with interviewing and usability testing, will be invaluable as I continue to take on research and design projects and contribute to creating user-friendly experiences.