Cambridge-Lincoln Open Catalogue Knowledgebase CLOCK is a #ukdiscovery project, funded by JISC

Cambridge CLOCK hack – our next phase in the task analysis process captured data from two University of Cambridge Library Cataloguers. The participants used Ex Libris’s cataloguing software: Voyager – cataloguing client (different from the software used at the University of Lincoln), to input data for a range of publications, some with ISBN numbers (an ISBN being a unique identifier and therefore efficient form of record retrieval) and some without. If the ISBN does not exist, a search for a publication (to see if it already exists in the system) is searched using keywords – author and title.

Using the same tried-and-tested method ‘cognitive interview’, as used for previous data capture, participant usage-data was recorded with voiced running commentary of the activity undertaken and accompanying points-of-view about the user interface, processes, functionality, issues encountered and frustrations with the system.

Empirical observations were also undertaken with a further line of enquiry with the participants in relation to key points-of-note arising from the observations.

• The software in use could well be investigated by Tony Robinson and the Time Team, having an aesthetic of Windows 3.1 and the usability effectiveness of a glove with three fingers… that’s fine if you only have three fingers, ah but which three?
  • However, the participants have approximately ten years a-piece of experience with the software and are therefore normalised to its idiosyncrasies.
  • The classic grey user interface provides a ‘vanilla’ boxy containment for displaying data, whilst sporting an interesting array of buttons with ambiguous metaphor and functionality – at least each button has a text description to accompany the button’s picture – phew.
  • The data presentation is structured in such a way that to access it, one is required to make further selections to gain access and drill down into the data, which then appears in a separate dialogue box.
  • Functionality is restricted to out-dated UI controls which prevent users from interacting with data in a way that is expected of modern software applications and operating systems. For instance, no drag and drop, and moving items can only be performed one at a time.
  • Redundant data – there are a number of tags that are apparently not required within the Marc record and time is taken to manually strip these out.
  • Representation of data – when viewing multiple records, each opens in a separate window, for which the participants move around the screen in an attempt to find a good position to scan and compare the records. The more records on the screen, the more cluttered the process.
  • Navigation – it can be difficult to assess where you are within the system – some form of sign posting and bread-crumbing would be useful.
  • Macros – although we didn’t get to see this in action – the participants like to use their customised macros to perform many of the actions that would otherwise be monotonous and time consuming. Requires further investigation.
• It is evident that issues of usability exist as an artefact of the software as a result of common software design trends of the age; and thus restrictions of a proprietary build: aesthetic, layout, metaphor, representation of data, and functional restriction.
• It is also evident that the cataloguers have a lot of experience with the software and the procedures involved in the decision making of how data is processed – which records to select, which fields to update, which checks to make etc. It not unexpected that a certain amount of specialised knowledge is required, however, a new member of staff would appear to be faced with a steep learning curve for these systems.

So it’s back to Lincoln to capture data from cataloguers using the Horizon system – this will provide insight to Cambridge and Lincoln’s processes and how they differ, whilst also highlighting aspects of processes and functions that work well and for which we can replicate in our user-friendly Open library system.

Thanks to our Cambridge Cataloguer participants: Celine Carty and David Rushmer.