# The Research Rundown: April 2025 - June 2025 Welcome to the research rundown from the UX & Discovery Department at Harvard Library. In this quarterly blog post, we will share recent research our team has conducted at Harvard Library. If you have any questions about the research or would like to consult with our team about helping you plan or conduct research at Harvard Library, please email . July 01, 2025 ## **Mirador Usability Testing** In May 2025, UX & Discovery conducted usability testing of the Mirador 3 Viewer with 10 participants (five power users and five first-time users) to evaluate navigation, accessibility, metadata presentation, and overall user experience. The study identified critical usability barriers and provided actionable recommendations for improving the interface. ### **Major Insights** - Terminology confusion significantly impedes user comprehension, with participants struggling to understand technical terms like "Finding Aid," "Alma," "HOLLIS," and "IIIF." Users were unable to determine whether sidebar metadata applied to individual pages or entire collections, creating uncertainty about the relevance of the information. Language alignment emerges as a critical need, necessitating changes from "OASIS Finding Aid" to "Collection Guide" and from "HOLLIS/Alma" to "Collection Listing" to align with existing Harvard systems. - Download functionality requires restructuring to meet user expectations. Participants expected separate PDF and image download icons to be prominently displayed in the top menu bar rather than hidden under the three-dot menu. When downloads failed, users demanded clearer error messaging with specific next steps, such as "Download currently unavailable - please try another version or contact a librarian for help.” - Interface discoverability presents substantial challenges. Users couldn't locate the help icon, which was buried in the three-dot menu, expecting it to be on the left sidebar instead. The "add resource" feature for side-by-side viewing confused participants despite high interest once explained, suggesting a need for more transparent labeling like "view side-by-side.” - Positive user responses centered on search functionality and thumbnail navigation. Participants valued keyword searching within resources and found thumbnail views helpful for content overview, though they wanted thumbnails to open by default. The study reveals Mirador's strong foundational capabilities while highlighting critical interface refinements needed for optimal user experience. UX & Discovery provided guidance on improving the system. The insights from this research will be used to enhance Mirador 3 further. ## **Accessibility Audit of DRS** In April, UX & Discovery conducted an accessibility audit on Harvard University’s new Digital Repository System, LibSafe. UX & Discovery provided guidance on improving accessibility for the system, specifically for users of screen readers and those using keyboards. For more information, please contact the URC. The insights from this research are being shared with LibSafe so they can update their accessibility. ## **HOLLIS Images Intercept Survey** As part of Reimagining Discovery, the UX & Discovery Department conducted an intercept survey on HOLLIS Images in April 2025 to gain an understanding of the platform's user base. Using Hotjar implementation, the study captured 419 responses from actual users visiting images.hollis.harvard.edu, providing direct insights into user behaviors and motivations. ### **Major Insights** - HOLLIS Images serves a predominantly external audience, with 75% of users not affiliated with Harvard and 56% representing international users. - Targeted searching dominates user behavior, with 63% of respondents conducting specific image searches rather than exploratory browsing (30%). This pattern indicates users typically arrive with clear research objectives rather than serendipitous discovery needs. - Harvard affiliation significantly impacts usage patterns. - Harvard-affiliated users demonstrate higher engagement, visiting more frequently (weekly or monthly) and showing a greater likelihood of being returning visitors. They're also more prone to accessing curated result sets through direct links. - Conversely, non-Harvard users visit less frequently (once per semester or month), are more likely to be first-time visitors, and focus primarily on topic-based searching and browsing. - Research applications drive platform adoption, with 65% of returning users incorporating Harvard Library's image collections into their research workflows. An additional 15% use the platform for collection discovery, indicating strong interest in Harvard's visual resources beyond immediate research needs. This data reveals HOLLIS Images' successful global reach while highlighting distinct usage patterns between institutional and external users. This research will inform ongoing efforts for the Reimagining Discovery project. ## **Image Researchers User Survey** As part of Reimagining Discovery, the UX & Discovery Department conducted a comprehensive survey of 117 image researchers to understand search behaviors and feature priorities for image discovery systems. The study gathered responses from novice (38%), occasional (41%), and experienced (21%) image researchers through Qualtrics. ### **Major Insights** - Google Images dominates usage across all researcher types, with 82% using it frequently or very frequently, while specialized academic resources are used significantly less regularly. However, experienced researchers demonstrate more diverse platform adoption, utilizing academic library websites, museum databases, and reverse image search tools more frequently than their novice counterparts. - For search strategies, keyword search remains the primary method (with 93% frequent use), but experience level strongly correlates with the adoption of advanced search. Experienced researchers are significantly more likely to utilize advanced search techniques, systematically browse collections, and contact librarians when their searches are unsuccessful. Conversely, novice researchers tend to show a higher adoption of natural language search and AI chatbots. - Download capability emerges as the most critical feature for image researchers (91% importance), followed by subject filtering (79%) and citation information (79%). Metadata requirements are consistent across experience levels, with rights statements, citation data, and resolution options all deemed highly important. - Participants desired AI-powered features, particularly content analysis capabilities such as OCR and object measurement within images. Users also seek improved reverse image search and flexible filtering options (such as color, date ranges, and quality). This exploratory research will inform ongoing efforts for the Reimagining Discovery project. ## **First Year Librarians Event Survey** In April 2025, UX & Discovery conducted a survey to inform the First Year Librarians (FYL) program's event planning strategy. The study gathered preferences from 44 Harvard College undergraduates (21 first-years and 23 sophomores) regarding event content and timing through a Qualtrics survey distributed at Lamont Library and via email to targeted student segments. ### **Major Insights** - The optimal event schedule involves two events per semester – one at the beginning (weeks 1-3) and one at the end (weeks 9-12), avoiding the less popular mid-semester period. Late afternoon timing (4:00-6: 00 PM) on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays proves most appealing to students, while events on Wednesdays and late morning slots should be avoided. - Seasonal programming preferences emerged clearly: fall events should feature a September special collections tour and a December winter holidays celebration with cookies and hot chocolate (the survey's most popular option with 28 votes). Spring programming should include February goody bag making events and April gardening activities connected to Finals Fest. - The research revealed strong student interest in food-centered and hands-on activities, with winter holiday events, goody bag making, and archives tours ranking highest. Creative activities, such as gardening and magic performances, also showed solid appeal, while holiday-specific events beyond winter celebrations generated less enthusiasm. This structured approach to student consultation provides the FYL program with data-driven recommendations for maximizing attendance and engagement while aligning programming with student preferences and academic calendar rhythms. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)