Determining the factors affecting the usability of library information systems from the perspective of visually impaired users

Purpose: The usability requirements of user interfaces in websites for sighted and visually impaired people are very different. These requirements include task adequacy, dimensional trade-off, behavior equivalence, semantic loss avoidance and device independence. To achieve the usability of library websites for visually impaired users, it is important and vital to consider these requirements. The purpose of the present study was to determine the factors influencing the usability of library information systems from the perspective of visually impaired users.

Methods: The current research was applied and conducted with a qualitative method. In this research, through the exploratory observation of 33 visually impaired users and by defining the real tasks (3 tasks), the factors affecting the usability of websites were identified. The data were collected using the formal usability testing and think aloud protocol. Users were observed while using a library website and performing defined tasks verbally expressed their thoughts, feelings and opinions about their interaction experience. In this research, the user interfaces (digital library, OPAC and virtual reference) of National Library and Archives of Iran, Organization of Libraries, Museums and Documents Center of Astan Quds Razavi; Library, Museum and Document Center Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Central Library and Document Center of Tehran University were studied as prominent libraries in the country. Visually impaired users were selected from different provinces of the country using a targeted sampling and snowball method. Observational data were collected with screen recording software (Faststone and Ocam). For qualitative data analysis, content analysis (categorization and grouping of codes) and coding (specifying the main and secondary codes) and MAXQDA software were used. The transcripts of the obtained data were read at least three times and recoded several times. These codes were continuously expanded and revised while reviewing the transcripts. Another researcher participated in the content analysis and reviewed the extracted transcripts and categories, and the data were reviewed several times to confirm the validity of the data.

Findings: the findings showed that the influential factors of the usability of library websites from the perspective of visually impaired users can be classified into 651 codes and 5 categories. 273 codes from the total codes were assigned to the category of screen structure and organization and 263 codes were assigned to the category of User-oriented category. Search and information retrieval (with 64 codes), interface compatibility (with 26 codes) and system messages (with 25 codes) were in next ranks.

Conclusion: In order to design usable websites, data from real feelings of special users about library information retrieval systems are necessary. User experiences help librarians, designers, and library managers better understand the purpose of accessibility standards and their overall impact on visually impaired users. The final results helped the researcher to identify the usability problems of the library websites and provided clues about the usability issues.