Primo Usability with Diverse Populations in Mind

Abstract

Cal State East Bay is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse campuses in the United States. The Cal State East Bay Library prides itself on supporting our diverse student body with their research needs. Finding inspiration from a previous ELUNA presentation regarding opportunities for equity, librarians at Cal State East Bay took the opportunity to work with our diverse student body to understand their experience with and reaction to Primo. While most articles about usability testing on Primo relied on students completing tasks, we were interested in learning about the user’s perspective of the tool in terms of inclusivity and approachability. In order to understand student reactions to Primo, the presenters conducted focus groups of students. We plan to share what our students told us about their experiences, as well as what changes we implemented to improve their experience. Hopefully, you will walk away inspired to listen to your students experiences with Primo!