Code4Lib Day 1: RULA Bookfinder: Getting People to Books Fast! Lightning Talk

Video on Internet Archive

Not a New Problem

  • mapping the shelf where an item is located
  • common implementation: stackmap
  • but paid
  • implementation into catalogue similar, add button to click on to get map

What’s Different

  • full screen = bigger map
  • links to video tutorials in lightbox/fancybox
  • share map through link, and via email
  • automatically prioritize by loan period (regular vs. reference only) and availability, while still showing you the other locations
  • responsive
  • integrated search, built for mobile
  • shelf signage (though seen 1-2 other libraries doing this as well)

Are People Using It?

  • Launched mid-Nov, Dec exam period, Jan first real indication
  • desktop ~2/3, mobile ~1/3 of usage

What Do Users Think?

  • Demo’ed at Learning Commons Open House just before launch – a lot of positive feedback
  • Usability Study
  • most agree/strongly agree: easy to understand, easy to follow, prefer having shelf number
  • a couple didn’t like look/colours of floor plan, but most still liked it
  • most importantly: level of frustration = lower