In this knowledge sharing program, we ask student volunteers to administer short usability tests to willing friends and family. In return, the Library offers job shadowing and informational interview opportunities.
What We’re Looking For
The Library is looking for students to administer short web-based usability tests to friends and family who are not part of the library world. These tests should take no than 10 minutes to administer. Once the test is complete, the student will send a short report of their observations to Courthouse Libraries BC.
This experience will be especially valuable to students with an interest in Information Design, Communications, or Human-Computer Interaction. Some general knowledge of the principles of usability are helpful but not necessary.
What You Get
In return for the testing, the Library will offer your choice of
1) A three hour job shadow on our busy Vancouver reference desk, or
2) An informational interview with one of our librarians (potential topics might include: working in law libraries, desirable skills, general career advice, etc)
Participating in the testing exchange gives you a little real-world experience with user testing—a genuinely valuable skill that we think more library students should learn.
How it Works
If you’re interested in joining the Testing Exchange, email Kat at ksiddle@courthouselibrary.ca, with your name, contact information, and a little bit about yourself.
We will be recruiting testers as projects require them. When we need testers, we will send a call out on our email list. Once we’ve confirmed that you’re participating in a round of testing, we will send you everything you need – general guidelines, a sample report, the URL of the web page that you’ll be testing, and an outline of the tasks we would like you to test. Once the testing is completed and your observations have been filed, we’ll make arrangements for a job shadow or interview.
About Us
Courthouse Libraries BC is a special library system that serves the public, the judiciary and the legal community of BC. We are funded by the Law Foundation of BC, a non-profit foundation that funds legal projects and programs that benefit the BC public, and the Law Society of BC, the organization that regulates lawyers in our province. Although the Provincial Government provides us with space in 29 courthouses across BC, we are classified as a not-for-profit registered charity, not a government library.
Our central library is in downtown Vancouver and has a staff of approximately 25. As the central branch, Vancouver is the seat of our IT, accounting and technical services departments, as well as our website team and the coordinators of the Clicklaw and LawMatters projects. Vancouver also employs two legal liaisons (lawyers who help create strong connections with the legal community).
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