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Tof betterf understandf howf thef librarians,f gof aboutf theirf dailyf livesf If wouldf firstf likef tof observef
them.f Notf inf af Nationalf Geographic,f typef off way,f butf If wouldf likef tof shadowf af librarianf tof
seef whatf sectionsf shef usesf thef mostf andf howf easyf itf isf forf herf tof findf exactlyf whatf they’ref
lookingf for.f Secondly,f I’df likef tof interviewf thef librariansf onef byf one,f becausef eachf answerf inf
unique.f I’mf notf af fanf off groupf interviewsf becausef peoplef usuallyf tendf tof getf shyf aboutf whatf
theyf findf difficult.f Lastly,f I’df likef tof sendf questionnairesf tof thef librarians,f sof thatf theyf couldf
dof itf inf theirf ownf timef andf anonymously.f Havingf anonymousf answersf hasf itsf perksf becausef
peoplef usuallyf tendf tof bef blunter.f I’df recordf thef librariansf answersf usingf userf storiesf andf usef
cases.f Whenf usingf userf storiesf If wouldf createf twof wordf documents.f Onef documentf willf
containf positivef storiesf andf thef otherf wouldf statef thef negativef stories.f Thisf willf helpf definef
whatf needsf tof bef workedf onf first.f Whenf usingf Usef cases,f If wouldf preferf tof dof themf onf anf
excelf sheet.f If wouldf dof thef samef thingf forf excelf sheetsf whenf itf comesf tof dividingf themf
betweenf negativef orf positive.f Thef onlyf differencef wouldf bef thatf inf thef extensionsf partf off thef
usef case,f If wouldf includef myf observationsf off howf If seef thef librarianf goingf aboutf thatf specificf
topic.f Onef onf onef interviewsf withf eachf librarianf wouldf bef af goodf onef tof usef forf this.f Theref
aref probablyf fewf librariansf onf stafff forf thisf sizef off af libraryf andf gettingf withf eachf onef tof findf
outf whatf functionalityf thef programf wouldf needf andf whatf typef off automationf wouldf bef neededf
suchf asf automaticallyf trackingf thef personf checkingf outf thef book,f howf longf theyf havef hadf it,f
e-mailf remindersf forf overduef booksf etc.f Thisf informationf couldf alsof bef obtainedf withf
brainstorming,f orf af focusf groupf comprisedf off thef librariansf tof discussf thef programsf neededf
functions.f Duringf thef interviewf If wouldf writef userf storiesf layingf outf whatf thef individualf
personf wouldf wantf fromf thef systemf beingf developed.f Thisf wouldf bef quickf notesf aboutf whatf
functionsf theyf aref lookingf forf inf thef systemf andf whatf theyf wouldf wantf tof seef thef systemf dof
forf them.f Thesef couldf bef usedf duringf testingf tof seef iff thef functionalityf thef userf wantsf isf
workingf asf theyf outlined.f Anotherf wayf tof recordf itf wouldf bef asf af usef case.f Explainingf howf
theyf wouldf wantf thef systemf tof notf justf trackf whenf thef bookf wasf checkedf outf andf backf in,f butf
byf who,f howf longf theyf hadf it,f whenf itf shouldf bef returned,f andf includingf anf e-mailf
notificationf systemf tof notifyf iff thef booksf aref overduef andf whatf chargesf aref incurred.f Itf couldf
alsof havef detailsf explainingf whatf happensf tof thef bookf whenf itf isf returnedf suchf asf informationf
onf wheref itf goesf sof itf isf putf inf thef correctf binf tof bef putf backf onf thef shelves,f orf tof contactf
anotherf personf iff theref isf af waitingf listf forf thef book.f f Af library'sf infrastructuref off programsf
andf personnelf isf itsf mostf asset,f providingf thef foundationf forf everythingf itf doesf andf aspiresf tof
do,f whichf isf whyf assessmentf isf sof vitallyf important.f Librariansf usef af varietyf off researchf
methodsf tof makef decisionsf andf tof improvef performance.f Researchf canf bef broadlyf definedf asf
thef careful,f systematic,f patientf studyf andf investigationf inf somef fieldf off knowledge,f
undertakenf tof discoverf orf establishf factsf orf principles.f Thef 3f methodsf thatf If wouldf usef whenf
itf comesf tof gatheringf informationf fromf af libraryf aref observations,f interview,f andf existingf
recordf reviews.f Whenf observingf af library,f If wouldf watchf howf thef librariansf workf inf theirf
day-to-dayf activity.f Watchingf howf othersf workf getsf youf af betterf understandingf off howf
librariansf workf andf howf theyf usef thef system.f Next,f If wouldf interviewf onef off thef librariansf
likef howf theyf aref ablef keepf trackf off booksf usingf thef system?f Orf howf dof youf knowf whenf
someonef isf borrowingf booksf andf whenf it’sf supposedf tof bef returned?f I’mf suref thesef aref thef
thingsf thatf isf anf importantf partf off beingf af librarian.f Lastly,f If wouldf investigatef recordf
reviews.f Recordsf thatf aref reviewedf inf researchf mayf bef eitherf publicf orf private.f Anf examplef
wouldf bef researchingf andf collectingf informationf aboutf af diseasef fromf patientf medicalf
records.f Researchingf andf collectingf informationf basedf onf recordsf isf anotherf wayf off
understandingf howf systemsf work.f Youf couldf eitherf askf someonef aboutf itf orf lookf throughf
records.f Thesef aref waysf thatf canf helpf youf gatherf informationf onf whatf youf needf tof knowf andf
do.f Tof recordf thef collectedf information,f If wouldf usef myf phonef tof recordf thef interviewf
questionsf If asked,f sof thatf If canf listenf tof itf andf understandf howf systemf works.f Anotherf methodf
If wouldf usef isf byf havingf writtenf notesf thatf youf havef jottedf downf inf yourf notebook.f Thatf wayf
iff there’sf somethingf youf don’tf understandf youf couldf alwaysf researchf onlinef tof getf af betterf
understandingf onf whatf youf don’tf get.f
Methodsf tof gatherf informationf fromf thef university'sf librarians.
Listenf tof Customersf (andf Users)
Peoplef developf skillsf inf whatf thef appf does,f itsf workingsf off it,f andf itsf design.f Problemsf tof bef
solvedf quicklyf aref oftenf andf af notf clearlyf definedf explanationf thatf af computerf willf solvef thef
issue.f Listeningf tof thef peoplef asf muchf asf If canf onf whatf isf beingf saidf andf ideasf thatf canf bef
implemented.f Focusf isf keyf tof solvingf thef problemf insteadf off thef solutionsf fromf thef people'sf
perspectivef sof thatf thef necessitiesf aref flexible.
Usef thef Fivef Wsf (andf Onef H)
Peoplef havef troublef describingf whatf needsf tof bef done.f Helpf themf byf askingf thef fivef Wsf andf
anf Hf (who,f what,f when,f where,f andf why)f andf onef Hf (how).
Studyf Users
Interviewsf aref fantasticf tof getf informationf butf sometimesf it'sf notf thef bestf becausef sometimesf
peoplef willf notf givef outf thef informationf thatf isf beingf asked.f Questionsf canf bef hardf tof answerf
thatf thef devf teamf willf findf importantf tof them.
Copyf Existingf Systems
Replacingf systemsf withf af newf onef byf usingf replacingf existingf onesf canf bef off usef forf thef
requirements.f Thisf approachf isf linear.
Clairvoyance
Peoplef willf lookf atf thef goals,f seef itf through,f andf startf increasingf thef requiredf parts.
Brainstorm
Usingf thef copyf andf clairvoyancef approachf isf greatf butf itsf downfallf isf notf likelyf tof havef
innovativef solutions.f Beingf creativef isf revolutionary!
Methodsf tof recordf thef informationf thatf isf beingf gathered.
UML
Userf Stories
Usingf storiesf tof explainf whatf thef systemf isf doingf withf thef user.
Usef Cases
Interactivityf betweenf actorsf eitherf fromf usersf orf differentf partsf off thef application.
Prototypes
Af mockupf thatf allowsf usersf tof seef whatf itsf designf feelsf likef andf itsf behaviorf fromf thef
descriptionsf fromf storiesf andf cases.
Requirementsf Specification
Writingf af simplef andf easy-to-learnf specificationf forf thef softwaref tof fillf outf forms.
Supposef If wasf tof helpf af libraryf tof automatef thef 1,000f booksf thatf theyf havef thatf coverf 5f
subjects,f If can'tf imaginef whatf thosef subjectsf wouldf be.f Inf thatf case,f If firstf wantf tof interviewf
withf focusf groupsf off thosef off differentf rolesf tof determinef whatf typef off automationf theyf aref
lookingf forf andf howf orf whof willf bef thef authorf andf customerf off thef systemf itself.f Fromf theref If
wouldf probablyf wantf tof startf brainstormingf andf thinkingf off waysf tof getf af basicf prototypef outf
tof seef whatf thef consciousf off thef conceptf is.f If wouldf probablyf givef af surveyf tof seef whatf
everyone’sf thoughtsf isf andf iff it'sf lookingf goodf thenf If mayf gof tof completef thef finalf product.f
Thef bestf wayf If canf foreseef takingf downf thef informationf isf tof keepf myf stakeholdersf informedf
andf showf howf If amf progressingf inf finishingf thisf project.f If couldf alsof makef suref thatf iff theyf
thinkf somethingf isf moref importantf thanf whatf othersf aref callingf for,f thenf If canf createf af listf thatf
showsf prioritizef requirements.f
Inf orderf tof efficientlyf collectf andf recordf informationf inf af researchf projectf whichf wouldf
automatef thef university'sf libraryf itf isf importantf tof firstf identifyf thef specificf requirements.f If
wouldf gatherf requirementsf byf meansf off interviews,f userf observations,f andf usef cases.f Thisf
informationf isf thenf usedf tof createf requirementsf andf specificationf documentsf forf thef project.f
First,f If wouldf interviewf stakeholdersf inf thef projectf tof getf theirf feedbackf aboutf thef projectf andf
findf outf whatf theirf specificf requirementsf wouldf be.f Thesef couldf includef whatf theyf wantf thef
newf systemf tof dof andf howf theyf wantf tof usef it.f If wouldf alsof interviewf endf usersf off thef systemf
tof findf outf aboutf thef featuresf theyf thinkf thef systemf shouldf havef andf howf theyf wouldf preferf tof
usef thef system.f Iff appropriate,f If wouldf alsof interviewf peoplef whof havef experiencef usingf thef
systemf currentlyf tof getf feedbackf onf anyf problemsf theyf havef encounteredf andf howf thef systemf
couldf bef improved.f Thisf wouldf ensuref thatf thef newf systemf meetsf thef requirementsf off thef
usersf whof willf bef usingf it.f Itf couldf alsof bef usedf tof makef recommendationsf onf anyf newf
featuresf orf functionalitiesf thatf wouldf bef usefulf tof add.
If wouldf observef thef currentf usef off thef systemf andf carryf outf detailedf userf testsf onf af samplef off
usersf tof findf outf thef specificf featuresf andf functionsf thatf theyf wouldf likef tof seef inf thef system.f
2f methodsf tof documentf requirementsf includesf Prioritizingf Requirementsf andf Talkf tof thef
Rightf Stakeholdersf andf Users.f If wouldf usef thef 3f methodsf off 1)f userf observation,f 2)f userf
surveysf inf af workshop,f andf 3)f brainstormingf inf af workshop.f If havef somef experiencef withf
thesef andf hadf success.f Thef userf observationf wouldf lookf likef itf sounds,f visuallyf observingf thef
librariansf atf thef frontf deskf duringf af workf shift,f notingf howf theyf aref doingf theirf work.f Thef
userf surveysf inf af workshopf wouldf bef writtenf questionsf forf themf tof answerf aboutf howf theyf
wouldf likef thef automationf tof work.f Lastlyf thef brainstormingf inf af workshopf wouldf bef
gatheringf anyf andf allf ideasf onf af largef formatf likef af whitef board.Myf twof methodsf off recordingf
thef informationf wouldf bef thef writtenf papersf fromf thef surveysf andf digitallyf capturingf
(pictures)f off thef brainf stormingf activities.f If believef bothf off thesef wouldf fallf underf thef Designf
Toolsf method.f Thef follow-upf tof confirmf whatf If capturedf vs.f whatf thef librariansf wantedf orf
needsf expressedf willf bef af criticalf step.f Duringf thef requirementf gatheringf processf If wouldf usef
af fewf differentf methodsf tof gatherf informationf andf recordf thatf informationf inf af wayf thef makesf
requirementsf clearf andf coversf everythingf thatf thef clientsf need.f
Onef methodf If wouldf usef isf Documentf Analysis.f Thisf methodf isf usedf forf examiningf thef
existingf systemf beingf usedf withinf thef libraryf andf takingf af lookf atf thef requirementsf forf thatf
systemf tof determinef whatf thisf systemf wasf createdf for.
Methodf twof wouldf bef interviewingf thef librariansf tof determinef whatf theirf goalsf andf
expectationsf aref forf thef system.Methodf threef wouldf bef Observation.f If wouldf usef thisf methodf
tof observef thef currentf systemf beingf usedf tof getf af betterf understandingf off thef systemf andf itsf
stepsf whilef alsof lookingf forf potentialf pointsf tof improve.f Asf farf asf thef recordingf methodsf gof
theref aref two,f If wouldf usef inf thisf case.f Thef firstf onef wouldf bef thef UMLf (Unifiedf Modelf
Language)f becausef itf willf allowf mef tof recordf thef informationf inf af wayf thatf willf showf howf
certainf partsf off thef systemf shouldf work.f Itf worksf byf creatingf diagramsf off twof categoriesf andf
thenf breakingf themf downf intof specificf typesf withf af setf off rules.f Thef processf isn'tf perfectf butf
doesf af goodf jobf off showingf howf thef systemf shouldf workf basedf onf thef requirements.f Next,f If
wouldf usef userf storiesf tof recordf thef information.f Thisf wayf If canf recordf thef informationf fromf
thef librariansf inf af wayf thatf showsf howf theyf wouldf wantf tof dof somethingf withf thef system.f Inf
orderf tof properlyf createf anf applicationf forf automationf purposesf forf thef universityf libraryf
somef off thef topf methodsf inf whichf tof gatherf informationf fromf thef librariansf aref thef following.
1.f Interviewing.f Interviewingf thef librariansf givef youf thef opportunityf tof findf outf whatf theyf
havef inf placef nowf system-wisef andf alsof whatf theyf personallyf wantf tof havef improved.f Byf
doingf eitherf groupf interviewsf orf individualf orf both,f youf aref ablef tof knowf first-handf whatf
thingsf workf asf theyf shouldf andf whatf doesn'tf workf andf whatf waysf thef newf applicationf canf
approvef thef librarian'sf efficiencyf makingf theirf jobf easier.f
2.f Userf observation.f Byf settingf side-by-sidef observation,f youf canf seef firsthandf thef currentf
applicationf andf functionalityf off thef systemf theyf havef inf place.f Thisf allowsf youf tof knowf whatf
stepsf thef librariansf makef andf whatf possiblef shortcutsf orf shorterf processesf couldf allowf themf
tof automatef theirf currentf process.f Alsof allowsf youf tof seef iff theyf aref usingf anf olderf legacyf
systemf orf couldf possiblyf updatef tof moref currentf meansf off storagef likef AWSf orf Microsoftf
Azuref forf cloudf storagef forf maintenancef andf updates.f
3.f Documentf analysis.f Documentf analysisf allowsf youf tof seef howf thef librariansf currentlyf
documentf theirf workf andf thef booksf andf iff theref aref discrepanciesf withf howf theyf aref currentlyf
doingf theirf documentation.f Thisf allowsf forf yourf applicationf whenf createdf tof takef intof
considerationf thef documentationf portionf andf allowf forf improvementf onf waysf tof keepf trackf off
thef booksf andf what'sf owedf etc.f
Twof waysf thatf If wouldf recordf thef informationf wouldf bef withf af Microsoftf wordf documentf andf
anf excelf spreadsheet.f Thef wordf documentf wouldf allowf forf notesf tof bef enteredf andf prioritizedf
basedf onf categories.f Thef excelf spreadsheetf willf allowf forf thef numberf off booksf thef libraryf
holds,f categories,f andf graphsf onf usagef alongf withf latef turn-ins,f etc.f
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