​
IMPROVING Brooklyn Historical Society's Website
The Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) was founded in 1863, and is dedicated to preserving the long and rich history of Brooklyn. The institution has two locations: the main location on Pierrepont Street and the newer location on the waterfront in DUMBO. BHS hosts a variety of events throughout the year and display exhibitions on a variety of subjects and items from their collections. The BHS appeals to and serves a wide audience, from historical researchers to tourists from around the world. The library and archives house thousands of documents, photos, maps, and other materials related Brooklyn’s history. The website, brooklynhistory.org, is a gateway for users to learn about and engage with BHS.
​
In order to insure the website is usable and provides a positive experience for the BHS’s large audience, four graduate students and I from the Pratt Institute’s School of Information conducted in- person usability testing. Before testing, the evaluators met with Julie May and Marcia Ely from BHS to discuss their thoughts on the website, and what the kind of user behaviors/thoughts they were interested in learning more about.
​
The evaluators developed a set of parameters for choosing potential study participants and recruited via online survey and an in-person visit to the BHS Dumbo location. Ten people were chosen to participate in the study with each receiving a $10 MetroCard as compensation. The participants completed three tasks, a series of questions, and the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of use Questionnaire.
​
Based on the usability issues experienced by study participants, the researchers identified three major usability problem themes and developed several recommendations. With these recommendations, the user experience and overall usability of the website should improve.
​