Skelton Primo —
Academic Library UX Case Study
Improved Mercer University’s Skelton Primo library interface by identifying usability barriers and recommending redesigns that reduced user abandonment.
Improved Mercer University’s Skelton Primo library interface by identifying usability barriers and recommending redesigns that reduced user abandonment.
Usability Testing
Higher Education
Search Experience
Search Experience
Interaction Design
Interaction Design
Academic Library UX
Academic Library UX
Role
UX/UI Researcher
Industry
Education
Duration
3 months
Overview
Skelton Library’s Primo interface is a central tool for students searching for articles, books, and digital resources. Despite being widely adopted across academic systems, the interface often presents usability challenges for novice users. A team of myself and two other team members conducted a usability study and proposed UX improvements to enhance discoverability, search clarity, and task efficiency.
High-Level Outcomes:
Identified top usability barriers related to search filters and terminology
Proposed IA and interaction design enhancements for clearer navigation
Improved student ability to complete common academic research tasks
Overview
Skelton Library’s Primo interface is a central tool for students searching for articles, books, and digital resources. Despite being widely adopted across academic systems, the interface often presents usability challenges for novice users. A team of myself and two other team members conducted a usability study and proposed UX improvements to enhance discoverability, search clarity, and task efficiency.
High-Level Outcomes:
Identified top usability barriers related to search filters and terminology
Proposed IA and interaction design enhancements for clearer navigation
Improved student ability to complete common academic research tasks
Business Problem
Students frequently struggle with locating materials on the current Primo interface. This results in:
Inefficient research workflows
Overreliance on librarian assistance
Missed or overlooked resources
Business Objective: Enhance the search experience so students can independently and efficiently locate resources with minimal friction.
Research Questions
Can students locate and use advanced search features effectively?
Are filters, labels, and categories intuitive for academic research tasks?
Which parts of the interface cause hesitation or repeated errors?
Is the navigation structure aligned with students’ mental models?
Business Problem
Students frequently struggle with locating materials on the current Primo interface. This results in:
Inefficient research workflows
Overreliance on librarian assistance
Missed or overlooked resources
Business Objective: Enhance the search experience so students can independently and efficiently locate resources with minimal friction.
Research Questions
Can students locate and use advanced search features effectively?
Are filters, labels, and categories intuitive for academic research tasks?
Which parts of the interface cause hesitation or repeated errors?
Is the navigation structure aligned with students’ mental models?
Industry
Education
My Role
UX/UI Researcher
Organization
University Libraries / Skelton Library
[Timeline]
January 2021 - March 2021
Research Methods
Approach: Moderated usability testing and comparative analysis
Participants: 5 Faculty/Staff Members at Mercer University
Tasks Observed:
Searching for a known article
Using filters to narrow search results
Accessing full-text materials
Locating physical resources
Artifacts Produced:
Test Plan & Script
Observation Notes
Formal Usability Report (for client)
Presentation (for client)
Figure 1: Script/tasklist for usability testing
Research Methods
Approach: Moderated usability testing and comparative analysis
Participants: 5 Faculty/Staff Members at Mercer University
Tasks Observed:
Searching for a known article
Using filters to narrow search results
Accessing full-text materials
Locating physical resources
Artifacts Produced:
Test Plan & Script
Observation Notes
Formal Usability Report (for client)
Presentation (for client)
Figure 1: Script/tasklist for usability testing
Key Findings
A. Filter and Label Confusion
Users misunderstood filter terminology such as Availability, Resource Type, and Full Text Online.
B. Overloaded Search Results Page
The page hierarchy did not clearly distinguish primary actions from secondary ones, causing scanning fatigue.
C. Navigation Disconnects
Participants struggled to locate essential actions like saving, exporting, or accessing advanced options.
Key Findings
A. Filter and Label Confusion
Users misunderstood filter terminology such as Availability, Resource Type, and Full Text Online.
B. Overloaded Search Results Page
The page hierarchy did not clearly distinguish primary actions from secondary ones, causing scanning fatigue.
C. Navigation Disconnects
Participants struggled to locate essential actions like saving, exporting, or accessing advanced options.
Figure 2: Examples of label issues that users encountered
UX Recommendations
1. Clarify Filter Terminology with Plain Language
Replace ambiguous labels with task-oriented language.
2. Introduce a Results Page Visual Hierarchy
Distinguish primary actions (download, open, view) from secondary ones.
3. Combine Related Filters
Grouping filters reduces cognitive load and scannability issues.
4. Improve Advanced Search Entry Points
Ensure advanced options are easy to locate and clearly signposted.
5. Add Quick-Start Guidance for New Users
Brief contextual tooltips or short guides support novice researchers.
UX Recommendations
1. Clarify Filter Terminology with Plain Language
Replace ambiguous labels with task-oriented language.
2. Introduce a Results Page Visual Hierarchy
Distinguish primary actions (download, open, view) from secondary ones.
3. Combine Related Filters
Grouping filters reduces cognitive load and scannability issues.
4. Improve Advanced Search Entry Points
Ensure advanced options are easy to locate and clearly signposted.
5. Add Quick-Start Guidance for New Users
Brief contextual tooltips or short guides support novice researchers.
Impact
Expected improvements include:
Increased search success rates
Reduced dependency on library staff for basic tasks
Faster discovery of relevant materials
More intuitive filtering and navigation for novice users
Reflection
Key lessons from this case study include recognizing that:
Academic platforms require balancing complexity with clarity.
Small changes to filter language dramatically improve usability.
Students benefit from guided search pathways when learning new systems.
Future Opportunities/Areas of Improvement
There were a few limitations/areas of improvement that I identified during the study, as well potential fixes for said limitations
Broader Group of Participants for Usability Testing
Suggestion: Although we were able to reach our target group for the usability tests, I believe it would have been more focused to have medical students within the recruitment, as they would be more likely to interact with the Skelton Primo interface.
Limited time for usability testing
Suggestion: With the duration of this project being only two months in total, we did not have enough time to run tests with the number of participants we originally set. This is why we were only able to run five tests with the five participants. If possible, I would request an extension on time or more resources to be able to complete more tests in a perfect scenario.
Impact
Expected improvements include:
Increased search success rates
Reduced dependency on library staff for basic tasks
Faster discovery of relevant materials
More intuitive filtering and navigation for novice users
Reflection
Key lessons from this case study include recognizing that:
Academic platforms require balancing complexity with clarity.
Small changes to filter language dramatically improve usability.
Students benefit from guided search pathways when learning new systems.
Future Opportunities/Areas of Improvement
There were a few limitations/areas of improvement that I identified during the study, as well potential fixes for said limitations
Broader Group of Participants for Usability Testing
Suggestion: Although we were able to reach our target group for the usability tests, I believe it would have been more focused to have medical students within the recruitment, as they would be more likely to interact with the Skelton Primo interface.
Limited time for usability testing
Suggestion: With the duration of this project being only two months in total, we did not have enough time to run tests with the number of participants we originally set. This is why we were only able to run five tests with the five participants. If possible, I would request an extension on time or more resources to be able to complete more tests in a perfect scenario.
Copyright © 2025 by Jeremiah Pulliam
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