>> Our User Persona, #Kayla, helps to encapsulate the overall User Experience of Prospective Students in the Usability/UX Study...
On a Quest for MLIS:
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“Hello, my name is Kayla – and, I’m ‘On a #Quest for MLIS’ … I am a Gen Z college graduate with a combined background in English Literature and Childhood Education. Since my undergraduate days, I have worked a number of part-time jobs including: an events planner; one-on-one childhood tutoring; artistic barista creations; and a local book club organizer at our town’s independent bookstore. Things got pretty rough after Covid-19 hit, and retail closures alongside financial concerns sent me back to live with my parents to figure things out. Things are looking up now, my local public library had an opening for a #Paraprofessional Role that really piqued my interest. I got the job, thank goodness. Now, I realize that I’ve found my passion. And I’ve decided for sure that I’d like to become a full-time librarian – but after consulting with my branch manager, I have decided that I need to head towards graduate school in order to qualify for the position."
"I’ve been checking out some of my options with nearby colleges, but then I found a fully online MLIS program at the SJSU iSchool from an ad in the American Libraries magazine that I borrowed from a library co-worker. This really was a serendipitous find – balancing perfectly with my busy work/life schedule. Everything is completely online and #asynchronous, so I can even do my work from home in Yoga pants whenever my busy schedule allows. I’m checking out all the details on the school’s website. I need to figure out if I can discover the right fit with all of the multiple course offerings and financial commitments. At the school’s homepage, I happen upon some success stories of past alumni with motivating video interview dialogues. I’ve signed up for an Open House, and I’ve downloaded the school’s brochure, as well as the MLIS Skills at Work and A Day in the Life of an Online Student PDF files for further reflection.”
High Priority Information Needs for Prospective MLIS Students:
Based on an in-depth literature review and preliminary observational analysis, several high priority information needs have been identified for further group testing – working one-on-one directly with real users interacting with the SJSU #iSchool Website. The “Top 10” Highlighted Information Needs for the respective users to be investigated in the UX/Usability Study include:
Admissions and Application Process
Financial Aid and Tuition Information
Quality and Prestige of the Program (including: Social Media Channels, Word-of-Mouth, and Crowdsourcing of Information)
Career Trajectories with Job and Income Expectations
Program and Course Information
Diversity, Social Identity, and “Person-Organization Fit”
Program Completely Online (including: Canvas, Mobile Apps, and Accessibility)
Faculty Bios, CVs, Resumes and Accomplishments
Student/Alumni Success Stories and Accomplishments
Library (Electronic Resources) and Available Technology (including: AR/VR, Maker Spaces, etc.)
Lifecycle of MLIS Students: Identifying Evolving “Pain Points”:
“Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.”
“Hi, it’s Kayla once again… So, ‘Yay!’ – I’ve actually been accepted into the MLIS program. My initial experience with the SJSU #iSchool Website was quite positive. I found everything that I needed with relative ease, and then scheduled an Open House to get some of my lingering questions answered before enrolling in the program. With a little bit of finesse and back-and-forth discussions between myself, my family and #iSchool advisors, I was finally able to get a financial aid package that made it all possible to move forward with my career ambitions. Furthermore, the spotlights on Alumni working out in the field in various information science professional roles gave me real hope for finding a similar pathway to success. I also appreciated the support in getting acclimated to the online learning environment in INFO 203 before delving into my studies in earnest."
"Now that I am a full-time student, I am struggling to juggle all of my responsibilities with school, family, life – as well as my side hustle as a busy Library assistant. (Who really needs a social life anyway, right?) But truly, all jokes aside, as I am earnestly trying to successfully navigate all that the #iSchool Website has to offer – I’m actually getting a bit lost sometimes. So much information – alongside jumping between multiple websites with my INFO 200 class (Canvas, Community Blog Site, Zoom Meetings and Course Site). I often find myself utilizing Google Search to find everything that I am looking for, instead of wandering through the tedious Homepage search bar and complicated navigation breadcrumb structures."
"So much to keep track of – ongoing calendar deadlines, assignments, textbooks, syllabi, Zoom conferences, and now our forthcoming enrollment for the new semester is fast approaching. I wish that I had a customizable mobile app to help me keep on top of managing all of these things – and maybe even just an easier way to converse more readily with other MLIS students (on various social media channels) who share similar concerns for our forthcoming #ePortfolio requirements A through O. Working remotely out here in the digital ether can be kind of frustrating at times, I would really love the ability to have a mobile platform that would allow me to develop more of a sense of true participation and meaningful involvement with the #iSchool Community in my ongoing MLIS Journey. And now, I also need to start scheduling appointments with my faculty and career counselors to be sure that I’m fully prepared to reach my goals… Argh, am I ever going to make it to the finish line?”
“Gen Z Profile” from Pew Research Center:
More racially and ethnically #diverse than ever before.
Increasing likelihood to struggle with gaining reliable #employment.
Uncertain future and social media amplification – leading to bouts of depression and #anxiety.
Overrepresented in high-risk service sector industries.
Identify as “digital natives” – who have little or no memory of the world as it existed before #smartphones.
Rapidly changing gender identity and open to broader societal changes.
More likely to be engaged in #educational endeavors.
Gen Z'ers are also more #progressive and generally pro-government.
“General Statistics” for Prospective MLIS Students:
61 Number of American Library Association (ALA)–accredited MLIS programs in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
64% Percentage of ALA-accredited MLIS programs that offer completely online degree programs.
$37,500 Median annual tuition cost for a library science program at an out-of-state private college, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The median annual tuition cost for a library science program at an in-state public college is $7,238.
80% Percentage of 2014–2015 MLIS graduates who were women.
84% Percentage of library jobs that require a master’s degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
*Source: “By the Numbers: Library School” from American Libraries Magazine
Skills Necessary for New MLIS Professionals:
Advocacy/Politics
Communication/People Skills
Creativity/#Innovation
Critical Thinking
Data Analysis
Leadership
Marketing and Project Management
Technological #Expertise