Improving UCL SearchWebNet, 3 December 2012

Dan Jackson, Senior Web Architect

Generally, the UCL search was described as ‘not fit for purpose’ by those that use it….The result is that many users do not use the UCL search and instead use Google search or find other navigation mechanisms.

Nomensa UCL Audit & User Research Report

…to understand the search requirements of UCL staff and students in order to prioritise work on enhancing the search functionality, the user interface and the range of information that is being indexed by the Funnelback search application.

The Three F’s

FunnelbackFront-endFindability

When it comes to search, install and forget no longer works.http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/11028-site-search-install-optimise-and-maintain

ucl.ac.uk Slade Bartlett IRIS Discovery

Video (streaming server, YouTube, etc.)

Audio (iTunesU, SoundCloud, etc.)

Social (Twitter, blogs, etc.)

People

Courses EventsFaculties /

DepartmentsNews Services etc…

Front-End

ADVANCED SEARCH‘BEST BET’

FILETYPE FILTER

FACETS

RELATED QUERIES

FindabilityThe ability of users to identify an

appropriate Web site and navigate the pages of the site to discover and retrieve

relevant information resources.

Metadata is not used in the right way and there is no system for tagging documents to influence search.

Each page needs to have appropriate tags associated with it so that the search refinements can sort them in a useful way

Nomensa UCL Audit & User Research Report

Get in touch!web-support@ucl.ac.uk