This report includes the results of an initial assessment of genealogists' requirements for the redesign of the Portal's interface. The UNT Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the libraries' Portal to Texas History. The IOGENE project involves genealogists in the design process beginning with the initial assessment of their requirements and continuing through usability testing of the redesigned Portal interface.

This report is the first interim performance report for the project titled: Optimizing the User Experience in a Rapid Development Framework. The reporting period is December 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The report includes three sections: Interim Goals and Accomplishments, Significant Findings and Accomplishments, and Project Achievements and Lessons Learned.

This report presents the findings of usability tests given as part of the IOGENE project. During March and April of 2008, members of the Denton County Genealogical Society participated in usability testing of the existing interface to the Portal. The purpose of the testing was to identify ways in which The Portal to Texas History could be improved to better address genealogists' needs. This report tells the findings from those tests. These findings in conjunction with the findings from focus group discussions held in the spring of 2008 will inform the initial redesign of the Portal's interface.

This report is the second interim performance report for the project titled: Optimizing the User Experience in a Rapid Development Framework. The reporting period is July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. The report includes three sections: Interim Goals and Accomplishments, Significant Findings and Accomplishments, and Project Achievements and Lessons Learned.

This report provides information about the IOGENE project. The UNT Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in December 2007 for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the Libraries' Portal to Texas History. The Portal provides users with a digital gateway to collections in Texas libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies, as well as to private collections. It contains primary source materials, including maps, books, manuscripts, diaries, photographs, and letters. The IOGENE project involves genealogists in the design process beginning with the initial assessment of their requirements and continuing through usability testing of the redesigned Portal interface. The results of this study will provide the library community with information about the needs and interface requirements of a little-studied group of lifelong learners who comprise a significant proportion of digital library users.

This is a report of the findings from the March 16, 2008 focus group discussion with members of the Dallas Genealogical Society. The UNT Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in December 2007 for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the Libraries' Portal to Texas history. The IOGENE project involves genealogists in the design process beginning with the initial assessment of their requirements and continuing through usability testing of the redesigned Portal interface.

This report presents findings from the March 30, 2008 focus group discussion with members of the Dallas Genealogical Society. The UNT Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in December 2007 for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the Libraries' Portal to Texas history. The IOGENE project involves genealogists in the design process beginning with the initial assessment of their requirements and continuing through usability testing of the redesigned Portal interface.