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Usability of public libraries: perceptions and experiences of new users

First impressions are important, yet few studies examine libraries from the perspective of new users. This comparative project investigates the usability of traditional and newly built public libraries for new users in comparison to bookshops, recording initial perceptions and tools used in retrieval of physical items using a number of methods. Usability varied widely in the libraries studied though they were not necessarily less usable than bookshops. A number of best practices from both libraries and bookshops are highlighted to aid future library design.