Welcome to the UX Interest Group (UXIG)!

The UX Interest Group of the British Columbia Library Association is a community of practice for sharing knowledge and strategies related to user experience (UX) in libraries.

Our work will be relevant to BC libraries of different sizes, types, and communities, and may also be of interest to adjacent organizations and initiatives, such as in other GLAM sectors.

The UXIG is open to UX practitioners and others wanting to improve user experience in libraries (and adjacent spaces). You do not need to be a BCLA member to take part.

For more about what the group does and how it works, see the BCLA UX Interest Group Terms of Reference.

What is usability and how does it relate to libraries?

Usability (or user experience) is really about trying to make our tools, services, resources, and processes better for our communities — more self-evident, and as effortless to use as possible.

From Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited:

If something is usable — whether it’s a Web site, a remote control, or a revolving door — it means that: A person… can figure out how to use the thing to accomplish something without it being more trouble than it’s worth. (p 9)

On the internet, the competition is always just one click away, so if you frustrate users they’ll head somewhere else. (p 18)

Join us: Get involved with the UXIG

Regular meetings: We have scheduled our first meeting for Wednesday 11 February 2026, 10-11 am, online, link to come.

BCLA annual conference: We are scheduled to present a Birds of a Feather session as part of the 2026 conference.

Check back for more details and updates about further events.

Contact us

The group’s co-chairs are: Mark Goodwin [mark.goodwin@ubc.ca] and Janis McKenzie [[email protected]].