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Maura Carbone (Unlicensed) has taken responsibility for consolidating and refining these personas by .
Maura's Compiled Personas
Persona 1: Local Researcher “Old School”
- Chris, age 70
- A bit about Chris…
- Is not affiliated with the institution, and is limited in what he can access
- Can’t see certain records due to non-affiliation, and can’t get certain information due to privacy laws
- Is not affiliated with the institution, and is limited in what he can access
- Must drive a far distance to campus, so wants the most out of his visits
- Not technology savvy; no e-mail and doesn’t like using computers
- Wants to work with library staff, either in person or on the phone
- Wants physical materials over digital, including print outs of digital representations
- Interested in genealogical research, but no clear idea of what to do
- A bit about Chris…
- What Chris would need…
- Something intuitive, even for someone who is not tech-savvy
- Archive/Institution information: hours and telephone number. He will need staff help In clarifying his search and then executing it
- Clarity over what he can and can’t access – he doesn’t want to waste time searching in collections and requesting materials he can’t ever have
- Clarity over what THIS archive has; Chris is making the drive here and doesn’t want to come all this way for things that belong to a different institution or archive!
Original Personas
Local Researcher
- Chris, age 70
- Drives 45 minutes to visit library, and wants to maximize time on campus
- Unaffiliated with institution, so access is limited to some collections, databases, and holdings
- Does not like using computers and does not use e-mail
- Primarily communicates with library staff in person or via telephone
- Would like to do genealogical research on several different ancestors, but does not have any idea where to start
- Prefers using physical, original materials over digital objects and microfilm. Chris will be frustrated to learn upon arrival at the repository that the originals cannot be accessed (due to their having been digitized or microfilmed).
- Is not cognizant of restrictions surrounding the institution's student records and alumni files, and needs to be clearly informed of any such restrictions up-front.
- Will be confused if opening several different tabs and/or windows is necessary to request one item. Would have an easier time with a simple, fluid experience that encompasses searching for collections, identifying specific folders of interest, and requesting materials.
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