Libri

In the current digital age, with the widespread popularity of online bookstores and the convenience of e-books, fewer and fewer people are choosing to visit physical libraries. Users often face difficulties in obtaining comprehensive information when searching for books they are interested in. Libraries house vast collections, and even books on the same topic can have significantly different content, making it challenging for users to pinpoint the specific reads they are looking for. These issues impact the vitality of libraries and reduce users' opportunities to discover great books.

Our research indicates that while overall library borrowing trends have fluctuated, the circulation of digital resources continues to grow. Simultaneously, physical libraries still see substantial visitor numbers and borrowing volumes, highlighting their potential value. However, in recent years, the overall borrowing volume from U.S. public libraries has shown a declining trend, particularly for physical materials. This underscores the need for new approaches to attract users and enhance the relevance of libraries.

I conducted a survey to gain deeper insights into people's library usage habits and their needs and opinions regarding a virtual library assistant.

I examined user reviews for the San Francisco Public Library and Sunnyvale Public Library to understand common user experiences and identify areas for potential improvement or consideration in our design.

I mapped the user journey for a representative persona, Michael Davis, illustrating his process of seeking and obtaining books, from the initial realization of needing a new book to the final act of reading. The map highlights his actions, thoughts, feelings, and pain points at each stage, such as the frustrations encountered when seeking recommendations or checking availability.

I chose to design a mobile application because it allows users the convenience of searching for books anytime, anywhere, receiving personalized recommendation notifications, and using the AI chat function to help users find books, aligning with modern user habits.

The "AI-Powered Library Book Recommendation System" project originated from observing the challenges faced by modern libraries – declining visitor numbers and difficulties users encounter when searching for books. Through in-depth market research, competitor analysis, user interviews, and surveys, we confirmed the necessity of providing a personalized and convenient tool for book discovery. The proposed mobile application design aims to leverage AI technology to offer users precise recommendations, integrate library resources, and simplify the borrowing and purchasing processes. We hope this will enhance the connection between users and libraries and reshape the modern reading experience.

Participating in this project allowed me to deeply appreciate the importance of user research within the UI/UX design process. From survey and interview results, I learned not only to focus on users' explicit needs but also to uncover their underlying pain points (such as privacy concerns). In the design phase, I also learned how to translate research insights into concrete design decisions and continuously optimize user flows and interfaces through iteration. Understanding the limitations of traditional library systems and how to utilize emerging technologies (like AI) to revitalize them was the most valuable learning experience from this project. Simultaneously, my skills in project management and clearly presenting complex research findings were also honed during this process.