Project Publizebra.se : Development of a user-centered special digital library service for self-publishing authors in Sweden

Abstract: The goal of this thesis is the development of Publizebra.se, a user-centered special digital library prototype for self-publishing authors. The service is aimed to provide valuable information, features and resources in the production, marketing and distribution of books.    Digital libraries have in recent years started to play a role in providing self-published authors with the tools, information and services required to publish independently with standardized quality. The focus has been to promote self-publishing and avoiding the pitfalls of appalling cover art, poor editorial work or zero marketing. In Sweden no such digital library initiative exists, combined with the problem of relatively few self-publishing services providing the possibility of independent publishing, without stepping into any of the pitfalls above.   The development of Publizebra.se seeks to fill the gap of digital library initiatives for self-publishing in Sweden, aggregating and distributing the value-adding features and user needs of independent authors. The applied research follows a five-step design process associated with the methodology of user-centered design, consisting of strategy, discovery, information architecture, design and prototyping. Every step of the process encompassed methodologies for taking the development forward, while further relying on fundamental research of the environment and user needs. Heuristic evaluation and expert evaluation were conducted on the prototype by LIS and usability experts to assess its functionality and user-centered design. The feedback concluded the prototype to be accessible and easy to use, while indicating the need for additional development and improvements to visual and interaction design features prior to further testing.