An Evaluation of the Accessibility of E-resources from Theological Library Websites

Abstract

This study examines the accessibility of e-resources from the websites of theological libraries to discover if theological libraries are providing digital access to e-journals, recommended religious internet resources, and digital libraries. Qualitative content analysis was used to evaluate the placement and terminology of e-resources on twenty-five theological library websites of faith-based institutions with primarily graduate/professional students. Findings revealed slightly more than half of these websites make e-resources available and are easily accessible through a quick navigational pathway. terminology used was found to be diverse and varied. These findings suggest that theological library websites are attempting to meet the digital needs of their students. Further study is recommended to understand the impact, if any, these findings may have on the digital needs of theological students. IntroductIont heological library websites serve as the virtual front door to the ever-increasing amount of electronic information for students, researchers, and faculty. This raises a number of issues for theological librarians, including website design and usability testing and availability of e-resources. Not the least of these issues is the fact that many theological libraries lack adequate funding for the technical support and infrastructure necessary to handle this increase in e-resources. This study seeks to fill a gap in the literature of theological librarianship by providing a qualitative analysis of theological library websites.As more and more library users seek information online it has become increasingly important for libraries not to simply establish a web presence but to use their websites to extend their mission and services beyond the physical library. In a collection of essays addressing theological librarianship and the internet, stover directly addressed the need for theological libraries to design websites that reflect their mission, purpose, and role within religious, academic communities. Keck, in the same volume, expressed the importance of "opening the front door" by providing a website that is easy to navigate and rich with information. These articles are rich in theory and provide philosophical and conceptual guidance to theological librarians for designing websites.

Dialogic communication on universities in Ghana libraries’ websites

“…In an examination of websites of 41 health sciences libraries with an emphasis on best practices for navigational design, Brower (2004) recommended that several important navigational elements for all health science library's home pages be included, such as bibliographical databases listed by title, e-books, electronic journals, hours of operation, instructions or tutorials, news and services. In a similar study to check the accessibility of e-resources from theological libraries' websites, Ganski (2008) found that half of the websites make e-resources available and also that they are easily accessible through a quick navigational pathway. In a content analysis of the libraries' websites of technical university libraries in North India, Vasisha (2013) found that only two libraries, namely, National Institute of Technology Hamirpur (NITH) and National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), had provided information about back volumes of journals and standards available in the library.…”

Navigating Theological Resources

“…In terms of taking note of what content exists on the websites, this study will follow the path of Still (2001), Aharony (2012), and Chow, Bridges and Commander (Chow, Bridges and Commander 2014). Building on these analyses of academic library websites and drawing on the work of Ganski (2008), the current study will focus specifically on theological libraries, analyzing the content and navigation of this sub-group.…”

“…This study originally sought parallels to that of Ganski (2008), tracing the frequency of e-journals, external links, and digital libraries as content items. While this study did find all of these content items as distinct links on the library websites studied, none of them were common enough to be considered key content for theological libraries across the board.…”

Dissemination of electronic journals

“…Bower's research recommended that some important navigational elements for all health science library's home pages like bibliographical databases listed by title, e‐books, electronic journals, hours of operations, instructions or tutorials, news and services. Ganski (2008) did the similar study to check the accessibility of e‐resources from Theological library websites. She used the qualitative content analysis method and found that half of the websites make e‐resources available and are easily accessible through a quick navigational pathway.…”