Testing the Competition: Usability of Commercial Information Sites Compared with Academic Library Web Sites

Abstract

With the growing size of academic library Web sites, constant updating, authentication issues, and organization are increasingly difficult for libraries to maintain user-friendly sites. This usability study examines how students use electronic research libraries such as Questia, which has been designed to replace traditional libraries and compare it with large university library Web sites. Students were asked to perform tasks at two electronic research library sites and then at two large university library Web sites. Major implications of this study are that design features incorporated by Web site designers can drastically affect the success of students doing research. nyone who has worked in an academic library over the past few years has agonized over the library home page and how best to present library resources to students. Professional Web designers have developed guidelines that work well for companies that have robust resources to implement extensive user studies and to hire specialists. However, for most librarians, the Web design principles and access to digital resources are still the "librarians know best model," where users are expected to know how information is organized and to know the meaning of library terminology. The "librarians know best model" is advantageous only for the library with a limited amount of digital resources that can be attractively organized and displayed and easy to understand. Yet, many times, libraries acquire more and more electronic and digital databases and products, which makes constant updating, authentication issues, and organization, while keeping things user friendly, a constant challenge.To answer this challenge, a new generation of one-stop electronic research libraries is cropping up with direct marketing designed to cut out libraries completely and target university students. Do these for-profit research centers provide students easier access to online materials? Do these sites entice students to use their resources more readily than do library home pages? That is the question this article addresses.

An exploration into the practices of library Web usability in ARL academic libraries

“…The increase in the use of electronic sources, such as journals, reference materials, and government publications has grown exponentially. Complications do occur with this transition; most notably, libraries have had difficulties providing as seamless an interface as other information sources, such as online banking pages (McGillis & Toms, 2001; Travis & Norlin, 2002). Patrons come to the library with varying needs (Gullikson, Blades, Bragdon, McKibbon, Sparling, & Toms, 1999; Cockrell & Jayne, 2002), and access the library Web site with different tasks at hand (finding a book, borrowing the book, citing the book, etc.…”

LibraryFind: System design and usability testing of academic metasearch system

“…Users also have trouble deciding where to start searches and perceiving where they are in their search (Battleson, Booth, & Weintrop, 2001;Chisman et al, 1999;Eliason et al, 1997;Stephan et al, 2006;Thomsett-Scott, 2005;Travis & Norlin, 2002). Additionally, college students find it difficult to choose an appropriate database from library Web sites (Battleson et al, 2001).…”

An Alternative to Existing Library Websites : Evaluation of Nine Start Pages using Criteria Extracted from Library Literature

“…Widgets open in a new window, meaning contact with the home page is not lost. This is an advantage over iGoogle, where widgets open in the home page window, necessitating use of the back button to return to the start page (Travis & Norlin, 2002).…”

“…As with iGoogle, this suggests the use of an efficient search algorithm (Wang & Lim, 2009). The effect is less frustration for the user during the search process, as a My Yahoo page can be quickly set up (Travis & Norlin, 2002). This is balanced by the limited branding capability of the site (Maltz, 2005).…”

“…The information in those areas is selected for its quality (Fox, 2008). But the language being used is still library terminology (Travis & Norlin, 2002). The search process involves numerous clicks, rather than a single push of a button.…”