Usability evaluation of an academic library website

Abstract

Purpose – The paper aims to evaluate the usability of the website of Central Science Library (CSL), University of Delhi. Multi-method approach of evaluation is used with the use of standard checklist and questionnaire survey of representative users. Besides, the information architecture of the website under study is analysed in this paper. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the literature review and the author’s experience, a usability assessment tool for library websites was developed by Pant (2013). It comprises standard checklist and questionnaire for users’ survey. In the present study, this framework was used to assess the usability of CSL website. The questionnaire survey of 35 representative users was conducted through random sampling. The results of both methods (standard checklist and questionnaire survey) were analysed for evaluating the website usability. Findings – Need for improvement of the website was realised in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and learnability for better usability. Notice board, site search facility, list of services, FAQs and user guides were the most sought after features among others as per the analysis of the questionnaire survey. Besides, the need to enhance the visual appeal of the website was felt. However, information resources provided through the CSL website were found useful for users. Originality/value – The paper presents an innovative multi-method approach of website usability assessment while considering six usability attributes: Usefulness, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Learnability, Satisfaction and Accessibility. The approach adopted in this paper is cost effective in comparison to formal usability tests and heuristic evaluation. Therefore, this framework is suitable for libraries having limited budget to ensure the user-centred library website with maximum usability. This paper encourages other libraries to conduct similar website usability evaluation to identify the usability problem areas and users’ perception for their respective website.

Usability of Central Library Websites of Iranian Universities of Medical Sciences an Evaluation

“…A review of the related literature on usability of academic library websites showed that these studies had been generally carried out using methodologies other than cognitive walkthrough method [23][24][25][26] and this study was the first employing cognitive walkthrough method to meet the evaluation purposes.…”

Identifying Dimensions and Their Measuring Items for Library Website Usability Acceptance Model: Instrument Development and Validation

“…Usability how easy to use the website [3] Do you think this website is easy to use and expected task can be fulfil without facing any errors…”

“…Web usability can be defined as the degree of user achievement to specific goals in the website with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction [4]. Websites have fulfilled with usability, if the user expected information and services are available; the required task can be fulfilled and completed quickly without facing any errors and easy to remember for next time browsing; feel satisfied; as well as accessible provisions for disabilities [3], [8], [9].…”

“…Presently, libraries draw attention to promote e-resources, online catalogues, web 2.0 services, and online reference services through their websites to achieve the existing challenges of promoting better visibility for their print resources, offering various value added electronic services, and providing an access to quality content in electronic form. In addition, user satisfaction to the website is another big demand for the libraries and user satisfaction can be achieved if the interface and content of the library website have fulfilled with the usability principles [3]. Therefore, developing usable websites meeting with the information and services given is essential for library's success since users satisfy with information and services that provide mainly through websites [4].…”

Online vásárlási folyamat hatékonyságának növelése – két webáruház használhatóságának összehasonlítása szemmozgáskövetéssel

“…A piaci alkalmazásokban számos piackutató cég végez ilyen jellegű kutatásokat, habár az akadémia marketingkutatásokban, a marketingoktatásban egyelőre kevésbé van jelen. A használhatóság alatt olyan minőségi kritériumot értünk, amely azt mutatja meg, hogy mennyire könnyű, egyszerű a felhasználónak a weboldalt kezelnie ("easy to use"), mennyire hatékonyan tud végrehajtani egy adott feladatot (például vásárlást), és mennyire elégedett a felhasználó az oldal használatával (Joo, Lin, & Lu, 2011). Az ISO (2018) alapján "a használhatóság annak a mértéke, hogy egy adott rendszert, terméket vagy szolgáltatást adott felhasználók egy meghatározott felhasználási környezetben a meghatározott céloknak megfelelően mennyire hatékonyan, hatásosan és elégedettséggel tudnak használni".…”