What We Talk About When We Talk About Digital Libraries: UX Approaches to Labeling Online Special Collections

Burns, Dylan M.; Sundt, Alex; Pumphrey, Darcy; Thoms, Becky

doi:10.3998/weave.12535642.0002.102

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…The Website as Library Branch model could perhaps look to the world of digital libraries for inspiration, where there have already been significant conversations about what language might best describe digital libraries and how they could best be "merged with traditional library practices" (Burns et al, 2019). Like library websites, digital libraries have struggled with how best to articulate an accurate model of themselves to users.…”

Section: Website As Library Branchmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is a Library Website, Anyway? Reconsidering Dominant Conceptual Models

Paterson

2021

Partnership

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In late 2019, Thompson Rivers University embarked on a multi-phase website usability project beginning with a website user survey, to be followed shortly afterward by usability testing and interviews. While the survey was completed as planned, the COVID-19 pandemic closed the library and interrupted the usability testing phase. This interruption and the frantic website changes that followed led me to consider survey findings within the context of differing conceptual models of the library website as a whole. This study explores a number of conceptual models of the library website in further depth, considering evidence from both the existing literature and the user survey in addition to the researcher’s own experience making post-COVID website updates. Particular models that are examined include Website as Research Portal, Website as Extension or Representation of the physical library, and Website as Library Branch. Each of these conceptual models has different implications on priorities, structure, purpose, and resource allocation. Rather than considering the models of library employees superior or more advanced than those of students, I contend that an awareness of myriad ways to understand the website can best bridge the gap between library employees and other users. The study concludes that while there is no perfect model of the library website, considering and communicating our models may sharpen collegial decision-making structures and create greater unity of purpose within the library.

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Section: Website As Library Branchmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is a Library Website, Anyway? Reconsidering Dominant Conceptual Models

Paterson

2021

Partnership

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A Mismatched Group of Items That I Would Not Find Particularly Interesting: Challenges and Opportunities with Digital Exhibits and Collections Labels

Narlock¹,

Martinez-Montavon²,

Harden³

2022

EBLIP

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Objective – The authors sought to identify link language that is user-friendly and sufficiently disambiguates between a digital collection and digital exhibit platform for users from a R1 institution, or a university with high research activity and doctoral programs as classified in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Methods – The authors distributed two online surveys using a modified open card sort and reverse-category test via university electronic mailing lists to undergraduate and graduate students to learn what language they would use to identify groups of items and to test their understanding of link labels that point to digitized cultural heritage items. Results – Our study uncovered that the link terms utilized by cultural heritage institutions are not uniformly understood by our users. Terms that are frequently used interchangeably (i.e., Digital Collections, Digital Project, and Digital Exhibit) can be too generic to be meaningful for different user groups. Conclusion – Because the link terms utilized by cultural heritage institutions were not uniformly understood by our users, the most user-friendly way to link to these resources is to use the term we—librarians, curators, and archivists—think is most accurate as the link text based on our professional knowledge and provide a brief description of what each site contains in order to provide necessary context.

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What We Talk About When We Talk About Digital Libraries: UX Approaches to Labeling Online Special Collections

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

What is a Library Website, Anyway? Reconsidering Dominant Conceptual Models

What is a Library Website, Anyway? Reconsidering Dominant Conceptual Models

A Mismatched Group of Items That I Would Not Find Particularly Interesting: Challenges and Opportunities with Digital Exhibits and Collections Labels

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