Website Usability

Data

Q1: Using the library web site, can you tell if the library has any books written by Marc Bekoff?

Successful_X___                     Unsuccessful______

Observer's comment:

Research Tools --> Other Library Catalogs-->back to Research Tools-->HGARC-->Other Library Catalogs-->BUOPAC-->

selects "Author Search" types Marc Bekoff, views the results retypes Bekoff, Marc and is sucessful

Follow-up to Q1 if unsuccessful: If the student is unsuccessful, the librarian should ask what word or phrase were you looking for, but did not find?

Student's   response:

Observer's comment about underlying question of: Are students able to navigate to the catalog to look for a book?

 Student knew she wanted the Library Catalog- not easy to find

Q2: Using the library web site, can you find an electronic copy of Journal of Asset Management ?

Successful__X___                     Unsuccessful______

Observer's comment:

eJournals A-Z--> types the journal title--> goes right to it !

1 st Follow-up to Q2 if unsuccessful: If the participant goes to the catalog and stops, the librarian should ask, "is there somewhere else on the library web site to look for this?"

Student's   response:

2 nd Follow-up to Q2 if unsuccessful:   If the student still does not find the eJournals list, the librarian should ask, "what word or phrase were you looking for, but did not find?"

Student's   response:

Observer's comment about underlying question of:   Do students use the eJournals A-Z list for electronic journals?

Yes.

Q3: Using the library web site, can you find a print copy of the Journal of the American Helicopter Society ?

Successful__X___                     Unsuccessful______

Observer's comment:

eJournals A-Z--> types the journal title--> "no"--> back to BUOPAC--> types the journal title-->finds the journal record - but seems unsure 

Follow-up to Q3 if unsuccessful: If the student is unsuccessful, the librarian should ask what word or phrase were you looking for, but did not find?

Student's   response:

Observer's comment about underlying question of: Are students able to navigate to the catalog for a print journal?

 Again, the library catalog is not obvious.

Q4: Using the library web site, how would you get a book or article we do not own?

Successful_____                     Unsuccessful___X?___

Observer's comment:

Library Catalogs--> go to another library's catalog
we ask "Is there any other way?
Services--> Interlibrary Loan

Follow-up to Q4 if unsuccessful: If students did not make it to the ILL page, the librarian should ask, "what word or phrase were you looking for, but did not find?"

Student's   response:

Observer's comment about underlying question of: Do students navigate to the ILL page and if so, how (through the how to box or the ILL link)?

  Not really successful but a reasonable strategy.

Q5: Using the library web site, how would you find a journal article about depression?

Successful___X__                     Unsuccessful______

Observer's comment:

eJournals A-Z--> Home--. Research Guides--> Home-->eJournals A-Z (atempts to adjust the drop down--> Indexes & Databases (scrolls through- seems unsure)-->"Can I use Journal Storage?"--> JSTOR types depression and succeeds but seems somewhat uncertain

1 st Follow-up to Q5 if unsuccessful: If the students navigate to a database through research guides or similar, the librarian should praise the student and show her the indexes and databases link and ask, "is there a better way to word that?"

Student's   response:

2 nd Follow-up to Q5 if unsuccessful:

Student's   response:

Observer's comment about underlying question of: Do students use the indexes and databases link to find articles?

  No- at least not from the top page and not as a first choice.

Q6: How would you change the library's web site to make it more useful for you?

Student's response:

  Not that difficult- my Professor went over it in class- library should get Professors to introduce students to the library website...

Q7: What do you find useful on the library's web site?

Student's response:

  It's easy to figure out.

Q8: Is there anything you would like to tell us about the library's web site?

Student's response:

  Really great. Useful. [You can] find information ahead of time and come in with the call numbers.