Website Usability

Data

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

Successful_____                     Unsuccessful___X__

Observer's comment: Seems uncertain. States that "I usually use Research Guides and eJournals A-Z. When she wants something that is (a book?) "usually come in and use the small computers" (WYSE terminals)

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: Wants to see "card catalog"- states that "Other Library Catalogs" will not work...

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

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

Successful__X__                     Unsuccessful______

Observer's comment: Goes right to eJournals A-Z , uses the search and succeeds.

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?

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

Successful__X___                     Unsuccessful__X____

Observer's comment: Goes to eJournals A-Z and trys the title -but is searching the wrong title--> Home trys--> Collection Development and--> Services. Can't decide what else to try.

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: "I always use eJournals and the online catalog... should I keep looking?" Returns to Services and finds the Library Catalog and finds the journal.

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

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

Successful__X___                     Unsuccessful___X___

Observer's comment: Trys Other Library Catalogs--> Hollis

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: When asked "Are there other possible ways?" Looks around and then asks "What is InterLibrary Loan?"

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)?

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

Successful___X__                     Unsuccessful___X___

Observer's comment: eJournals A-Z--> Home--> eResources by Subject--> Health and Medicine (subcategory)--> Clinical Medicine and scrolls through but finds no obvious choice. Back to Research Guides --> Health and Medicine (subcategory)--> Psychology scrolls through the Indexes and Databases section several times (no links)- Sees the link to PsycINFO- reaction is Ah ha!! sucessful.

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: Suggests "journals" also "databases doesn't mean anything to me"

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?

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

Student's response: Suggests "card catalog" or "Search the library for a book you need"

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

Student's response: eJournals A-Z and Research Guides

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

Student's response: Is there any access to microfilm? Can I actually use this little Library Catalog box? My eye goes to the left (didn't see it before).