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: Find books --> library catalog (author search: Marc Bekoff)
concludes that the library doesn't own any books by Marc Bekoff

Observer's comment about underlying question of: Are students able to navigate to the catalog to look for a book? *used Find Books link not the Quick Search box- somewhat successful

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 --> Mugar Library -->E-Journals--> alphabetical list--> J (scrolls for the title and found it)
Number of Links: 5

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_____                     Unsuccessful___X___

Observer's comment: eJournals A-Z --> alphabetical list (uses Windows "find" and searched "american" and "helicopter" ("it has to be there") -->Home--> Indexes and Databases--> Home--> Research Guides--> Home--> Library Catalog box (title search : helicopter)

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? did not know where to go to find print journals

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

Successful__X___                     Unsuccessful______

Observer's comment:request a book ar article we do not own (ILL)

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)? How To box.

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--> Indexes and Databases-->SEL-->Electronic Resources/ Indexes and Databases--> Mugar-->Library Catalog( title search: depression) -->limits the search by "material type"-->Back to SEL Electronic Resources/ Indexes and Databases-->selects PubMed--> keyword search: depression - success

Observer's comment about underlying question of: Do students use the indexes and databases link to find articles? wanted to use indexes and databases but seemed puzzled as to which one to use.

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

Student's response:

  make things "bigger" "everything is the same size"  things are "clumped together"

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

Student's response: likes the Indexes and Databases... likes how the page is "divided by school" e.g. African Studies (libraries list upper right corner)

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

Student's response: "I always click on the catalog" would like something like "find it here" "treat us like 6 year olds" "maybe more color"