Website Usability

Data

Q1:  1 . When beginining a new topic most students and other researchers start by Googling some key words. Let's assume you have done that and now you have decided or your Professor has asked you to find some more scholarly sources. Using the library website, and not having a specific source in mind yet- how would you begin?

User's response/comments: User went to e-journal locator first and then to Find Articles. Was looking for JSTOR. Clicked into JSTOR and did a search. Expressed wish that the webpage had a link that would do a search in a number of different databases.

Observer's comments:

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

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful    yes                 Unsuccessful______

Q2:  Using the library website, can you tell if the library has any books written by Al Gore?

User's response/comments: Went directly to the catalog. Clicked author box and put in Al Gore rather than Gore, Al.  Found referral link to Gore, Al and first thought it might be Alan Gore. Then decided it was Gore, Albert, born in 1948.

Observer's comments:

Follow-up to Q2l: If the student is unsuccessful, the librarian should ask, what word or phrase or LINK were you looking for, but did not find?

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful  yes                   Unsuccessful______

Q3:  Using the library website, can you find the electronic edition of the Journal of Asset Management?

User's response/comments: Went directly to e-journal locator and typed in title. Title did not show up and thought it might have been mispelled. Went to Find Articles using databases but didn't know how one would find title of journal. Linda gave correct spelling to subject and she went back to e-journal locator and found title.

Observer's comments:

First follow-up to Q3:  If the participant goes to the catalog and stops, the librarian should ask, "Is there anywhere else on the library website to look for this?"

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Second follow-up to Q3:  If the student still does not find the eJournals list, the librarian should ask, "What word or phrase or LINK were you looking for, but did not find?"

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful  yes                     Unsuccessful______

Q4:  Using the library website, can you find the print edition or hard copy edition of the Journal of marriage and the family?

User's response/comments: Went directly to library catalog and clicked journal title. Typed in title and then started looking at the item records listed under journal title rather than at locations and call number. Was confused by these until Linda gently pointed out the location and call number above the item records.

Observer's comments:

Follow-up to Q4: If the student is unsuccessful, the librarian should ask, what word or phrase were you looking for, but did not find?

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful  yes                    Unsuccessful______

Q5:  Using the library website, how would you get a book or article we do not own?

User's response/comments: Subject said she knew she could get items from other libraries and knew that there was a list somewhere that could tell here where a book was located. Went to Services and then to Interlibrary Loan.

Observer's comments:

Follow-up to Q5 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?"

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful  yes                     Unsuccessful______

Q6:  Using the library website, how would you find a journal article about stem cells?

User's response/comments: Went to Find Articles and then to Jstor. Typed in stem cells in the search box and found some articles.

Observer's comments:

Follow-up to Q6:

If the students navigate to a database through research guides or similar, the librarian should praise the student and show her the FIND ARTICLES link and ask, "Is there a better way to word that?"

If the student is unable to get to a location to find an article, the librarian should ask, "What word or phrase or LINK were you looking for, but did not find?"

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful  yes                     Unsuccessful______

Q7:   In addition to Mugar Library Boston University has several branch libraries and some very specialized libraries (for example, the Science & Engineering Library or the Pardee Management Library). Using the library website - is it possible to find information about those libraries or any one of the libraries- (for example,  the hours or services offered)?

User's response/comments: Went to All BU Libraries and then scrolled down to the Management Library. Then went to Facts and Services and found hours.

Observer's comments:

Follow-up to Q7:

Note if sucessful by using About -- Departments or All BU Libraries dropdown.

If unsucessful ask "What word or phrase or LINK were you looking for, but did not find?"

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful  yes                     Unsuccessful______

Q8:  How would you change the library's website to make it more useful for you?

User's response/comments: Would like one basic search link to academic articles. Would like to be able to do this from home. Likes bullets, does not want to read paragraphs. While looking at news items on page, said she thought they were redundant.

Observer's comments:

Q9:  What do you find useful on the library's website?

User's re  Likes the book search prominently displayed. Likes the drop down menus at the top. Likes  "About" and  "Services. "

sponse/comments:

Observer's comments:

Q10:  Is there anything you would like to tell us about the library's website?

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments: