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:

Observer's comments: Catalog Quick Search - types "Native Americans and archaeology"

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__X___                     Unsuccessful______

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

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments: Catalog Quick Search - clicks author - "al gore" --> click the xref for Gore, Al and selects the "1948"  link

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__X___                     Unsuccessful______

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

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments: Catalog Quick Search- clicks Journal Title--> not found - removes "Journal of" and remarks "...don't see it"

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?"

Oh! --> eJournal Locator- types "Journal of Asset Management" - "there it is!"

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___X__                     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:

Observer's comments: Catalog Quick Search- clicks Journal Title--> types "Journal of marriage and the family" but there is a typo- corrects it and finds it successfully

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__X___                     Unsuccessful______

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

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:  --> clicks on the HOW TO  "Request a book or article we don't own" link- "I would use the ... Oh! the Virtual Catalog"

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_X____                     Unsuccessful______

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

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:  clicks --> Find Articles using Databases - "it's science so I would use ScienceDirect--> ttypes in "stem cells" and finds some articles

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 but just barely

Successful__X?___                     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:

Observer's comments: clicks "ALL BU LIBRARIES" --> SEL --> "Facts and Services" (Hours)

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__X___                     Unsuccessful______

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

User's response/comments: "very organized"  "good that you can search for ejournals and hard copy..."

Observer's comments: 

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

User's response/comments: " eJournal Locator is very useful"  "... lots of articles in databases- then go right to them..."

Observer's comments:

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

User's response/comments: "pretty organized" "finding articles from a database- lots of dead ends- too many steps" "in the (list of ) databases I can't tell what's really in them"

Observer's comments: