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 - by keyword- types "Reformation of the Church of England 1800" -- no entries found --> BACK (removes the date) finds 5 books

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: "If I was really determined ... I'd go to Indexes and Databases"

Observer's comments: Catalog Quick Search - by author- types "Al Gore" --> BACK

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_____                     Unsuccessful__X___

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

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments: Clicks  eJournal Locator types "Journal of Asset Management"

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__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: Clicks on "Find Books" (Library Catalog) by title- types "Journal of marriage and the family"

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_____                     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 "How To... Request a Book or Article We Don't Own"  link

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:  Catalog Quick Search - (default keyword) types "stem cells" - "Are these journal articles?" "Use eJournals Locator to find the journals?" --> BACK--> Research by Subject--> chooses Bioethics from the alpha list- "I just want to type in rather than select..." clicks on BIOSIS- types "stem cells" and search

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__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: scans the ABOUT dropdown and clicks 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: putting the "Hours themselves right on the top page would encourage more people to go to the library"  I'm trying to find JSTOR ... I could "type it in the Catalog Quick Search" types "jstore" results are "overwhelming- too much to choose from"

Observer's comments:

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

User's response/comments: Catalog Quick Search-  in JSTOR- "need to use codes" I just "want to use keywords. "It's OK- I'm able to find my way around"

Observer's comments:

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

User's response/comments: "would like a link to Copley's website"

Observer's comments: