Website Usability

Data

Q1:  1 . When beginning 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  "amazon rainforest" (including the quotation marks) - removes the quotes- "I would go back to Google"

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_____                     Unsuccessful___X___

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- types  "Al Gore" --> BACK retypes "Gore, Al" selects the Gore, Al, -- See Gore, Albert, 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: clicks on the eJournal Locator - types "Journal of Asset Management"  and finds 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?"

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 - selects Journal Title - types "Journal of marriage and the family" and finds it

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 "other library catalogs" --> BACK-->clicks " Find Books" - types "Art of War" (default keyword search) --> BACK-->clicks Advanced Search --> BACK--> "Art of War" --> BACK--> (from: http://library.bu.edu/) clicks on WORLD CAT types "Art of War" (with quotation marks) -- checks Library that own of one?? --> BACK (or more likely HOME) - clicks Library Catalog-->clicks Boston Library Consortium (BLC) Member Catalogs --> BACK

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: "Boston Area Libraries Search"

Observer's comments:

Successful_____                     Unsuccessful__X____

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 (any field) "stem cells"- attempts to limit to journal articles --> Submit "appear to be books" --> BACK clicks FIND ARTICLES scans the page for Biology - "not sure what I would do??" "Science something?" "Science Direct!" --> Science Direct types "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___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:  using the "Library Web Search" box at the bottom of the page - types "Library of Theology" --> SEARCH (not working!!) scans around the page and see the ALL BU LIBRARIES menu "could be bigger" --> Theology--> Hours

Follow-up to Q7:

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

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

User's response/comments:

Observer's comments:

Successful_____                     Unsuccessful______

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

User's response/comments: "OK, the dropdowns could be bigger"

"FIND ARTICLES USING DATABASES - that word (databases) (then I get there and I don't know which one to use) is intimidating"

Observer's comments:

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

User's response/comments: Catalog Quick Search "Is it an exhaustive list?"

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: