Mixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage Design
A Review of: Deschenes, A. (2014). Improving the library homepage through user research – without a total redesign. Weave, 1(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/weave.12535642.0001.102 Abstract Objective – To assess content organization and wording of links on the library’s homepage. Des...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Alberta
2015-09-01
|
| Series: | Evidence Based Library and Information Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/24795 |
| _version_ | 1819263558772326400 |
|---|---|
| author | Kathleen Reed |
| author_facet | Kathleen Reed |
| author_sort | Kathleen Reed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A Review of:
Deschenes, A. (2014). Improving the library homepage through user research – without a total redesign. Weave, 1(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/weave.12535642.0001.102
Abstract
Objective – To assess content organization and wording of links on the library’s homepage.
Design – Mixed-methods survey.
Setting – Small college, United States of America.
Subjects – 57 library users.
Methods – Library staff distributed paper surveys at the entrance to the library, with the goal of collecting a minimum of 30 surveys. The survey directed participants to indicate their preferred terms from a list, and their preference for ordering the menu items on the library’s homepage. Qualitative survey data was also collected via several open-ended questions that began with prompts such as “I really love…” and “I can never find…”
Main Results – The search box tab labelled “Library Catalogue” was preferred over “Books and Media,” which the staff believed to be a more user-friendly term. Using a pre-defined list, participants ranked the Library Catalogue as the most important tab, followed by E-Resources, Articles, and Library Guides. A link to the Library Catalogue was also selected as the most important resource sidebar link, followed by E-Resources, Full-Text Journals, Library Guides, and Refworks. The service sidebar links by order of importance were found to be: Library Hours, Group Study Rooms, Writing & Citing, Interlibrary Loan, and Chat with a Librarian. Qualitative feedback received demonstrated a lack of understanding what the terms “Library Guides” and “A-Z List” mean, and difficulty finding a complete list of databases. Library staff received feedback that the Library Hours and Account Log In should be made more prominent.
Conclusion – Library staff updated the website to reflect user preferences for wording and order of links on the homepage. Google Analytics showed a decrease of 30 seconds per average visit after the changes, which the author attributes to better wording and organization. There were no complaints about the website in the first three months after the change. The author concludes that a paper survey is an effective tool for librarians who would like to make incremental changes on their homepages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T20:15:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45952d2dc4f24db38c77f72b8c922cad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1715-720X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T20:15:30Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | University of Alberta |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evidence Based Library and Information Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-45952d2dc4f24db38c77f72b8c922cad2022-12-21T17:32:41ZengUniversity of AlbertaEvidence Based Library and Information Practice1715-720X2015-09-0110310.18438/B8QW3CMixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage DesignKathleen Reed0Vancouver Island UniversityA Review of: Deschenes, A. (2014). Improving the library homepage through user research – without a total redesign. Weave, 1(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/weave.12535642.0001.102 Abstract Objective – To assess content organization and wording of links on the library’s homepage. Design – Mixed-methods survey. Setting – Small college, United States of America. Subjects – 57 library users. Methods – Library staff distributed paper surveys at the entrance to the library, with the goal of collecting a minimum of 30 surveys. The survey directed participants to indicate their preferred terms from a list, and their preference for ordering the menu items on the library’s homepage. Qualitative survey data was also collected via several open-ended questions that began with prompts such as “I really love…” and “I can never find…” Main Results – The search box tab labelled “Library Catalogue” was preferred over “Books and Media,” which the staff believed to be a more user-friendly term. Using a pre-defined list, participants ranked the Library Catalogue as the most important tab, followed by E-Resources, Articles, and Library Guides. A link to the Library Catalogue was also selected as the most important resource sidebar link, followed by E-Resources, Full-Text Journals, Library Guides, and Refworks. The service sidebar links by order of importance were found to be: Library Hours, Group Study Rooms, Writing & Citing, Interlibrary Loan, and Chat with a Librarian. Qualitative feedback received demonstrated a lack of understanding what the terms “Library Guides” and “A-Z List” mean, and difficulty finding a complete list of databases. Library staff received feedback that the Library Hours and Account Log In should be made more prominent. Conclusion – Library staff updated the website to reflect user preferences for wording and order of links on the homepage. Google Analytics showed a decrease of 30 seconds per average visit after the changes, which the author attributes to better wording and organization. There were no complaints about the website in the first three months after the change. The author concludes that a paper survey is an effective tool for librarians who would like to make incremental changes on their homepages.https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/24795website designacademic librarianship |
| spellingShingle | Kathleen Reed Mixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage Design Evidence Based Library and Information Practice website design academic librarianship |
| title | Mixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage Design |
| title_full | Mixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage Design |
| title_fullStr | Mixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage Design |
| title_short | Mixed-Method Survey Research is Useful to Incrementally Improve Library Homepage Design |
| title_sort | mixed method survey research is useful to incrementally improve library homepage design |
| topic | website design academic librarianship |
| url | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/24795 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kathleenreed mixedmethodsurveyresearchisusefultoincrementallyimprovelibraryhomepagedesign |