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Guiding choices: implementing a library website usability study

Troy A. Swanson (Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois, USA)
Tish Hayes (Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois, USA)
Jennifer Kolan (Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois, USA)
Kelly Hand (Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois, USA)
Susan Miller (Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois, USA)

Reference Services Review

ISSN: 0090-7324

Article publication date: 14 August 2017

1359

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is go better understand website usability by community college students. The usability study team sought data that would help to guide in a website redesign.

Design/methodology/approach

Librarians led students through sessions that followed the usability testing approach defined by Nielsen (2012) which emphasizes the ease of use of the Web interface. This study compared the results from the existing library website and a prototype website.

Findings

The study’s findings emphasized the need for balance between the variety of services and content that the website provides. This is especially true given that so many community college students are underprepared for college-level courses.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited by available time and the clinical nature of the usability session.

Practical implications

The study results underscore the significant challenge facing library website designers. The various online services exist in pockets that are only partially integrated and, therefore, require students to make decisions and predictive judgments as they navigate the site.

Originality/value

Overall, this study emphasized the need for balance between the variety of services and content that the website provides.

Keywords

Citation

Swanson, T.A., Hayes, T., Kolan, J., Hand, K. and Miller, S. (2017), "Guiding choices: implementing a library website usability study", Reference Services Review, Vol. 45 No. 3, pp. 359-367. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-11-2016-0080

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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