Measuring Law Library Catalog Web Site Usability: A Web Analytic Approach

ABSTRACT

Although there is a proliferation of information available on the Web, and law professors, students, and other users have a variety of channels to locate information and complete their research activities, the law library catalog still remains an important source for offering users access to information that has been evaluated and cataloged by experts. The usability of the catalog needs to be effectively measured before any necessary improvements can be made. This study was undertaken to investigate the information retrieval patterns of users of the Rutgers Law Library Online Public Access Catalog and to develop the catalog into a more effective search tool for these users. This study used an experimental approach to measure the usability of our catalog by analyzing the transaction logs from the OPAC system and the results from Google Analytics. The findings provided not only important information on user demographics and their computer systems, but also more insight on the search behaviors of users. The specific findings included the following:

1. As a Web-analytic tool Google Analytics provided extensive information on the OPAC and the navigational behaviors of users.

2. Fifty-eight percent of our users visited the Web site regularly.

3. The most popular search method, which was employed by 37% of our users, was by title.

4. Most patrons used computer systems with a high resolution and color depth monitor and visited the catalog Web site with a high-speed Internet connection.

5. Suggestions were made by the authors to improve the users’ search experience of the catalog Web site.

This study is significant to libraries with Web catalogs because it demonstrates the potential value of using Google Analytics as a Web analytics tool in combination with the OPAC transaction logs to measure catalog usability.     

信息科技基础理论的分析建构

本文引入了分析信息学的概念和方法。根据对一般信息系统的定性分析和定量分析,建立了以信息分析基本方程组为标志的信息科技基础理论分析模型;通过对基本信息分析方程组的求解,从理论上说明了文献计量规律的动力机理;通过信息价值分析,揭示出知识是有效信息的积分;最后探讨了信息定义问题,提出以“信息是标志客观知识的哲学范畴”作为信息的哲学定义。     

Tracking the Elusive Student: Opportunities for Connection and Assessment

ABSTRACT

At Eastern Michigan University, information about library resources and services for Extended Programs (off-campus and online) students was provided in a number of online locations and was sometimes inconsistent and difficult to manage. The library formed an internal task force to evaluate all of the library information and instructional materials provided to Extended Programs students. The task force consolidated key information in one location on the library Web site and collaborated with departments within the library and around campus to provide links from the relevant online locations. This case study describes how Google Analytics was used to assess the use of the revised library Web site and online instructional materials by Extended Programs students. The researchers describe examples of techniques for using Google Analytics and explain how the data collected was used to identify further enhancements to the information provided to Extended Programs students.     

Undercounting File Downloads from Institutional Repositories

ABSTRACT

A primary impact metric for institutional repositories (IR) is the number of file downloads, which are commonly measured through third-party Web analytics software. Google Analytics, a free service used by most academic libraries, relies on HTML page tagging to log visitor activity on Google's servers. However, Web aggregators such as Google Scholar link directly to high value content (usually PDF files), bypassing the HTML page and failing to register these direct access events. This article presents evidence of a study of four institutions demonstrating that the majority of IR activity is not counted by page tagging Web analytics software, and proposes a practical solution for significantly improving the reporting relevancy and accuracy of IR performance metrics using Google Analytics.     

质性知识构造与量化知识分析综论:兼论学术对标法理论基础

文章在简要综述知识基因、知识单元、知识表示和知识图谱的基础上,探讨知识的质性构造和量化分析基础,指出知识具有表型(外型)、构型(内型)和量型(量值)三型特征。用逻辑分析法从现象到本质揭示知识表型特征,包括语言文字型、公式符号型和图表图谱型;知识构型可用学科类别和特征概念标识;知识量型可基于数据或信息计算知识量。进一步提出用知识花图式和知识花程式展示质性知识构造与量化知识分析。由知识三型特征引出知识变换三假设以及学术评价"对标法";揭示质性知识构造适合解析静态知识特征,量化知识分析可延伸处理动态知识演化。质性知识构造与量化知识分析同时适用于剖析知识客体和知识主体,并独具学术评价应用价值。倡导通过知识分析创新图书情报学,同时也通过图书情报学促进知识之花盛开。     

When to say when: Using big data to support mobile communications

As a result of the current mobile phenomenon, many libraries have rushed to provide mobile-compatible services in order to remain relevant in today's quickly evolving information services market. Beginning in 2010, the Laverne and Dorothy Brown Library at the University of St. Francis (USF) launched a data tracking initiative via Google Analytics to determine the extent that mobile-specific library resources were being utilized by students for access to library materials and services. Data analysis has shown that weighing an emphasis toward future development of mobile library resources should be balanced against development costs under a pragmatic anticipation of the longevity and sustainability of any mobile resource.     

Proving Value and Improving Practice: Using System Data to Analyze User Behaviors

Today's library systems collect and supply a wealth of transaction data. The unobtrusive data collected by these systems can help us understand our users' search and information-retrieval behaviors. Analyzing user behaviors challenges or reinforces our practices, and the changes we make should not be simply consumer preferences but based upon the analysis of usage patterns and search behavior. Institutions of any size can use a cyclical grounded theory model to look at the unobtrusive data that is available from systems such as WorldCat Local, Google Analytics, and others to reveal our users' information-seeking behaviors.

The author's model shows how system-generated data can be a part of an assessment strategy for ongoing improvement that can be implemented by small academic libraries. By articulating inputs consisting of goals, users, and performance indicators, and by utilizing a grounded-theory approach, libraries can observe behaviors that can inform, as well as reveal, outputs.     

信息检索--联机、光盘、网络三种类型的对比研究

本对三种信息检索(联机、光盘、网络)及国内外主要的信息检索系统作了简要介绍，着重探讨了这三种信息检索的优缺点，并对其做对比研究。     

LIBRARY SERVICE TO THE DISABLED

Recent legislation has mandated equal rights for disabled people and an appropriate education for all disabled children. All professions are upgrading service, making architectural adaptations for the physically disabled, and adapting programs to the needs of this important segment of the population. The library profession needs to deuelop information and referral collections for disabled persons, learn about special curriculum materiales for disabled children, and deuelop the new field of "Rehabilitation Librarianship," since many rehabilitation facilities do not yet haue trained librarians on their staffs. Most important information is to be found in periodicals and newsletters. This bibliography offers a basic listing of journals in the fields of medical and uocational rehabilitation, special education, and journals written for disabled people themsleues. Existing data bases are mentioned and the continuing need for a central information clearinghouse cited.     

Build It and They Will Come? Patron Engagement Via Twitter at Historically Black College and University Libraries

This study is a social media analysis on the use of Twitter at Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) libraries. While information science researchers have begun examining how libraries use social media, the vast majority of these studies are situated at large flagship research-intensive universities. Additionally, there currently exist deficiencies in research on social media deployment at HBCU libraries. We leverage, the IBM Watson's analytic engine, to systemically examine over 23,000, tweets over an eighteen-month period, around a set of objective measures including propagation of retweets and sentiment to assess follower engagement. The analysis found little evidence of follower engagement with library generated content. However, we observed a substantial volume of library tweets coalesced around institutional boosterism, rather than library related phenomena. This non-library related content represented the vast majority of retweets, but paradoxically was propagated by non-followers. Additionally, tweets relating to institutional boosterism produced the most positive sentiment within the data.     

Modeling the Users of Information Systems

Summary

Understanding user needs and the ways in which users utilize information systems is important since it can help us in developing and designing more effective and efficient information systems. This paper examines some of the theories that have evolved to explain what kind of mental processes are required for the use of information systems. Research on users of information systems is categorized into two basic groups (system-oriented vs. user-oriented studies), and reviewed. A sample of methodologies used for examining users and their information seeking behavior is then introduced and described. Finally, implications of these theories and methods for librarians and information specialists are discussed.     

企业管理信息系统多维立体整合方案

信息管理已成为企业前端管理的重要组成部分，基于信息的企业管理模式，由信息、信息管理、高级管理、决策执行四个层面组成，并把信息管理层分为信息加工处理过程、信息系统整合过程和信息传播与利用过程。针对信息系统整合过程，本文提出了企业生产营运管理信息系统整合、企业资源计划管理信息系统整合、企业供应链管理信息系统整合、企业内外部信息系统整合的多维立体整合方案。     

Urban information integration for advanced e-Planning in Europe

Urban planning is a complex task requiring multidimensional urban information (spatial, social, economic, etc.). The need for assistance in performing urban planning tasks has led to the rapid development of urban information systems, especially “e-Planning” systems, with the support of government policy and emerging information and communication technologies (ICT). In order to enhance the capability of e-Planning and to facilitate 3D visualization and rich analysis of complex city problems, it is very important to allow information from the various sources to be shared and integrated. This paper focuses on technical approaches for multidimensional information integration, especially spatial information integration. In particular it describes the Building Data Integration System (BDIS), developed as part of the IntelCities project, which demonstrates the type of multidimensional systems that are likely to be used in future urban information systems. Functionally, the BDIS demonstrates the feasibility of systems to support the multinational collaboration of construction professionals in the procurement and renovation of buildings. For such systems to be accepted in the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe, they need to be developed with regard to current planning information structures and standards in the UK and Europe which are reviewed in this paper. The achievements and further development of multidimensional information integration through the use of innovative urban data modelling techniques are discussed.     

Macroproblems of the information security of man and society

This paper considers the aspects of the interactions between people and the information environment and problems of the information security of a personality and society as a whole with allowance for such factors as the globalization of the world economy, introduction of new information technologies (including robotic systems and artificial intelligence systems), and the development of the semantic Internet and mass media. The problems of using the Internet network and mass media due to the psychological impact of negative information on people and society are discussed. Some recommendations, conclusions, and the most urgent tasks of supporting the information security of society are formulated.     

国外电动汽车产业信息资源建设现状及其启示

在简介美、日、欧等建立的多种形式的电动汽车产业信息资源平台的基础上,重点介绍了美国能源部可 替代燃料及先进车辆数据中心、美国汽车工程学会全球技术图书馆—电动汽车数据库和欧盟清洁能源车辆数据库等平 台,最后提出了对我国电动汽车产业信息资源建设的启示与建议。     

The NHS R&D Information Systems Strategy (ISS)

相似文献   

基于TAM扩展模型的用户网络学术信息资源利用初探

用户网络学术信息资源利用,指的是用户对自己所需要的网络学术信息资源的获取.文章根据用户使用网络学术信息系统的具体特点,通过整合技术采纳模型(TAM)和任务-技术适配模型以及系统使用经验、信任等其他变量,而构建了一个网络学术信息资源利用理论模型.TAM是国外学者在办公自动化软件、电子商务等信息技术(系统)使用研究中广泛采用的一个模型,将其用于网络学术信息资源利用问题的研究还是一个新的尝试.文章对理论模型中各变量之间的相互关系进行了简要说明和初步分析,并讨论了理论模型在网络学术信息系统设计、评价和诊断中的社会实践价值.     

基于教学内容的新信息环境下高校信息检索课程的探讨

为明晰高校信息检索课程内容的现状,利用实证方法对信息检索课程的教学内容进行分析,并以信息技术为本课程带来的挑战和机遇为切入点,从信息源、信息检索技术、信息检索策略和信息分析与评价方面展开探讨,为新信息环境下教学内容建设中出现的若干问题提出相关对策建议。最后基于信息检索课程教学内容的横向发展,完善信息检索课程教学内容体系。期望进一步探求新信息环境下信息检索课程的发展。     

美国高校图书馆参与机构学习分析研究与启示——基于IMLS《图书馆机构学习分析整合》报告的解读与思考

近年来,在图书馆价值评估活动的影响下,越来越多的美国高校图书馆开始参与到学习分析项目中来。《图书馆机构学习分析整合》是美国博物馆和图书馆服务研究所基于三次全国图书馆学习分析整合信息论坛讨论结果发布的报告,内容涉及图书馆机构学习分析整合形式,支持图书馆参与学习分析的策略方法,图书馆机构学习分析整合障碍及未来努力方向等。该报告对于指导图书馆员如何参与学习分析及应对学习分析带来的挑战具有重要的价值和意义。     

新型机构信息环境的建设思路及框架*

研究分析了当前国内外机构信息环境发展的趋势，调研了国内主要研究机构的信息需求，总结了国内主要研究机构进行高效率科学研究时需要提高的5种信息能力，提出数字图书馆的建设需要为研究机构创建一个集成连贯的机构信息环境。主要论述了机构信息环境的建设思路，提出机构信息环境建设的框架结构，并对可能用于这一框架结构中的软件系统做了选择和分析。