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.     

基于Web2.0环境下的图书馆2.0刍议

文章简要阐述了Web2.0的概念,在此基础上重点论述了图书馆2.0的内涵、原则以及Web2.0技术的应用实践,最后对图书馆2.0提出了两点思考.     

网络社区在图书馆服务中的应用分析与研究

图书馆作为一个实体社区,实现服务创新,需要跟随信息技术的进步而发展。网络社区为高校用户提供了各种互动交流的空间,在图书馆得到了充分的应用。通过分析网络社区在图书馆服务中的应用现状,并结合问卷调查和分析得出,图书馆需要创新网络社区服务内容和平台,为高校用户提供更多实用的系统的主题社区服务。     

网络环境下医院图书馆发展的思路

通过对广东省医院图书馆现状的调研和分析，讨论了网络环境下医院图书馆必须发展的原因和动力，分析和探讨了现代医院图书馆的发展以及服务的新理念和新模式。     

走向移动互联时代的图书馆服务

国内外实践表明,图书馆服务正在走向移动互联网时代。分析移动互联网时代图书馆服务的发展机遇,从自动化系统变迁、移动馆藏的发展、移动互联网站的涌现、参考咨询的变化、面向移动设备的客户端应用工具五个方面讨论移动图书馆的发展现状,并从移动设备本身的问题和图书馆服务的问题两方面讨论图书馆服务走向移动互联时代面临的挑战,提出相应对策。     

医院图书馆的信息服务与发展--以广东省的医院图书馆为例

医院图书馆信息服务存在“三个不相适应”,即现有的服务资源和服务能力、信息技术应用水平、人力资源整体素质等与现代图书馆的要求不相适应,必须采取相应的整改措施,提升信息服务的综合能力,使之逐渐向知识服务及以人为本服务方向发展。     

Tracking User Behavior with Google Analytics Events on an Academic Library Web Site

ABSTRACT

The primary purpose of an academic library Web site is to serve as a portal to library-acquired content. Navigational design of a library Web site affects the user's ability to find and access content. At Albertsons Library, the goal of the navigational design of the Web site is to mimic user behavior on the Web site to help them access information and articles from over 300 different library vendors. Coordinating with different vendors makes tracking the navigational flow of user behavior difficult with the tool Google Analytics. Using the events feature in Google Analytics, the team responsible for Web design was able to track user flow, and was able to quantify how many users were actual “drop-offs” versus those that were clicks into library resources. Decisions made after acquiring these data resulted in a Web site with a 10 percent or less bounce rate, and decreased the number of clicks required for users accessing the library's content.     

基于Web2.0的图书馆信息服务交互与服务模式创新研究

Web2.0的交互特性保证了图书馆信息服务交互实现,基于Web2.0的信息服务交互机制体现在界面层、内容层、组织层和虚拟社区层的交互。利用Blog、IM、Wiki、RSS、SNS等Web2.0应用对图书馆信息服务交互模式进行创新,涉及图书馆交互式参考咨询服务、知识导航和知识创新、个性化信息服务和读者交互式平台等方面的问题。     

Using Piwik Instead of Google Analytics at the Cornell University Library

Like many other libraries, Cornell University Library uses Google Analytics (GA) to track website usage. GA, designed to support Google’s primary revenue stream, advertising, has many strengths, including cost (free). Given our tradition in libraries to protect reader privacy, a compelling argument can be made that Google Analytics is inappropriate for libraries. After a review of alternatives to GA following Edward Snowden's revelations, we selected Piwik (piwik.org) as a replacement for GA. Piwik is a free, open source, and most importantly, supports local data collection. We summarize what some of the library literature says about web analytics tools, explain why we selected Piwik, and describe what is involved when migrating from GA to Piwik.     

The Suitability of Web Analytics Key Performance Indicators in the Academic Library Environment

As the demand for library assessment grows, academic libraries are becoming more interested in Web analytics. Data are automatically gathered and provide information about a wide variety of online interactions. Libraries have long used simple counts such as visits and page views, but have more recently begun to choose strategic benchmarks, also known as key performance indicators (KPIs). Many common KPIs were created for commercial websites and are challenging to adapt for libraries. However, the underlying concepts are sufficiently valuable that libraries should explore their use. By evaluating the validity of web metrics, libraries can further the development of standards and benchmarks to support future investigations. This article discusses how commercial web metrics might be adapted for use in academic libraries. First, the limitations of web analytics are presented. Major key performance indicators used in the commercial sector are reviewed in the academic library context. Finally, the article discusses how the various indicators might support specific library website goals and decisions and uses local data to illustrate one example case. As libraries choose web analytic methods, they should deliberately evaluate their validity. Over time, this will slowly build the profession's ability to use web analytics more effectively for library assessment.     

How the New Web Generations are Changing Library and Information Services

The new Web generations are influencing the minds and changing the habits of software developers and end users. Users, librarians, and information services professionals can interact more efficiently, creating additional information and content and generating knowledge. This new scenario is also changing the behavior of information providers and users in health sciences libraries. This article reviews the new Web environments and tools that give librarians opportunities to tailor their services better, and gives some examples of the advantages and disadvantages for them and their users. Librarians need to adapt to the new mindset of users, linking new technologies, information, and people.     

论新世纪医院图书馆的信息服务

医院图书馆信息服务重点是如何深化问题，要在强化服务意识和改善服务手段上下功夫，以点带面，逐步实现两个转变：由传递信息为主要特征的传统服务模式向以利用信息为主要特征的新型服务模式转变；由以提供知识信息为主向以增强读者信息技术应用技能，深层次综合开发信息资源的现代服务体系转变。     

医院图书馆的创新管理与创新服务

医院图书馆创新管理的核心是管理理念的创新，以此推动图书馆创新服务的开展。创新服务主要包括个性化服务、为社会弱势群体服务、为病人服务和特色化服务等。     

Ｗｅｂ２．０环境下图书馆信息服务的变化及应对策略

文章研究在Web2.0环境下的图书馆信息服务,分析图书馆传统信息服务的现状和不足,详细论述Web2.0带给图书馆信息服务业务、服务环境、用户需求、信息交流方式的变化,并提出图书馆的应对策略。图书馆只有改革信息服务内容、创新信息服务模式、培训图书馆员,为用户提供更优质的服务。     

美国传统图书馆服务与现代图书馆新型服务浅谈

传统图书馆在向现代化图书馆转变过程中,服务方式也发生了根本性的变化。在阐述美国传统图书馆服务方式的基础上,探讨了美国现代图书馆的新型服务,总结了当代图书馆新型服务的五个热点项目。     

高校图书馆网上服务的互动交流性评价

通过对中国高校数字图书馆联盟49所高校图书馆主页反映的网上服务的调查统计分析，从服务项目设置、服务内容、技术功能、人员素质等方面揭示出目前高校图书馆网上服务的互动交流性存在的不足，提出强化网上服务的互动交流性能，拓展高校图书馆网上服务的发展空间和技术创新潜力。     

Jing Project在图书馆参考咨询服务中的应用探析

本文阐述了社会性软件Jing Project的功能特点,对其在图书馆参考咨询服务中的应用进行了研究和实践。     

Web3.0环境下图书馆数字参考咨询服务研究

简述Web3.0的含义,分析目前图书馆数字参考咨询服务存在的问题,对基于Web3.0环境下的图书馆数字参考咨询服务进行了探讨。     

Assessing the Impact of Cloud Computing and Web Collaboration on the Work of Distance Library Services

ABSTRACT

Cloud computing and Web collaboration are shaping 21st-century libraries. These 2 developments seem to be behind the newest developments in library services and are driving library automation. The 2 are impacting library work by providing the library administrator with opportunities, especially for greater synergies among various individuals over dispersed locations. While the literature indicates ambivalence about these twin developments among library and information professionals, the administrators of distance library services have no choice but to engage in the use of cloud computing technologies and Web collaboration in order to remain relevant to users. Unfortunately, in doing this, distance services librarians will need to trade off ownership and control, trusting outsiders, while teaching users to be critical of the information gathered from collaborative sources.     

信息时代医院图书馆信息服务新探

论述在网络环境下医院图书馆用户及信息需求的结构变化，决定了医院图书馆服务对象、信息服务内容、服务手段与管理机制。指出目前医院图书馆开展信息服务存在的障碍，提出了在信息时代医院图书馆开展信息服务的途径及对策。