Examining student's use of the libguides search box as part of a website usability study.
Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)
Target Audience
Higher Education
Location
Room 1005
Proposal
A study was conducted as part of a website usability test of the library’s new Libguides-based website. It supplements the scripted usability testing using student and faculty volunteers. A record of searches was obtained by downloading daily reports of keywords used in the Libguides search box. to determine how patrons were using the tool. The Libguides search is available on the library’s home page as part of a selective multi-collection search box on the home page as well as on the research help guides created by subject librarians. Initial findings show that most searches were conducted using the “This Site” tab on the selective search box, but users had difficulty understanding what the site search actually meant. A lesser number of users used the research guides when searching – especially for subject area searches. This presentation will also discuss some of the disadvantages of the Libguides search report and the hopes for expanding the study in the future.
Short Description
This presentation examines the use of the Libguides search tool by library users. The study was conducted to supplement other information obtained during website usability testing of the library’s new Libguides-based site. We will examine actual user keyword searches and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Libguides search report as well as the plans for expanding the study in the future.
Keywords
libguides searching keywords
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Austin, Gary L., "Examining student's use of the libguides search box as part of a website usability study." (2018). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 52.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2018/2018/52
Examining student's use of the libguides search box as part of a website usability study.
Room 1005
A study was conducted as part of a website usability test of the library’s new Libguides-based website. It supplements the scripted usability testing using student and faculty volunteers. A record of searches was obtained by downloading daily reports of keywords used in the Libguides search box. to determine how patrons were using the tool. The Libguides search is available on the library’s home page as part of a selective multi-collection search box on the home page as well as on the research help guides created by subject librarians. Initial findings show that most searches were conducted using the “This Site” tab on the selective search box, but users had difficulty understanding what the site search actually meant. A lesser number of users used the research guides when searching – especially for subject area searches. This presentation will also discuss some of the disadvantages of the Libguides search report and the hopes for expanding the study in the future.
