Web Usability Evaluation of Iran National Library Websitetarupublications.com/journals/cjsim/FullText/CJSIM61_13/CJSIM61_13.pdfphysical presence of users in the library (31). It is
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1 COLLNET JOURNAL OF SCIENTOMETRICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (Online First)
Sedigheh MohamadesmaeilAssistant Professor Department of Library and Information SciencesScience and Research BranchIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
Somaye Kazemi KoohbananiDepartment of Library and Information SciencesScience and Research BranchIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
Web Usability Evaluation of Iran National Library Website
Sedigheh MohamadesmaeilSomaye Kazemi Koohbanani
It is obvious that each information service exists for the sole purpose of satisfying its users. All its activities, services and products, ie., the totality of its functions are geared towards this purpose. How well this purpose is served is a measure of the eff ectiveness and usability of that information service. According to the value place of National Library as the golden gateway to access quick easy and unlimited information, considering its web usability can be useful. This paper aims to provide knowledge about the metrics of web usability evaluation in Iran Na-tional Library Website. Taking a critical approach, this article examines Iran National Library Web Site, in order to conduct a reliable usability assessment. The tools for data collection was an explanatory checklist, developed by the researchers based on the review of the literatures - a practical way with providing appropriate solutions deals - consisted of 11 log evaluation criteria and 160 components. desired website was mea-sured by it. In order to analyze research fi ndings, descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) used for this purpose. In general, the re-sults showed that the web usability evaluation of Iran National Library Website (In comparison with the overall assessment of compliance of all criteria, in index website, with 663 points) is 594 points (88/5 percent). While the design of National Library Websites should be completely based on functions that support of National Library’s major aims, espe-cially in information retrieving as well as rendering public information services. Identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the method and employing it in real research environments to assess the usability of national library web site can not only be a useful exercise to measure the extent to which the studied website had the desired elements and
Originally presented at the 7th International Conference on Webometrics,
Informetrics and Scientometrics (WIS) and 12th COLLNET Meeting,
September 20–23, 2011, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey.
COLLNET JOURNAL OF SCIENTOMETRICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (Online First)2
Web Usability Evaluation of Iran National Library Website
features, but can also be a starting point for further discussions on the reliability of usability evaluation method which can also be applied to other types of web site.
Keywords: Iran, Web Usability, Evaluation, Checklist, National Library, Web site, Information searches, Information retrieval.
1. Introduction
The World Wide Web (www) is one of the most important information service providers
on the internet and one that is vastly growing compared to other facilities and services off ered
by the internet. The advent of the World Wide Web brought with itself a revolution in provid-
ing of information services to users across the globe such that today an enormous amount
of information is available on the Net. On the other hand, its capability to present colorful
graphic images, audio and video along with text and links to other contents can be thought of
as the most important reason behind the ever-expanding use of the internet.(5, 15 )
Library is an organism which applies any modern technology for the purpose of dis-
semination of information and provision of services to given users (12, 13). In the modern
era, the use of web and related technologies has become widespread and libraries have
been no exception, using the phenomenon with a view to remove the obstacles facing the
libraries and enhance the ways of quick and easy information retrieval, having no need to
physical presence of users in the library (31). It is the necessary for the web users to assess
consistently the levels of usability of any resources available on such websites (23).
The present research was conducted in 2010, mainly aims to conduct Web Usability
Evaluation of Iran National Library Website. The goal is to determine whether and how the
national library of Iran is usable, how is met the criteria and standards set and defi ned in
this regard and how website design standards have been met in their design.
2. Research methodology
The present research applies library (attributive) and evaluative survey method. Put
it another way, the attributive method was applied to develop the checklist of 11 crite-
ria s and 160 components and features (through a study of domain related texts and re-
sources) and the evaluative survey method was applied to assess the usability of the website
(according to existing criteria s in the checklist). Nevertheless, for further assurances about
the content validity, Cronbach’s Alpha Coeff icient, a renowned method of assessment of
internal consistency of measurement instrument was applied to test the reliability. The ob-
tained alpha coeff icient was 0.96, pointing to a strong reliability. Descriptive statistics (fre-
quency, percentage and mean) was applied in order to analyze the research fi ndings and de-
scribe the situation of the websites in question. The checklist in question applies the double
scales of existent and non-existent (Yes / No –) and the points given were Yes = 1 and No = 0.
3. Findings
To answer the research questions, it is fi rst necessary to extract the points of the eff ective
criterias and features concerning the website usability from the model website. As noted
COLLNET JOURNAL OF SCIENTOMETRICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (Online First) 3
Sedigheh Mohamadesmaeil and Somaye Kazemi Koohbanani
earlier, the present research follows an imaginary model website which has incorporated
all the 160 features so that it could be applied as a yardstick for assessment of other web-
sites n the population under study. The research fi nds that according to the model website,
the total points for observance of all criteria s and features of website usability are 663 of
which 107 points (16 percent) belong to data credibility, 32 points (5 percent) belong to data
accuracy, 26 points (4 percent) belong to currency, 21 points (3 percent) belong to surface
of coverage and special audiences, 31 points (5 percent) belongs to interactive and inter-
changeable views, 34 points (5 percent) belong data objectivity, 166 points belong to gen-
eral criteria of website navigation (25 percent overall), consisting of 9 points (1 percent) for
features of explorer’s title, 22 points (3 percent) for features of the page’s title, 92 points (14
percent) for textual and meta-textual links, 6 points (1 percent) for internet logo, 25 points
(4 percent) for site map and profi les, 12 points (2 percent) for internal search engine, 64
points (10 percent) for non textual views, 77 (12 percent) points for accessibility, 99 points
(15 percent) for eff iciency and 6 points (1 percent) for appearance.
3.1. Findings
The fi ndings, concerning all data criteria s and features of website are shown in Table 1.
In Table given below, items in the third column (for which the heading is Frequency) refer
to reference numbers. For example, 6,10,15, ... refer to 6th reference, 10th reference, etc.
Figure 1Distribution of points (at percent) concerning the levels of observance of the criteria s
and features inviolved in te model website’s (separated by every criteria)
COLLNET JOURNAL OF SCIENTOMETRICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (Online First)4
Web Usability Evaluation of Iran National Library Website
Table 1Checklist of web usability of national library website of the Iran
National Library Data credibility
Iran Features Frequency Items
__ Author’s name mentioned 1, 6,10,15,17,18,19,23,25 1