Evaluating a library web site based on web standards and user feedback
Patricia Higginbottom, Martha Verchot, and Jack T. Smith, Jr.
Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

Purpose: This paper will report on the process used by one academic health sciences library in evaluating their web presence.

Setting/Participants/Resources: Exactly what is the library's web avatar or "web presence?" This has been the source of much discussion over the past year. Beginning as one web page offering user information and database updates, the library's web presence has grown into multiple sites on different servers of loosely linked pages each filling a variety of purposes. Authored by individual staff members, each group of pages reflects the library's activities and information from their particular work area and perspective. Integration between the different websites has been minimal. One problem quickly identified is that no particular person or group has responsibility for coordinating the content, style, or format of the information or in assuring that different pages of the site remain updated and current.

Brief Description: With the growth in the number of electronic resources and increasing use of those resources remotely, we determined it was time to evaluate our web site based on accepted usability standards and user testing. A web usability group of library staff was formed to determine a process for improvement. Data was gathered from books, articles and classes on web usability. The first step has been to conduct interviews with library staff and users of the web site to determine such things as what does the site need to include and what is its purpose.

Results/Outcome: A web usability team is now in the process of determining a process for solving these issues and this paper will report on those processes and the results. Our desired outcome is an easily navigated, content-rich library website.

Evaluation Method: Evaluation methods include user interviews, card sorting techniques and formal usability testing. After changes to the site, the same techniques will be used to reevaluate.