Health Sciences Library Website Using LibGuides: a usability study

Session Description
The purpose of this usability study was to determine the ease of use and navigation of a new Health Sciences Library website, using the LibGuide platform, for biomedical students, faculty, researchers, and staff at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. The main functions of the HSL are to provide its patrons with the information they need to complete assignments, teach, conduct research, and facilitate patient care. The HSL specializes in collecting and subscribing to biomedical information. With the bulk of the library’s collection being available online it is important that the library’s website is easy to learn and use. Approval to conduct the study was received by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Institutional Review Board. For this usability study, in an effort to reduce cognitive load on users, the HSL website was consolidated to a single platform called LibGuides, and a new discovery tool/search interface was implemented. This usability study evaluates the learnability, efficiency, and users’ satisfaction of the new website and discovery tool through online questionnaires and in-person think aloud sessions. Results from the usability study show that the new website is easier to use and participants rated a higher satisfaction with the new website compared to the old website.
URL: https://libguides.jabsom.hawaii.edu/library
Presenter(s)
Melissa Kahili-Heede
Melissa Kahili-Heede, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, HI
Melissa Kahili-Heede is a final year masters student in the Learning Design and Technology program in the College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Melissa is also a librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Session Type
LTEC Session
Audience
All Audiences

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