Table 2 Interim checklist.
From: Maximizing coverage, reducing time: a usability evaluation method for web-based library systems
Usability aspects | Sub-aspects | Usability questions |
|---|---|---|
Interaction | Help | FAQ section available to answer user’s questions |
Online help provided in the site | ||
Site provides appropriate feedback about what is searched for | ||
Interactivity | Allow user to send feedback | |
Allow user to comment on the site | ||
Contact us link provided on the site | ||
Navigation | Navigation | Pages are easy to navigate (sitemap, path information, table of contents/index, navigation through scrolling, flipping and searching, back to home page) |
All provided links in site are working (no dead links) | ||
User can easily escape from undesired situation (back button, undo function, cancel/end program command) | ||
Shortcut | Shortcuts available in the site (bookmarks, table of content etc.) | |
Searching | Internal search engine available to search library site | |
Search result page is relevant to the searched term | ||
Allow user to search the library OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue is online database of material held by the library) | ||
Links | Links are identifiable (through color or underline) | |
Homepage link is on every page | ||
Links are closely associated with their reference | ||
Visited and unvisited links are clearly identifiable | ||
Aesthetic | Interface design | Site is visually attractive |
Page layout is comprehensible | ||
Site is easy to use | ||
Graphics and animation | Easy to read graphics in the site (images, audio/video, relevant animation, flash technology, no watermarking) | |
Graphics images are relevant to the context | ||
Site provides ALT tag for images (alternate text for an image, if the image cannot be displayed) | ||
Content | Content accuracy | Site contains accurate information |
Pages are free of irrelevant information | ||
Most important features of the site easily recognizable | ||
Content currency | Site contains updated information | |
Updated content satisfies the information need | ||
Shows the date/time the site was last updated | ||
Content completeness | Details of organization provided in the site | |
Sufficient information presented to understand the particular focus | ||
Unrelated information is explained in the site | ||
Content presentation | Text | Text have margin around |
Text is easy to read in contrast to their background | ||
Text has standard font size (12-point print type) | ||
Titling and labeling | Titles are suitable to portray the content | |
Clearly defined areas are not labeled (search, login etc.) | ||
Technical terms are not used to the title label | ||
Language | Site language is user-friendly | |
Presentation | Content presented in sequential order (based on date, title etc.) | |
Information is presented in different formats (full text, abstract) | ||
Highest priority of content is emphasized | ||
Date and time | Date presented in international format (YYYY-MM-DD) | |
Consistency | Consistency | Pages layout is consistent |
Links are consistent with objective | ||
Information is consistent with mission statement | ||
Accessibility | Accessibility | Loading/downloading speed is high |
Past content is accessible | ||
Error prevention | Error prevention | Site allow user to recover from error (cancel operation, return to original) |
Site gives alert message to prevent from error | ||
Error prevention message reveals the description of the error | ||
Misc | Ads | Site is free of ads |
Charges | Site provide free access to information resources (user don’t need to pay) | |
Audience | Audience of the page stated (computer science, electrical engineering, BBA etc.) | |
No of hits | Site shows the number of visitors in specified period of time | |
Responsiveness | Site is responsive to (libraryname.com or www.libraryname.com) | |
Tool assistance | Essential software is accessible from the site (like PDF etc.) | |
Library content | Library content | Site shows bibliographical details of main sources (books, research journals, authors etc.) |
Copyright of information resources stated | ||
E-sources | E-sources | Site allow access to E-journals |
Access possible to open access resources | ||
Access possible to other web reference sites | ||
Library services | Library services | Site allow user to ask from librarian |
Printing service available to user | ||
RSS feed is provided (Really Simple Syndication useful for keeping update on your favorite area through a feed like in blogs, newsletters, and podcasts) | ||
Site allow user to register as a member of the site | ||
Smart searching | Smart searching | Site provide facility of advance search |
Facilitate the feature of auto correct/complete in searching | ||
Provide the facility of the spell checker in the site | ||
Provide an age appropriate “safe search” feature | ||
Site is able to handle “natural language” queries | ||
Site is able to retain queries from previous searches (search history) | ||
Search results | Search results | Search result pages are relevant to the searched content |
Site response quickly in searching | ||
Allow user to export the records | ||
Site allow user to refine the search queries | ||
The site provides the faceted navigation. (Library catalogues should be able to display the search results as a set of categories, such as subject terms, dates, languages, availability, formats, locations, etc.) | ||
Site gives recommendation for related material | ||
Site provide facility of sharing the search records (social media interaction) | ||
Provides the facility of saving the search records | ||
Site gives recent search page results | ||
The site is able to prioritize the search results? |
