Table 4 Proposed usability evaluation checklist.
From: Maximizing coverage, reducing time: a usability evaluation method for web-based library systems
Usability aspects | Sub-aspects | Usability questions |
|---|---|---|
Interaction | Help | Online help is provided |
The site provides appropriate feedback about what is searched for | ||
Interactivity | Contact us link provided | |
Navigation | Navigation | Pages are easy to navigate (sitemap, path information, table of contents/index, navigation through scrolling, flipping and searching, back to homepage) |
Links | Links are identifiable (through colour or underline) | |
Homepage link is on every page | ||
Links are closely associated with their reference | ||
Searching | Search result page is relevant to the searched term | |
User Can search library OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue is an online database of material held by the library) | ||
Aesthetic | 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 | ||
Interface design | The site is visually attractive | |
Page layout is comprehensible | ||
Content | Content accuracy | Information is accurate |
Important features of the site easily recognizable | ||
Content completeness | Details about the organization provided | |
Sufficient information presented to understand the focus | ||
Content currency | The site contains updated information | |
Updated content satisfies the information need | ||
Content presentation | Content presentation | Content presented in sequential order (based on date, title etc.) |
Emphasize the highest priority of content | ||
Text | The text is easy to read in contrast to their background | |
Text has standard font size (12-point print type) | ||
Titling and labelling | Titles are suitable to portray the content | |
Language | Language is user-friendly | |
Consistency | Consistency | Pages layout is consistent |
Links are consistent with the objective | ||
Information is consistent with the mission statement | ||
Accessibility | Accessibility | Past content is accessible |
Miscellaneous | Ads | Free of ads |
Charges | Provide free access to information resources (user don’t need to pay) | |
Library content | Library content | Provide bibliographical details of main sources (books, research journals, authors etc.) |
Copyright of information resources stated | ||
E-sources | E-sources | Access to E-journals |
Access possible to open access resources | ||
Access possible to other web reference sites | ||
Library services | Library services | An option to ask from a librarian |
Smart searching | Smart searching | The site provides the facility of advance search |
Search results | Search results | Search result pages are relevant to the searched content |
Site response quickly in searching |
