Fayaz Ahmad Loan, Aasif Mohammad Khan, Syed Aasif Ahmad Andrabi, Sozia Rashid Sozia and Umer Yousuf Parray
The purpose of the present study is to identify the active and dead links of uniform resource locators (URLs) associated with web references and to compare the effectiveness of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present study is to identify the active and dead links of uniform resource locators (URLs) associated with web references and to compare the effectiveness of Chrome, Google and WayBack Machine in retrieving the dead URLs.
Design/methodology/approach
The web references of the Library Hi Tech from 2004 to 2008 were selected for analysis to fulfill the set objectives. The URLs were extracted from the articles to verify their accessibility in terms of persistence and decay. The URLs were then executed directly in the internet browser (Chrome), search engine (Google) and Internet Archive (WayBack Machine). The collected data were recorded in an excel file and presented in tables/diagrams for further analysis.
Findings
From the total of 1,083 web references, a maximum number was retrieved by the WayBack Machine (786; 72.6 per cent) followed by Google (501; 46.3 per cent) and the lowest by Chrome (402; 37.1 per cent). The study concludes that the WayBack Machine is more efficient, retrieves a maximum number of missing web citations and fulfills the mission of preservation of web sources to a larger extent.
Originality/value
A good number of studies have been conducted to analyze the persistence and decay of web-references; however, the present study is unique as it compared the dead URL retrieval effectiveness of internet explorer (Chrome), search engine giant (Google) and WayBack Machine of the Internet Archive.
Research limitations/implications
The web references of a single journal, namely, Library Hi Tech, were analyzed for 5 years only. A major study across disciplines and sources may yield better results.
Practical implications
URL decay is becoming a major problem in the preservation and citation of web resources. The study has some healthy recommendations for authors, editors, publishers, librarians and web designers to improve the persistence of web references.
Details
Keywords
Aasif Mohammad Khan, Umer Yousuf Parray, Fayaz Ahmad Loan and Shahid Rashid Parray
This study has aimed to thoroughly assess user sentiments and perceptions regarding the National Library of India (NLI). It has attempted to provide significant insights into user…
Abstract
Purpose
This study has aimed to thoroughly assess user sentiments and perceptions regarding the National Library of India (NLI). It has attempted to provide significant insights into user satisfaction by examining its strengths and shortcomings across key categories including collection, environment, facilities, location, management and staff. The study has contributed to the understanding of the factors influencing the attributes of libraries, facilitating improvements in services and enhancing the overall user experience.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess user sentiments towards the NLI. Using Google Maps reviews, the study utilized web scraping, content analysis and sentiment analysis to categorize reviews as positive, negative or neutral, providing insights into user experiences and an in-depth analysis of the views and opinions of the NLI.
Findings
The study involved sentiment analysis and content analysis of 818 Google Maps reviews to assess user satisfaction with the NLI. The results demonstrate 624 reviews as positive sentiments, 70 instances pinpointed specific negative concerns, primarily related to staff behavior and certain facilities, and 124 neutral reviews suggested mixed viewpoints among users. This analysis highlights the critical role of attributes such as collection quality, environment and facilities in shaping user perceptions, emphasizing the need for focused improvements based on user feedback. The study revealed six attributes, namely collection, environment, facilities, location, management and staff that influence the user perception.
Research limitations/implications
This study is focused solely on Google Maps reviews. Hence, the results cannot be generalized to all online platforms. Reliance on online reviews may not fully capture the views of all the library users. Additionally, the scope of the study is limited to English-language comments, potentially overlooking valuable insights from non-English-language reviews.
Practical implications
This study provides valuable insights for the NLI to enhance user satisfaction by addressing the specific concerns raised in online reviews. The findings offer actionable guidance for library management to refine services and maintain favorable public perceptions.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the field by providing a comprehensive analysis of user sentiment through sentiment and content analysis of online reviews, offering unique insights into the NLI’s public perception. The identification of key strengths and weaknesses adds practical value to library management for refining services. The originality of this study lies in its unique approach to evaluating user experiences, which guides future research and improvement efforts in library services.