Jimmy Ghaphery, Martin Kesselman and Sarah Barbara Watstein
Recent advancements in technology have inspired libraries to develop creatively customized services, or personalized information clients, allowing users to organize and manage Web…
Abstract
Recent advancements in technology have inspired libraries to develop creatively customized services, or personalized information clients, allowing users to organize and manage Web sites for their personal interests and needs. One example of this customer orientation is the “my library” service, described in this series of questions and answers.
Details
Keywords
To study the use of “Quick Links”, a common navigational element, in the context of an academic library website.
Abstract
Purpose
To study the use of “Quick Links”, a common navigational element, in the context of an academic library website.
Design/methodology/approach
Transaction log files and web server logs are analyzed over a four‐year period to detect patterns in Quick Link usage.
Findings
Provides information about what Quick Links have been used over time, as well as the relationship of Quick Link usage to the rest of the library website. Finds generally that Quick Link usage is prevalent, tilted toward a few of the choices, and is drawn largely from the library homepage as referral source.
Research limitations/implications
Log analysis does not include IP referral data, which limits the ability to determine different patterns of use by specific locations including services desks, off‐campus, and in‐house library usage.
Practical implications
This paper is useful for website usability in terms of design decisions and log analysis.
Originality/value
This paper targets a specific website usability issue over time.