The purpose of this case study describes the process of designing and building SMIRK, a mobile information literacy and communication skills package. It describes the original…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this case study describes the process of designing and building SMIRK, a mobile information literacy and communication skills package. It describes the original package, SMILE, and the problems in its use and development. SMILE is not suitable for use on all mobile devices, so it had to be adapted and rewritten to meet our users’ needs. The selection of a software package and the practical issues involved with building the new product is outlined. Plans for future development and use in the university environment are described.
Design/methodology/approach
The problems with the original package are described, and the requirements for a new version are listed. The software selection process and factors affecting it are outlined. Practical issues in the build are described and solutions presented.
Findings
This paper presents the use of software designed for the creation of small mobile sites in a new “nested” way to provide a larger, easy to use mobile site.
Research limitations/implications
The use of the existing and new sites is examined by the use of Google analytics, and feedback is collected using Google forms. This can be used to inform further development of the sites. SMIRK will be made available as an open educational resource (OER), and its reuse will be monitored using Jorum analytics. This should help inform the wider OER community in the field of information literacy.
Practical implications
SMIRK will be embedded in virtual learning environment modules to support face-to-face training in information literacy and communication skills. This will be presented as a set of deep links directly to small information units which can be used by students on their smartphones or tablets.
Social implications
SMIRK is available on the open web, so anyone can use it. It has been publicised at the Scottish information literacy group which contains members from all library sectors, so we hope that it will be used in further education (FE) and possibly secondary schools to provide a set of transferable skills.
Originality/value
This case study describes a novel way of using Dreamweaver’s JQuery mobile function to create a new online product to support information literacy and communication skills training in the academic environment.
Details
Keywords
Library websites serve as gateways to the information resources and services of their libraries. In today’s digital age, the development of websites is inevitable for libraries as…
Abstract
Purpose
Library websites serve as gateways to the information resources and services of their libraries. In today’s digital age, the development of websites is inevitable for libraries as a means to provide users with online services at their desktops. This case study reports the findings of a usability study of an academic library website from the user’s perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey on the efficacy of the website and statistical reports from Google Analytics were used as tools to assess and track the use of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) Institute of Information Technology’s (CIIT’s) library website resources by national and international users. A sample of 550 users was invited by e-mail to respond to the questionnaire covering various usability features of the website.
Findings
Findings reveal that users are largely satisfied with the usefulness, convenience, design and quality of CIIT library website. Moreover, the users are mostly making use of the website for accessing research papers through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) digital library, exploring free online open access journals, searching for e-books and examining the library collection via online public access catalog (OPAC). This shows that the library website has a significant role in the pedagogical activities of the CIIT community.
Research limitations/implications
The results are limited to a case study of CIIT, Islamabad campus library website.
Practical implications
The findings of this study will help the library administration to overcome existing deficiencies in the CIIT library website.
Originality/value
The study is a foremost usability evaluation of CIIT, Islamabad campus library website from the user perspective.