Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2008
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Journal of Web Librarianship
Volume
2
Issue
4
First Page
479
Last Page
492
DOI
10.1080/19322900802473944
Date of Submission
May 2014
Abstract
Academic libraries customize, support and provide access to myriad information systems, each with complex graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The number of possible information entry points on an academic library Web site is both daunting to the end user and consistently challenging to library Web site designers. Faced with the challenges inherent in designing online search interfaces and the ever-growing amount of resources available online, VCU Libraries sought to explore how to build effective search interfaces that, at the same time, support a wide variety of computer users and provide comprehensive access to assorted collections of electronic resources. Over a 9 month period, the Libraries designed, implemented and tracked the usage of 2 different search interfaces on their homepage. Each interface allowed the user to choose between 4 different search targets. In this case study, the authors discuss the complexities of designing search interfaces, outline findings from the 9 month study, evaluate the effectiveness of the 2 interface designs and about talk about future research in these areas.
Comments
Authors’ Post-print: Teague-Rector, Susan and Jimmy Ghaphery. "Designing Search: Effective Search Interfaces for Academic Library Web Sites." Journal of Web Librarianship 2, no. 4 (2008): 479-492.