Embedded Files
Research goal: What are student, staff, and faculty experiences of the John L. Haar's digital library branch (i.e., their website and services)?
Research goal: What are student, staff, and faculty experiences of the John L. Haar's digital library branch (i.e., their website and services)?
Velasquez and Campbell-Meier (2022) argue that for many community members, library websites are often the first point of contact to their local library, a phenomenon that became even more pronounced during pandemic lockdown periods. Indeed, so-called “e-branches” supplement and at times replace the need for physical libraries when patrons seek out and reserve resources (physical or e-sources), access sources and data bases, manage their accounts (including paying charges), download or streaming content. More and more users are choosing to engage with libraries online, making the need to address technical, content, and design issues with the website of tantamount importance for library staff and faculty (Velasquez and Campbell-Meier, 2022). Promising library website design practices highlight the need for up-to-date, welcoming, and accessible webpages, which are consistently managed and maintained.
Velasquez and Campbell-Meier (2022) argue that for many community members, library websites are often the first point of contact to their local library, a phenomenon that became even more pronounced during pandemic lockdown periods. Indeed, so-called “e-branches” supplement and at times replace the need for physical libraries when patrons seek out and reserve resources (physical or e-sources), access sources and data bases, manage their accounts (including paying charges), download or streaming content. More and more users are choosing to engage with libraries online, making the need to address technical, content, and design issues with the website of tantamount importance for library staff and faculty (Velasquez and Campbell-Meier, 2022). Promising library website design practices highlight the need for up-to-date, welcoming, and accessible webpages, which are consistently managed and maintained.
In alignment with the above research and in accordance with John L. Haar Library’s (JLHL) mission and vision, the JLHL website needs to provide most essential services found at its physical location, while going beyond that, to meet the needs of our interactive world (Velasquez and Campbell-Meier, 2022). Afterall, libraries are not just a repository for information, but active disseminators of information about the institution and its services, upcoming events and programming, and local news stories.
In alignment with the above research and in accordance with John L. Haar Library’s (JLHL) mission and vision, the JLHL website needs to provide most essential services found at its physical location, while going beyond that, to meet the needs of our interactive world (Velasquez and Campbell-Meier, 2022). Afterall, libraries are not just a repository for information, but active disseminators of information about the institution and its services, upcoming events and programming, and local news stories.
The Fall 2023 Ethno Research Methods class conducted ethnographic research on the useability and user experience of the library’s website. We explored questions like:
The Fall 2023 Ethno Research Methods class conducted ethnographic research on the useability and user experience of the library’s website. We explored questions like:
- How does the Library’s online presence match its physical location and its services?
- How does it compare to other library websites?
- How do users (students and faculty) experience the site and its digital services?
Check out a sample of assignment instructions and in-class worksheets below. The assignments in this class were scaffolded, meaning students had to complete one, to move onto the next assignment.
Check out a sample of assignment instructions and in-class worksheets below. The assignments in this class were scaffolded, meaning students had to complete one, to move onto the next assignment.
Field Observations Worksheet
Field Observations Worksheet
Field observations analysis template.pdfInterview Instructions
Interview Instructions
Interview Instructions.pdfEthics Proposal
Ethics Proposal
REB Ethics Approval.pdfFinal Artefact
Final Artefact
Assignment 5. Final Artefact and Presentation.pdfDigital Observation & Analysis Template
Digital Observation & Analysis Template
Instructions for Website Analysis and Group Report Instructions.pdfInterview Analysis & Ethnographic Narrative Worksheet
Interview Analysis & Ethnographic Narrative Worksheet
Assignment 4. Interview Analysis and Ethnographic Narrative.pdfWriting an Ethnographic Narrative Worksheet
Writing an Ethnographic Narrative Worksheet
Week 11. Crafting a storyboard and infographic.docx.pdfPage updated
Report abuse