Loading…
NASIG 2014 has ended
NASIG 29th Annual Conference
Taking Stock and Taming New Frontiers
May 1-4, 2014
Ft. Worth, Texas

Established in 1985, the North American Serials Interest Group, Inc. (NASIG) is an independent organization that promotes communication, information, and continuing education about serials and the broader issues of scholarly communication. NASIG welcomes anyone interested in the serials information chain. Inspired by the United Kingdom Serials Group (UKSG), NASIG held its first conference at Bryn Mawr College in June 1986. The annual conference, usually held in late May or June, offers a premier opportunity to meet others representing the diverse interests of the serials community and to hear speakers who are on the cutting edge of scholarly communication.
Back To Schedule
Friday, May 2 • 3:40pm - 4:40pm
Why can't students get the sources they need? Results from a real electronic resource availability study

Sign up or log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Tweet Share
Availability studies estimate the proportion of items in a collection that library users can access. This traditional research method can help librarians find and fix the most significant access problems with electronic resources, and connect patrons with information through better collection development and acquisitions decisions.

To date, all electronic resource availability studies have been "simulated" studies, in which a librarian tests access to a sample of items. Simulated availability studies identify technical problems with electronic resources, but don't address how database interface design or insufficient library research skills could prevent a student from successfully obtaining a desired item.

This study represents the first known attempt at a "real" electronic resource availability study, in which recruited students generate and test the sample. It uses quantitative methods to estimate overall resource availability, and a cognitive walkthrough (a usability research method) to compare the way Redlands students actually retrieve full text against an ideal process articulated by Redlands librarians.

The study's conclusions can be used to benchmark studies of e-resource availability at other campuses, provide input into database interface design and improve library instruction concerning electronic resources.
Speakers
avatar for Sanjeet Mann

Sanjeet Mann

Arts & Systems Librarian, University of Redlands
Sanjeet Mann is Arts and Systems Librarian at Armacost Library, University of Redlands, where he coordinates library systems and technology and works with the Art, Creative Writing, Music and Theatre departments.

Friday May 2, 2014 3:40pm - 4:40pm CDT
Crystal Ballroom D
  Concurrent Session

Attendees (0)