Digital Space as a Tool to Organize, Share and Promote Academic Libraries Cover Image

Cyfrowa przestrzeń jako narzędzie organizacji, udostępniania i promocji oferty bibliotek akademickich
Digital Space as a Tool to Organize, Share and Promote Academic Libraries

Author(s): Anna Mierzecka, Andrius Šuminas
Subject(s): Media studies, Library operations and management, Higher Education , ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: Szkoła Wyższa Psychologii Społecznej
Keywords: digital space; academic libraries; internet usage;

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the study was to answer the question about the effectiveness of academic libraries’ Internet usage to meet the needs of the users. Based on previous research we established what the main functions fulfilled by libraries’ websites are and subsequently we verified the extent to which the website of the University of Warsaw Library (UW Library) fulfilled those functions in students’ opinions. The empirical part of the research we conducted using the eye tracking method. The results indicated that the location of the various elements on the page, in many cases, caused the problems for users. Students attach great importance to digital collections and to information which supports the efficient use of library resources, meanwhile the large amount of information on the UW Library website was associated with the creation of its digital business card - defined the institution itself. To conclude, analysis of the content on the UW Library website indicates that the site is used both as a tool for the promotion of the Library, as well as space for users’ services. The results show the need for further work on improving the second of these functions.

  • Issue Year: 50/2016
  • Issue No: 04
  • Page Range: 50-63
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish