Status of Green User Interface of Iranian Digital Library Websites

Abstract

Designing green websites using green user interface components improves their energy expenditure efficiency. This research aim to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the Iranian digital libraries’ websites according to the UI Green metric criteria. This applied study adopted a webometrics approach. Our research population was 59 digital libraries’ websites. Our tool was a researcher-made checklist. Experts certified its validity. Its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha test (alpha=0.758). Websites were evaluated both by two online tool and by website advisors and designers. We analyzed data using descriptive and inferential statistics (binomial and chi-squared tests). Our results showed a significant difference in user interface design between the studied websites (P=0.030). Most websites(28.8%) are middle-level. Academic (25.8%) and non-academic digital libraries (28.6%) are at a good level. Ranking the Iranian digital libraries showed that the digital libraries of Payame Noor University(by Ertebatat Payme Mashregh Engineering Co.), Fatemeh Masumah Holy Shrine (by Pars Azarakhsh), Astan Quds Razavi (by Astan Quds Razavi Holy Shrine) are in the excellent level by scoring the total 25 points. Two digital libraries, the digital library of Iran University of Medical Sciences (by Yekta Web Afzar Shargh Co.) and Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (by Pars Azarakhsh Co.), are in the last place in complying with the intended components by scoring 7. Iranian digital libraries have an above-average status in using the green user interface. Furthermore, the green user interface components of academic and non-academic digital library websites were in good level.

Keywords

• green user interface
• graphic user interface
• green web
• digital libraries
• webometrics