Evaluation of Usability of Digital Libraries in Governmental Universities of Tehran

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this studies evaluating the usability of digital libraries in governmental universities at Tehran.Methodology: Evaluative Survey methodology was used for the survey applying measures of search, navigation, forms layout, contrast and scan ability, optimization (size & print), help, usage of windows and speed and errors through a questionnaire containing 36 questions. The research population included 124,800 undergraduate, Master and PhD students, from three governmental universities of Tehran, Sanati Sharif and Sanati Amirkabir. Stratified random sampling method was applied to select 378 students as a sample. For data analysis, SPSS software was used along with descriptive techniques as well as independent test and ANOVA where needed. Findings: The findings indicated that the criteria relating to the usability of digital libraries in the three Tehran universities evaluated to be in relatively good condition and there is no significant difference between the digital libraries for the usability criteria. Conclution: Survey results show that these libraries should be improved by managers, librarians, and experts for a user-friendly system, thereby improving the quality of related universities digital libraries.

Keywords

• evaluation
• usability
• digital library
• governmental universities
• tehran (city)
• university of sanati sharif
• university of amir kabir
• university of tehran