Instructing Usability Evaluation in LIS curriculum: A Case of the U.S.

Ameen, Kanwal and Erdelez, Sanda Instructing Usability Evaluation in LIS curriculum: A Case of the U.S. Pakistan Journal of Information Management and Libraries, 2011, vol. 12, n. 1. [Journal article (Unpaginated)]

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English abstract

Increasing use of websites as vehicles for the diss emination of information services in the digital environment and interaction with users has raised m any usability concerns in creating user-friendly digital information services. Hence, it is important to und erstand if and how the future generations of library and other information professionals learn about usability evaluation through their LIS studies. Guided by this research objective, the authors of this paper reviewed the state of usability evaluation (UE) courses in LIS education. The study used content-analysis method to find answers to the research questions. The sample was purposive consisting only ALA accredited schools in the U.S. Publicly available descriptions of the courses on their websites were accessed to review the UE content offered. The content of these identified course descriptions was downloaded and further analyzed in terms of its format and coverage . Besides, based on the experience of the second auth or, the paper provides insight into both challenges and opportunities that the instructors of usability evaluation courses face. Findings reveal that LIS education programs have not yet fully accepted UE of digital resources as a standard course in their educational repertory. The study suggests that a sy stematic exposure to UE can place LIS professionals in a better position to communicate with the inform ation technology staff regarding the specific needs of the users and enhance their chances for a productive professional career.

Item type:	Journal article (Unpaginated)
Keywords:	Website usability; Usability evaluation; LIS education; USA
Subjects:	A. Theoretical and general aspects of libraries and information. > AZ. None of these, but in this section.
Depositing user:	UR Rehman Shafiq
Date deposited:	29 Jul 2015 08:05
Last modified:	29 Jul 2015 08:05
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/10760/25598

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