Affiliations: Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110007, India; E-mail: [email protected] | Librarian, Ambedkar Institute of Advanced Communication, Technology and Research (AIACT&R), Geeta Colony, Delhi - 110031; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: This study evaluates multimedia, content, and user-interface features of select library websites of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in India and uses a mixed-method approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative analyses of IIM library websites evaluation with the help of a specially designed checklist. The various features of the websites of six IIM libraries — IIM-Ahmadebad, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Calcutta, IIM-Indore, IIM-Kozhikode, and IIM-Lucknow — are evaluated. The qualitative part of the checklist contains 11 features pertaining to the homepages of the IIM library websites, which serves as a recording device for descriptive data and quantitative. The quantitative part of checklist contains 135 dichotomous questions relating to various evaluation aspects of multimedia, content, and user-interface features. A quantitative five-point rating scale was designed to provide a meaningful numerical rating for each individual feature of the IIM library websites and rank them based on features. This paper attempts to show that study websites are lagging behind in exploiting the full potential of the multimedia features — particularly, audio and video features — as well as instructional tools, currency, and Web/Library 2.0 features. Findings show that many of the study IIM library websites in India are ranked above average mainly providing general information of the library and their services. The study website with the highest score is for IIM-Lucknow with 65.92 per cent (89 out of 135) and the least scored study website belongs to IIM-Bangalore with 42.96 per cent (58/135). These findings open the door to librarians to explore the possibilities of communication, promotion, text responses, and catalogue access via mobile technology with the help of library websites. It is hoped that study libraries will attend to this lacunae and soon develop more interactive and up-to-date dynamic content, Web 2.0 and Web 3.0-based features, instant messaging (IM) reference services, virtual library tours, floor maps, online library calendar, FAQs, bulletin boards, discussion forums, Listserve, web counter, effective searching features, etc.
Keywords: Library Websites, Evaluation, IIM libraries, India
