Konnur, P.V.

Rajani, S.

ePrints@Bangalore University

 138 Sixth International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics & Eleventh COLLNET Meeting, October 19 – 22, 2010, University of Mysore,   ACADEMIC LIBRARY WEBSITES IN BANGALORE CITY (INDIA) – A WEBOMETRIC STUDY   P. V. Konnur Bangalore University, Bangalore -560 056  S. Rajani Bangalore University, Bangalore -560 056  Abstract  Introduction  The academic libraries in India, in particular the University Libraries of today, are reaching to a new conquest by improving their service base especially with application of Information technology for access and delivery of e-content to their clients. In this process they are also adapting to the change, altering their image, by executing new functions and providing varieties of services in an evolving continuum. The vast majority of library services are now Web-enabled and so attention is being focused on designing user-friendly and easily managed and maintained library websites. According to Diaz (1998), ―a library website can play different roles; it can serve as a workstation where a user finds databases, electronic texts, and the online catalog. It is a way to make library-made products available, it is used as a window to the WWW by making Internet resources available on a selective basis, and it is a communication tool where information about services, people and facilities and collections can be found.‖ Considering these face books as excellent user interfaces to provide access to vast knowledge resources and services offered by the Academic libraries, a review of some Websites of Academic Libraries are taken as cases for evaluation in this paper.    Purpose This study brings attention to the content and quality of academic library websites in Bangalore (India) for verification of valid, reliable, and usefulness of the criteria for evaluation and guiding the librarians with the tips for designing an efficient and user friendly library website.  Design/Methodology/Approach The evaluation checklist is used as a tool for evaluation of academic library websites. The checklist is divided into five main parts followed by Rating Table. The quantitative pointing system (ten point scale) and five point rating scales have been used to evaluate and rank the websites under the study based on their final scores.   Findings The study reveals that very few (16%) websites provide the information about the date of last updating. Similarly very few (20%) websites provide links to other web reference sites and moderate number (40%) of web sites are facilitated with feed  139 back forms for comments. On the other side good number of websites (76%) have are efficient in loading images, icons, and graphics and large number (80%) of the websites have incorporated web OPAC.  Research Limitation The study is limited to the evaluation of websites of five academic libraries located in Bangalore (India) and manual evaluation method with five parts.  Originality/Value The paper highlights the importance of evaluation of library website and provides tips for librarians in designing an efficient and effective dynamic library website with exhaustive findings and suggestions.   Key Words Evaluation, Academic Libraries, Library website, Bangalore (India)  Paper type: Research article  Conclusion The academic library websites are mirror of their collection, services and user-focused gateways to rich, quality content and they play a key role in the learning and research processes. The users are more accessible from the library websites than to the physical library itself. In this way, academic library websites will become user-focused gateways to rich, quality content and, in doing so, re-establish the campus library‘s central role in the learning and research process   References 1. Ahmed, Syed Sajjad. (2002), ―Managing change to enhance web-based services in the Arabian Gulf libraries‖, Online Information Review, Vol. 26 No.4, pp. 265-270. 2.  Aman, M.(2004), ―Use of Malaysian academic library websites by university students‖, Information Development, Vol.20 No.1, pp.67-71. 3. Bailin, A. and  Grafstein, A. (2005),  ―From place to function: academic libraries in 2012‖, available at: alpha.fdu.edu/~marcum/bailin_grafstein.doc (accessed: 9th  September 2009). 4.    Balas, J.L. (1998), ―Using the web to market the library‖, Computers in Libraries, Vol. 18 No.8, pp. 46-49. 5. Bangalore university library, available at: http://library.bub.ernet.in   (accessed: 5th September 2009).   6. Bao, Xue-Ming. (2000), ―Academic library home pages: link location and database    provision‖, The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 191–195. 7.  Chao, H. (2002), ―Assessing the quality of academic libraries on the web: the development and testing criteria‖,  Library and Information Science Research. Vol. 24, pp. 169-94. 8.   Cohen, L.B. and.Still, J.M. (1999), ―A comparison of research university and two-year 9. College library web sites: content, functionality, and form‖, College & Research Libraries, Vol. 60, pp.: 275.89. 

Academic library websites in bangalore city (India)– A Webometric study

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Academic library websites in bangalore city (India)– A Webometric study

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