Academic Library

Website Comparisons:

A Survey of Three Texas

Historically Black College &

University Library Websites

Crystal D. Guliford

5313-20 College and University Lib.

Dr. Keith Swigger

24 Sept 2006

A note on school selections:

As a graduate of a predominantly African

American institution, Langston University, I

have become a strong advocate for

expansion, enhancement & promotion of

library services and resources in

order to improve current conditions.

24 Sept 2006

Background:

In 2000, a study that sought to determine

how useful library Web sites of historically

black colleges and universities(HBCUs) are

as tools for disseminating information and

providing services to users was

highlighted in College & Research

Libraries journal.

Library Web Sites at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Agingu, Beatrice O. College & Research Libraries (0010-0870) Jan 2000. Vol.61, Iss.1; p.30-37

24 Sept 2006

Scope of the study:

Library website comparison:

• Publicly supported HBCU’s

• Publicly supported institutions in the

Southeast

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Findings:

• HBCU libraries used their web sites mainly to

provide information about the library and its

collections.

• There is need for dedicated support from the

parent institution.

• HBCU libraries must hire staff with

the technical expertise to work with

web technologies or train their staff.

24 Sept 2006

Purpose:

This focus of this presentation on Texas

colleges & universities is to perform additional

research into the topic of HBCU web

technology development.

Actions:

• Survey of the differences that exist within

the websites of three libraries that serve

predominately black student populations

in Texas.

• Evaluate websites by answering basic

questions involving user friendliness.

24 Sept 2006

“The most important determinant of an

effective Web site is that it should have

a clear mission and a clear sense of its

users and their needs.” Agingu

Library Web Sites at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Agingu, Beatrice O. College & Research Libraries (0010-0870) Jan 2000. Vol.61, Iss.1; p.30-37

24 Sept 2006

Analysis Criteria/Questions

• Is the library's home page accessible

from the parent institution's home page

or web site?

• Is the library's online catalog

Accessible via the library's website?

• Does the library's Web site provide

access to the library's journal

Periodicals holdings list?24 Sept 2006

Analysis Criteria/Questions

• Does the library's Web site provide

access to the library's list of printed indexes

and/or CD-ROM databases?

• Does the library's Web site

provide access to the library's

online or web-based databases?

24 Sept 2006

Analysis Criteria/Questions• Can users request reference assistance

through the library's Web site?

• Can users request interlibrary loan (ILL)

materials through the library's Web site?

• Does the library's Web site provide links

to other sites that may be relevant to

the users' needs?

• Does the library's Web site provide

links to other libraries in the area?

24 Sept 2006

Analysis Criteria/Questions

• Does the library's home page and/or other Web

pages at the site show the date of the last update?

• Does the library's Web site provide a feedback

mechanism?

• Is the library's Web site used for

interactive purposes(e.g., tutorials or quizzes,

patron information, electronic journals, etc.)

other than the ones mentioned above?

24 Sept 2006

Selected Colleges and Universities:

Prairie View A&M University

John B. Coleman Library

Jarvis Christian College

Olin Library

Texas Southern University

R. James Terry Library

24 Sept 2006

Prairie View A&M University

24 Sept 2006

Mission Statement:

“The mission of the John B. Coleman Library

is to provide resources and instructional

material in support of the evolving curriculum,

as a partner in Prairie View A&M University's

mission of teaching, research, and service.

Dr. Rosie L. Albritton, Ph.D. Director,

University Library Services and Professor

Educational Media & Technology

(November 2005)

24 Sept 2006

Library Information:

(User friendly page with links to detailed

information about library services and policies.)

24 Sept 2006

FAQ’S Page: question examples

Basic Information questions:

Who was Dr. John B. Coleman?

What are the library's hours?

Where is Lost & Found?

Does the library hire student workers?

Is there a quiet study area in the library?

Obtaining Materials questions:

• How can I checkout a book?

• How long can I keep my book?

• How long can a faculty member keep a book?

• How can I borrow books if I'm not a PVAMU student?

Specialized Services:

• Is there a copier I can use?

• Is there a change machine I can use?

• Is there a typewriter I can use?

24 Sept 2006

Access Information:

24 Sept 2006

Research & Support:

24 Sept 2006

Research & Support:

24 Sept 2006

Online Catalog:

Similar to most

O.P.A.C's

24 Sept 2006

Electronic Journals:ABI/INFORM Complete

Academic Search Premier

Accounting & Tax Database

ACM Digital Library

Alt-Health Watch

America's Newspapers

American Institute of Physics

American Mathematical Society

American Periodicals Series

American Physical Society

Annual Reviews

Business & Company Resource Center

Business Source Complete

Business Source Premier

CINAHL

Communication & Mass Media Complete

Computer Source

Consumer Health Complete

CQ Press

Education Full Text

Emerald Journals

Expanded Academic ASAP

Fuente Academica

General Reference Center Gold

Health and Wellness Resource Center

Health Reference Center Academic

Health Source: Consumer Edition

Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition

Hein Online

Historical Newspapers Online

IEEE All-Society Periodicals Package (ASPP)

InfoTrac One File

International Index to Black Periodicals Full Text

International Index to Music Periodicals Full Text

JSTOR Arts and Sciences I Collection

JSTOR Arts and Sciences II Collection

JSTOR Ecology & Botany Collection

Kluwer Journals Online

Legal Collection

LexisNexis Academic

LexisNexis Academic

Literature Online (LION)

Literature Resource Center

MAS Ultra - School Edition

Master FILE Premier

MathSciNet

(All databases require password & user name)

24 Sept 2006

Electronic Resources: E Book Topics Available:

Eighteenth Century Books

Engineering Books

Forensic Science Books

Health and Wellness Resources

Health Reference Center

History E books

Mental Measurements Yearbook

Net Library

Neuroscience Books

Stat! Ref!

Online Ref. Resources:

Miscellaneous

Poems

Quotations

Statistics

Texas Information

Thesaurus

Almanacs

Biographies and Genealogy

College Catalogs

Countries of the World

Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

24 Sept 2006

Links to Other Libraries:

24 Sept 2006

PVAM Usability:12 questions

1. Parent institution

page accessibility: yes

2. OPAC on library web:

yes

3.Listing of journals

/periodicals: yes

4. Access to printed

indexes: yes

5. Access to online/web

based databases: yes

6.Online request

capability: yes

7. Online ILL request: yes

8. Relevant links: yes

9. Other library links: yes

10. Webpage update

Info: no

11.Feedback

mechanism: yes

12.Interactive and other

services: yes, writing style

guides, homework links,

how to, etc.

24 Sept 2006

Jarvis Christian College

24 Sept 2006

Mission Statement:

“The Olin Learning Resource Center's primary

function is to serve and support the academic

needs of the institution. In addition to providing

books, journals and instructional material and

media in both traditional and electronic formats,

the college library is designed to facilitate

research and study with open stacks and

continuously available assistance from the

library staff.”

Jarvis Christian College website

24 Sept 2006

Library Information:

24 Sept 2006

FAQ’S Page: question examplesHow do I put something on Reserve? Answer:

Turn in your Library Reserve Form and material at the

Circulation Desk. We will check to make sure all

information is listed.

Where do I get a Library Reserve Form? Answer:

You may pick up a form at the circulation desk, or print one

from the library's website.

What can I put on Reserve? Answer:

Items on Reserve may include: - Books or purchased media

materials from your personal library. Dust jackets should be

removed from the book, and note that the library is not

responsible for damage to or loss of personal items placed on

Reserve; - Typed course notes, PowerPoint presentations, or

photocopies from books or periodicals – bibliographic

information must be included; or - Materials from the Library's

collection, videos and recordings from the Media Center, or

Reserve Book Room materials.

24 Sept 2006

Access, Policies & Services:

24 Sept 2006

Library Services:

• Computer Center

• Microfilm and Microfiche Readers

• Texshare Card

• Photocopy Service

• Typewriter Service

• Scanner Service

• Interlibrary Loan

24 Sept 2006

Electronic Resources:Galaxy Web Pac (Online Catalog)

Tex Share Databases: requires password

Bloomberg Financial Services: only

accessible in library

Sirs Databases: only accessible in library

Encarta Reference Suite: only accessible in

library

JSTOR (On Campus Access)

JSTOR (Remote Access): requires library

issued password

Facts.com: remote access with library issued

password

24 Sept 2006

“Galaxy Web Pac” (OPAC)

24 Sept 2006

Research & Support Links

24 Sept 2006

JCC Usability:12 questions1. Parent institution

page accessibility: yes

2. OPAC on library web:

yes

3.Listing of journals

/periodicals: no, just

notes 100 available in

library, and newspaper

titles.

4. Access to printed

indexes: no

5. Access to online/web

based databases: yes, 7

6.Online request

capability: no

7. Online ILL request: no

8. Relevant links: no

9. Other library links: no

10. Webpage update

Info: no

11.Feedback

mechanism: no

12.Interactive and other

services offered: no

24 Sept 2006

Texas Southern University

24 Sept 2006

Library Info Main Pages

24 Sept 2006

OPAC

24 Sept 2006

Electronic Resources

24 Sept 2006

Partial Database ListingTex Share Libraries & Catalogs

20th Century Poetry

Academic Search Premier

African American Biographical Database

Alt Health Watch

American Periodical Series

Business Source Premier

Chad wyck-Healy Literature Collections: 20th Century African American Poetry, 20th Century American Poetry, 20th Century English Poetry, and African American Poetry (1750-1900)

Clinical Pharmacology

Computer Source

Contemporary Authors

Contemporary Literary Biography

Contemporary Literary Criticism

Directory of Open Access Journals

EBSCO (all EBSCO)

EBSCO host Espanol

Mergent Online

Middle Search Plus

Military and Government Collection

MLA International Bibliography

National Security Archives

NCJRS (National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts)

Net Library

Policy File

Professional Development Collection

Pro Quest Databases: ABI/INFORM-Global, Pro Quest Biology, and Social Science Plus; Hoover’s Company Records, Historical New York Times, Historical Washington Post, Pro Quest Social Science Journals

Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection

Regional Business News

RIA Checkpoint

Sage Fu ltext Collection: Criminology

24 Sept 2006

Database & Catalog Search Pages

24 Sept 2006

Department Pages

24 Sept 2006

Research Support: ENCompassENCompass allow users to

simultaneously search multiple

databases, view results from

individual databases or in a

combined list. Quickly determine

access options (i.e. full-text

articles, RJT library holdings.)

ENCompass accesses 38

electronic databases out of

Robert J. Terry Library's over

100 resources along with

Google and R.J.T's online

catalog are listed. A maximum

number of records is retrieved

from each database. Users will

need to search the database in

its original format to obtain

additional records.

24 Sept 2006

Additional Info & Web Help

24 Sept 2006

TSU Usability:12 questions

1. Parent institution

page accessibility: yes

2. OPAC on library web:

yes

3.Listing of journals

/periodicals: yes

4. Access to printed

indexes: yes

5. Access to online/web

based databases: yes

6.Online request

capability: yes, ask-a-

librarian

7. Online ILL request: no

8. Relevant links: no

9. Other library links: no

10. Webpage update

Info: yes, last update March 4th, 2003!!!!

11.Feedback

mechanism: not

specifically for library, for

university

12.Interactive and other

services: yes, student account access

24 Sept 2006

Final Conclusion: Ranking HBCU’s need to increase their library budgets or obtain

funding from external sources so that their libraries can

purchase the technical resources necessary for Web page authoring and maintenance and for subscriptions to Web based resources.

1st. Prairie View A&M: 2006 Budget $135M.

2nd. Texas Southern Univ. $127.6 million budget for

fiscal year 2007.

3rd. Jarvis Christian College: No specific budget

information found. JCC receives Title III Grant funds

under the Higher Education Act of 1965. For the

past three years, the College has received a million

dollars to help strengthen its institutional programs

through Title III grant funds.

24 Sept 2006

References:1. Library Web Sites at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Agingu, Beatrice O. College & Research

Libraries (0010-0870) Jan 2000. Vol.61, Iss.1; p.30-37

2. Bridging the Gap in Early Library Education History for African Americans: The Negro Teacher-Librarian

Training Program(1936-1939). Sutton, Allison M. Journal of Negro Education (00222984) Spr. 2005. Vol.74,

Iss.2; p.138-150

3. Accessing Historic Africana Collections at HBCU Libraries. Nosakhere, Akilah.

Against the Grain (1043-2094) February 2004. Vol.16, Iss.1; p.20, 22, 24, 26

4. Sin Fronteras: How SOLINET Helps Libraries Break Down Barriers. Swain, S. Virginia

Libraries v. 52 no. 2 (April/May/June 2006) p. 36-40

5. Preserving a Legacy. Library Journal (1976) v. 129 no. 5 (March 15 2004 supp) p. 43

6. Preserving A Historic Legacy: The HBCU Library Alliance [Historically black college and universities].

Parham, L. O., et. al., Against the Grain v. 16 no. 1 (February 2004) p. 1, 16, 18

7. Preserving our heritage: the SOLINET/ASERL/HBCU cooperative preservation {historically black colleges

and universities}. Williams, S. K. In: Culture keepers III. Black

Caucus of the Am. Lib. Assn., 2000

8. Factors Influencing Estimates of Gains Made among African American and Caucasian Community College

Students. Swigart, Theodore E.; Murrell, Patricia H. Community College Journal of Research and Practice

(1066-8926) May 2001. Vol.25, Iss.4; p.297-312

9. Library Services through the World Wide Web. Xiao, Daniel, Pixey Anne Mosley, and Alan Cornish. The Public-Access Computer Systems Review 8, no. 4 (1997).

10. Comparing Libraries of Public Historically Black Colleges and Universities with their White Counterparts.

Gravois, Jim; College & Research Libraries, v56 n6 p519-30 Nov 1995 (EJ536280)

24 Sept 2006