Content and Design Features of Academic Health Sciences Libraries' Home Pages

Med Ref Serv Q. 2018 Apr-Jun;37(2):153-167. doi: 10.1080/02763869.2018.1439219.

Abstract

The goal of this content analysis was to identify commonly used content and design features of academic health sciences library home pages. After developing a checklist, data were collected from 135 academic health sciences library home pages. The core components of these library home pages included a contact phone number, a contact email address, an Ask-a-Librarian feature, the physical address listed, a feedback/suggestions link, subject guides, a discovery tool or database-specific search box, multimedia, social media, a site search option, a responsive web design, and a copyright year or update date.

Keywords: Academic health sciences libraries; home pages; website accessibility; websites.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Information Storage and Retrieval / methods*
  • Libraries, Medical / organization & administration*
  • Library Services / organization & administration*
  • Social Media*