I’ll just cut to the chase, the library web site not friendly to users.

1) First thing I want to do when I arrive at the site it either search for a book or a journal. Currently that’s at least three clicks away, usually more, and hidden behind some pretty annoying auto options that lead in the wrong direction.

2) ‘Summon’. I hate it with a passion. Every time I accidently type something into that box and get delivered to a page of obscure useless results I curse the person who thought it up.

3) The catalogue search algorithm is primitive and fickle, I’m not sure if it’s because the resources are indexed using unusual terms or if it’s the search algorithm, but it’s incredibly annoying trying to generate synonyms for searches, switching between title/keyword/subject and basically repeating the same search six times all the time.

4) Ebrary, good idea, poorly executed. I understand why the library wants to move away from books and use electronic resources for everything, but this isn’t the answer. It doesn’t even have the functionality of the rudest pdf reader. It’s irritating, slow to use and hard to find your way back to a previous search. I use a large library of ebooks on a daily basis and work in essentially a paperless office, but nothing has made me want to put my hands on a book and turn a page more than this program.

5) In general, searching the uq.edu.au web site for anything is a waste time. The library isn’t any different, it’s always a chore to browse through all the menus scanning for information.

It seems like the approach the library has to making its site more usable is to keep bolting new things onto it when really you need to get rid of all the stuff that doesn’t work and simplify the site. Currently on the library home page, there are three tool bars across the top of the screen, two sets of quick links on the side and bottom of the screen, and three panels showing news or ads for the library. Way too much going-on on the screen. The few useful items are buried amongst mostly useless links that don’t need to be on the front page.

It’s obvious the library is doing good work (as it always has) and has excellent services (very pleased to see the video tutorials btw), but the site is the face of the library, it’s the first thing people see and it’s letting you down. While the staff are great and good at helping students, I think even their jobs could be made easier with a better designed site.

Regards,
Paul