Audiences | Access | Resources | Library Site Entry | Criteria | Web Manual

Target Audiences

• Serves general reference needs of the SAC student population – onsite & distance education, etc.  

• Serves general reference needs of faculty & staff

• Serve as ready reference tool for librarians

Access Points

• Electronic Resources (may change this label) Link from Library homepage

• Electronic Resources Link from other top-level Library pages

• Link from selected Subject Guides as determined by Content Provider, Content Providers will select and add relevant subject-specific links to Subject Guides

• Future access point would be from the site index

• Future access point could be from the site search

Resources

• Highly selective sites that address the ready/virtual reference categories: Almanacs, Biographical Sources, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Literary Sources, Maps & Atlases, Statistical Sources, Style Manuals (consider adding Orange County or Santa Ana category, Directories, Frequently Asked Questions, Taxes, News, Hot Topics, Government Information, …)

• From a high quality, reputable source: organization, company, or sponsor

• Likely to have a print version or equivalent

• Functional with systems/software which students have access to

• Easy to use and interpret, with online help

• Free of advertisements or endorsements

• Additional criteria are included on page two

Library Site Entry

• Linked reference resource name in royal blue

• Brief annotated note that indicates scope, currency, and below designations

• Designations of Full-text, access restrictions (Library Use Only, Campus Use Only, SAC Only, etc.) when necessary

Criteria

Scope                    

• Breadth -- Are all aspects of the subject covered?

• Depth -- Is there appropriate depth of analysis, information, and relevance
  for our student population?

Content

• Is the information based on fact?  Is there a paper equivalent to the web page? 
  Does the site contain original information or simply links? 
  (Sites can be useful as links to other information but users can get frustrated by
  lists of resources which simply contain more links.)

• Accuracy/Objectivity -- Is the information free of error and biases?  Is the information
  provided as a public service?  Is the site free of advertising?  If advertising exists, is it clearly differentiated from information content?

• Authority --Is it clear who is responsible for content?  Can factual information be
  verified in another source? 

• Currency -- Is there a date to indicate when it was last revise? 

• Stability of Information -- Does the organization have a commitment to hosting the resource?

• Uniqueness -- If a resource is derived from another format, for example, print, have extra features been added?

• Qualify of writing --  Is the text communicated clearly?

Workability

• Is the resource easy to navigate?  Is help information available?

• Technical Aspects -- Can the resource be accessed with standard equipment and
  software?  Is the resource frequently overloaded or offline?

• Organization -- Is the resource organized logically, sequentially?  Is a useful search
  engine provided?

• Interactivity -- Do interactive features work?  Do they add value to the site?  Is it
  necessary to download plug-ins to view a resource?

Page URL: http://www.sac.edu/students/library/nealley/usability/criteria.htm