An empirical study of factors influencing user perception of university digital libraries in China

Submitted by mlb78 on Fri, 09/16/2016 - 17:24
TitleAn empirical study of factors influencing user perception of university digital libraries in China
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsHu, Chang Ping, Hu, Yuan, and Yan, Wei
JournalLibrary and Information Science Research
Volume36
Issue3-4
Pagination225-233
Keywordslibrary, usability
AbstractStudies of the resources and services provided through university digital libraries have focused on evaluation criteria which consider usability, content, technology, and context. The factors influencing user perception of university digital libraries have not been explored and discussed from the perspective of specific library service types. Structural equation modeling was used to explore influencing factors and the relationships among them, based on 353 responses to survey questionnaires regarding academic DLs in China. Findings show that information providing services, information retrieval services, and individual services are direct influencing factors, while information organizing services affect user perception indirectly through information retrieval services and individual services. Various services also demonstrate interactions.
NotesThis study aims to examine factors that influence user perceptions of China's university digital library services. Specifically, the research is interested in studying the relationship between five DL functional service types (Information providing services, Information organizing services, Interaction services, Information retrieval services and Individual services) and user perceptions of DLs. Results indicated that three factors would directly influence user perception of a DL, namely information providing services, information retrieval services, and individual services, with the former two factors being more important. Other indirect relationships were discussed.
URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2013.10.008
DOI10.1016/j.lisr.2013.10.008