Elsevier Library Connect Pamphlet: 15 Ways to Promote Effective Use of Online Resources

Number 1 • Edition 2 • 2007
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Research and Findings

Research

Findings

Library Website Positioning

Make sure your institute’s homepage features obvious links to library pages

On the library homepage, offer links to digital resources and subject-specific content

Limit the number of clicks a user needs to get to full-text access.

Library Website Searching

Allow searches on metadata or key words associated with online resources

Offer options for restricting a search

Offer searchable lists of online resources and providers

Library Website Help Features

List library staff titles and names with telephone numbers and email addresses

Incorporate subject-specific help features within your library website

Provide well-structured FAQs as part of your website

Provide guides appropriate for all levels of users, beginner to advanced

Marketing to Users

Use communication extending beyond library buildings and targeting users in subject-specific ways

Avoid generic email alerts to a wide audience in favor of tailored email messages

Create training courses and updates focusing on subject-specific problems

Allow users to register online for training courses or sessions

Collaborate with your publisher and vendor contacts

Additional Resources

Ask UCD

Contact Information

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Library Website Help Features

9. Provide well-structured FAQs as part of your website.

Some sites now ask users to read “frequently asked questions” before contacting staff. Keeping updated FAQs readily available on your library site can help users quickly find answers to specific questions.

Queensland University of Technology uses icons to identify help options, including FAQs, on its library’s help page at www.library.qut.edu.au/ask.jsp

Explore More

Jurkowski, O. L. (2005). An analysis of library Web sites at colleges and universities serving distance education students. In E. D. Garten, D. E. Williams & J. M. Nyce (Eds.), Advances in library administration and organization (Vol. 22, pp. 23–77).
Amsterdam: Elsevier.
DOI: 10.1016/S0732-0671(05)22002-3
Retrieved from www.sciencedirect.com

10. Provide guides appropriate for all levels of users, beginner to advanced.

Online guides can help users make the most of resources. The University of Sheffield’s library offers a range of e-resource guides at www.shef.ac.uk/library/libdocs/atof.html

ScienceDirect user guides and tutorials can help your researchers get the most out of the extensive functionality and content available on ScienceDirect. All these guides and tutorials, designed for licensed users and guests, are freely available at
www.info.sciencedirect.com