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While usability tests have been helpful in evaluating the success or failure of implementing discovery layers in the library context, the focus of usability tests has remained on the search interface rather than the discovery process for users. The informal site- and context specific usability tests have offered little to test the rigor of the discovery layers against the user goals, motivations and workflow they have been designed to support. This study proposes hierarchical task analysis (HTA) as an important complementary evaluation method to usability testing of discovery layers. Relevant literature is reviewed for the discovery layers and the HTA method. As no previous application of HTA to the evaluation of discovery layers was found, this paper presents the application of HTA as an expert based and workflow centered (e.g., retrieving a relevant book or a journal article) method to evaluating discovery layers. Purdue University's Primo by Ex Libris was used to map eleven use cases as HTA charts. Nielsen's Goal Composition theory was used as an analytical framework to evaluate the goal charts from two perspectives: a) users' physical interactions (i.e., clicks), and b) user's cognitive steps (i.e., decision points for what to do next). A brief comparison of HTA and usability test findings is offered as a way of conclusion., INTRODUCTION Discovery layers are relatively new third party software components that offer Google-like web-scale search interface for library users to find information held in the library catalo and beyond. Libraries [...]

ABSTRACT As the library website and its online searching tools become the primary 'branch' many users visit for their research, methods for providing automated, context-sensitive research assistance need to be [...]

The business of local economic development today is in flux. Communities face considerable challenges as they assess their strengths and competitive position amid changing global markets, technology advances, and the [...]

The study focuses on the need for putting in place library liaison programme in Nigerian academic library, with emphasis in the area of study. A survey method was adopted for the study, involving a sample figure of 122 members of the academic staff of the college. The Yaro Yamane formula for selecting a sample from a finite population was used. The study revealed six reasons for establishing library liaison programme in academic libraries. The study also revealed seven functions which library liaisons can perform. Six merits and six envisaged problems of the library arrangement were identified. To combat the problems associated with the library liaison programme, five strategies were revealed. They include: adequate funding of libraries to acquire information sources; engagement of more staff to reduce pressure of work in libraries; training and retraining of staff; curriculum review to accommodate more skills in ICT; and government-private partnership in the provision of ICT infrastructure. Based on the findings, six recommendations are made. Key words: Library liaison, academic libraries, Introduction The primary objective of any academic library is the provision of information for teaching and research. The libraries in academic institutions are, therefore, charged with the responsibility to acquire, [...]