Why can’t students get the sources they need?Results from a real availability study

Sanjeet Mann

Arts & Electronic Resources Librarian, University of Redlands

29th Annual NASIG Conference, Ft. Worth, Texas

May 2, 2014

How do you get full text?

Librarian Student

Paige Mann Carlos Puma

Research methods

Technical errors = availability study

• Quantitative

• Large sample for statistical validity

• Researcher tests access (“simulated availability”)

Human interaction = usability study

• Qualitative

• 5-7 users

• Researcher observes library users

My methodology• Cognitive walkthrough

• 7 students x 2 searches x 10 results ≈ 142 interactions

• Jing screen capture software

• Demographic survey and results spreadsheet

Results

Errors

System 31

User35

Both16

Severe systems errors• A&I database has no OpenURL link

• Target database refuses the OpenURL

• A&I database has bad/missing metadata• Can info be found in Google?

• Knowledge base doesn’t offer article-level linking • Is student willing to browse?

Student encounters a system error

Severe human errors

• Didn’t test link

• Used system incorrectly

• Overlooked important information

• Got frustrated and gave up

Student experiences user error

Conceptual model

Questions availability studies can address

• How often do errors occur? Should we be satisfied with our technical infrastructure? (systems)

• How often do users need ILL? (interlibrary loan)

• Do we have enough full text in the collection? (collection development)

• Are we teaching users what they need to be successful at obtaining electronic resources? (instruction)

For discussion at University of Redlands

• 13% error rate in 2013 simulated study• Common problems = source metadata, KB support for OA titles

• 41% local availability (research libraries average 60%)• 2 of 3 items not held in local collection in 2013 study• 43% interactions result in ILL in 2014 study

• Threshold concepts vs. search/retrieval mechanics• How do you teach students to be thoughtful, resilient searchers?

What would I do differently?• Larger, personalized incentives

• Simplify research design

• Cognitive walkthrough as group activity

• Jing + Camtasia Studio worked OK

Further Reading• Selective bibliography: http://goo.gl/4fu47

• Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/sanjeetmann

• University of Redlands availability study datasets• 2012 (simulated) http://goo.gl/606us • 2013 (simulated) http://goo.gl/O5XK9A • 2014 (real) http://goo.gl/BaAm5T