Keeping up with the new technological trends and inventions of the times, the W.E.B. Du Bois library has unveiled a new and improved Research Database Interface.
The libraries offer more than 280 research databases and are easier to locate, due to a new “database locator.” The new interface is the product of a design overhaul conducted over the last few months.
The library staff enlisted the help and opinions of undergraduate and graduate students with the goal of creating a better system of helping students write research papers.
Laurice Guillory, a University of Massachusetts graduate student, was riding the library’s elevator Wednesday afternoon after working on her Literature Characters in Education dissertation.
“The new databases are more user friendly,” said Guillory, as she exited the elevator to the fourth floor.
The new database interface helps students locate databases by many different options, including by subject, name, or type of material, such as
encyclopedias.
“We repeatedly saw problems with the previous version of the database locator during Web site usability testing and at the reference desk,” said library staffer Kelcy Shepherd.
Advanced users had problems as well with the search box because it only worked with very general keywords.
Students basically had to rely on luck to find a relevant database.
“Since the new interface went live, we’ve collected user feedback through our web comments form,” said Shepherd.
Descriptions of the content and what is covered by each database
is also displayed. A new tool included in the new Research Database is a list of up to five “best bets” that are provided within each subject area.
These “best bets” are the most useful and vital resources in that particular field and are selected by librarians with expertise in the subject, again, with the design of ultimately providing a better way to write a research paper or dissertation.
The “best bets” appear at the top of the list for each subject area. For example, the “best bets” databases in Sports Management are ABI/INFORM Global, Business Source Premier, IBISWorld United States, Mintel Reports, and LexisNexis Academic.
Some of the power users have expressed frustration that their favorite feature is now an extra click away, but the majority of users echo Guillory in saying the new interface is now more user friendly. Not all UMass students are quite aware of the new interface, however; many expressed surprise when asked about it.
“Since the semester has just begun, a lot of students don’t know much about the interface’s overhaul,” said communication assistant Leslie Schaler.
Adam Coulter can be reached at [email protected].
