Users’ Satisfaction of the Usability of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi Digital Library

Digital libraries are trying to increase services to their users by removing the obstacles to and limitations of traditional libraries, such as the mass volume of publications, followed by the increase in the cost of providing printed resources, the lack of library space and the exhaustion of resources by providing resources in electronic formats. Digital library of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi is the biggest and most important digital library in Iran. This library tries to use advanced technology in order to change accessibility of users to the information resources and attract their attention. On the other hand, evaluating user's satisfaction is a good measure of a library's performance. Hence the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi digital library through assessing its users' satisfaction.

This study was an applied research and its methodology was evaluative. Research population consisted of all users of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi digital library (40,000 people) which used the digital library in the year 2021. The sample was selected based on Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size table through simple random sampling (380 people). The required data was collected by a questionnaire. It included two parts: first part includes demographic information (such as sex, age, education and job experience in digital library of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi) and the second part of questionnaire includes 42 items evaluating usability of the digital library. In order to confirm the validity of the research tool, the comments and viewpoints of some instructors teaching at Imam Reza International University of Mashhad, Iran, were applied. In order to confirm the reliability, Cronbach’s alpha was used. The total alpha coefficient was 96. Also from 380 people which received questionnaires online, 365 people (near 96%) returned them. The gathered data was analyzed through the SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Four criteria were found including "available digital resources", "usage capability", "performance status" and "search and retrieval status" to evaluate the usability of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi digital library. The findings showed that the highest rate of users' satisfaction regarding to the usability of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi digital library is related to search and retrieval functions. Among retrieval attributes understandable keywords, accessibility process, attractiveness, browsing by subject, and tutorial guide achieved the highest level of satisfaction. Also the lowest level of satisfaction related to recall and precision, speed and the level of information distribution. while the lowest satisfaction rate obtained for functionality. The findings revealed that users' satisfaction of usability of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi digital library was more than average level. By the way, showing strengths and weakness point of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi digital library was another result in this research. Among the strengths points, we can refer to different search strategies and feasible user interface provided by digital library that surely facilitates accessibility to the library different sections and various sources of information. In addition, using various colors for attractiveness makes it possible for the users to be able to easily separate various services provided in digital libraries. In addition, using different mobile applications aside with related guide showed that managers and experts of digital library pay more attention to their users and their needs.

By identifying the factors influencing the usability of Astan-e Quds-e Razavi digital library as the results of this research, managers can promote the quality of the library and therefore increase the user’s satisfaction. Also considering the results of this research by librarians may leads to supplying information with various formats, regarding usable strategy to distribute information based on users’ information needs and finally motivating digital library users to reuse the library.