# Fostering Robust Library Portals: An Assessment of the McMaster University Library Gateway

> MeRC Working Paper #4 by Detlor and colleagues, June 2003: a five-dimension framework for library portals, tested on the McMaster University Library Gateway.

Page URL: https://merc-mcmaster.ca/working-papers/fostering-robust-library-portals-an-assessment-of-the-mcmaster-university-library-gateway/

Working Paper #4 by Brian Detlor, Umar Ruhi, Chris Pollard, Dave Hanna, Mihail Cocosila, Wuping Zheng, Eric Fu, Tao Jiang and Demos Syros, June 2003.

- Library portals support the information needs and uses of patrons.
- The report proposed a five-dimension evaluation framework for robustness.
- The McMaster University Library Gateway was assessed as a test.
- Students of Winter 2003 class K726 carried out the assessment.
- The Gateway showed some good characteristics.

## Five dimensions

- Usability of the system interface.
- Support for a wide spectrum of information seeking.
- Personalization matching individual user needs.
- The extent to which the portal fosters knowledge work.
- The degree to which intelligent agents are employed.

## Recommendations

- Immediate: reduce library jargon in the interface.
- Immediate: fix screen design inconsistencies.
- Immediate: clean up navigation problems.
- Short term: integrated design not mimicking physical libraries.
- Short term: make catalogue and electronic resources distinction clear.
- Short term: provide better Web log tracking metrics.
- Long term: personalize the site to individual user needs.
- Long term: offer communication and collaboration areas.
- Long term: one homepage browse/search across all library resources.
- Long term: leverage intelligent agents.