Abstract:
Librarians in the new millennium find it difficult to fulfil user expectations through the physical
library alone and as an augmentation, the website is used as the virtual public face of the library to
facilitate time and place independent services to the clientele. University of Colombo (UoC) library
built its website in 2001 and the usability was evaluated in 2013. Periodic evaluation, monitoring
and regular updating are essential prerequisites of websites. Thus, the aim of the present study was
to evaluate the library website of UoC based on content richness and design accuracy and to identify
the changes in the web presence over the period of 2013 to 2018. An evaluative instrument
consisted of 67 criteria was created by extensive review of literature and expert validation. The
instrument consisted of 32 criteria related to content and 35 on design of the website. A systematic
structured observation of the library website was conducted during January, 2018. Content richness
of the library website in 2018 was 72.38% where as it was 51.88% in 2013. Among sub categories
pertaining to content richness, services showed least web presence in both years which was 28.57%
in 2018 and 14.28% in 2013. Items relating to general information and resources indicated 100%
web presence in 2018 where as 81.81% and 80% respectively in 2013. Design accuracy of the
library website was 84.62% in 2018 and 60.06% in 2013. Accessibility which is a design feature
showed least web presence in both years which was 50% in 2018 and 0% in 2013 making library
website inaccessible for differently abled users. Among items relating to navigation in both years
library website is dearth of features as; up and down navigation within long pages, navigation back
to homepage in second level pages, breadcrumb navigation and multiple links. Study concludes
that content richness of the library website of UoC was developed over the five year period from
51.88% to 72.38% whereas accuracy of the design was improved from 60.06% to 84.62%. The
library UoC has undergone a paradigm shift from its physical library to the virtual public interface
in the new millennium and over the five year period from 2013-2018 the website of the library was
developed to serve users in the digital world in a much satisfactory manner.