Utilizing LibQUAL+ ® to Identify Best Practices in Academic Research Library Website Design

The intent of this research paper is to discover if LibQUAL+ ® results can be used to identify “best practices ” in academic research library website design. As demonstrated by responses to the LibQUAL+ ® survey item “A library Web site enabling me to locate information on my own”, website design is an important consideration for academic research library users. This paper examines websites from members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) who participated in LibQUAL+ ® in 2010, with a particular focus on the websites with the highest scores for this specific LibQUAL+ ® question. Three primary functional criteria – Visual Layout, Information Architecture and Content – were used to evaluate if the academic research library websites with the highest LibQUAL+ ® scores in 2010 provided insight into best practices for contemporary academic research library website design. Background: LibQUAL+ ® was developed with the intent of assessing user perceptions of service quality. The long-standing goals of LibQUAL+ ® are to: • Foster a culture of excellence in providing library servic