Evaluating Digital Libraries: A User-Friendly Guide

This guide provides practical advice on the use of evaluation techniques in assessing digital libraries. Users will be able to design, implement, and report better evaluations within the context of developing, operating, and/or using digital libraries. Topics include the five basic steps in conducting an evaluation, types of evaluations, planning, survey methods, interviews and focus groups, observations, experiments, and reporting evaluation results. Each chapter discusses the evaluation technique, provides a case study, and offers references and additional tools. The guide is written in an informal, easy-reading style intended to encourage users to make evaluation a routine aspect of their work with digital libraries. The guide is also intended to build confidence in the evaluation process. A downloadable, printable version is provided. Educational levels: Graduate or professional, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division