Evaluation of a personalized digital library based on cognitive styles: Adaptivity vs. adaptability

Services personalization in digital academic libraries: a Delphi study

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the realm of literature about personalization of digital library services. This paper focuses on users’ unique needs and will identify different types of personalized services. Therefore, this study has identified different types of services personalization in the context of digital academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the systematic review method has been used to obtain the relevant indicators of different types of personalization in the context of libraries. To explain basic indicators, a Delphi method has been used. The Delphi panel’s members consisted of 15 experts (faculty members, researchers, professional users and software designers). A purposeful sampling and the Delphi fulfillment process were performed in three rounds. After collecting data, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), inferential statistics (binomial distribution test) and the Kendall coordination coefficient were used to determine the consensus rate among experts.

Findings

A total of 103 indicators were extracted for different types of personalization through a systematic literature review. Of these, 90 indicators were considered significant in the experts’ view. Generally, content personalization, interactive personalization, collaborative personalization and information retrieval personalization are the main components of personalization types, each of which has its own indicators.

Originality/value

This study has dealt with the issue of what is personalized in the context of digital academic library. The findings should be helpful and effective in the development of a holistic view on personalization of services in digital libraries.

Trends of library-associated mobile learning based on a review of academic studies published from 2007 to 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the trends and potential research issues involved with library-supported mobile learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Publications in the Scopus database from 2007 to 2016 are analyzed on various aspects, such as the adopted research methods, technologies, participants, application domains and research issues.

Findings

In addition to the awareness of the increasing number of digital library-associated mobile learning in the past decade, there are several interesting findings in this paper, such as most research mainly focused on investigating the affective domain of participants and assessing the effects of mobile learning. Most of the library-supported mobile learning research was conducted at special libraries, followed by academic libraries.

Practical implications

Potential applications and research directions of library-supported mobile learning are suggested based on the findings of the present paper.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight in relation to library-associated mobile learning. The findings and suggestions can serve as a good reference for researchers and school teachers when conducting mobile learning studies and to develop quality learning activities with access to library facilities using mobile and wireless communication technologies.

Do personalisation and emotions affect the use of cancer-related websites?

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the type of personalisation services satisfying the needs of cancer websites’ target users, and the influence of their emotional states on website usage intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Three data collection methods were employed. Survey questionnaires were distributed to online health users. Interviews with representatives of the cancer-affected population further explored emotions as stimuli for online cancer-related activities. Finally, availability of personalisation features was evaluated on existing health websites in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UK.

Findings

A clear preference emerged for personalisation on cancer-related websites. There are specific personalisation features the cancer-affected population desires. Interestingly, certain emotions were found to stimulate visits to health websites.

Research limitations/implications

Fighting cancer implies constant support, including from cancer-related websites. It is thus vital to understand the required personalisation, stemming from target users’ actual needs, including the neglected user characteristics, as are emotions for cancer-affected people. This supports emotion-based personalisation.

Originality/value

The paper focusses on the cancer-affected population, and developing a comprehensive understanding of their personalisation needs in online health services. It further shows which emotions influence intentions to use cancer websites. The three concepts combined have not yet been studied, to the best of the authors’ knowledge.

The impact of user- and system-initiated personalization on the user experience at large sports events

This article describes an experimental study investigating the impact on user experience of two approaches of personalization of content provided on a mobile device, for spectators at large sports events. A lab-based experiment showed that a system-driven approach to personalization was generally preferable, but that there were advantages to retaining some user control over the process. Usability implications for a hybrid approach, and design implications are discussed, with general support for countermeasures designed to overcome recognised limitations of adaptive systems.

Leveraging student course enrollment data to infuse personalization in a library website

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the benefits of integrating personalization within a library web site and presents methodology for achieving this goal within an academic setting.

Design/methodology/approach

– The project documented in this study explores the use of student course enrollment data as the basis for creating a personalized library web site. Off-the-shelf, open source applications are used in conjunction with existing university data to deliver a final product that offers an enhanced user experience for the university community.

Findings

– Adaptive personalization is increasingly commonplace on the web. Academic libraries have a unique source of existing data that offers the potential of adding personalization to the library web site. At present, the personalization of library online services remains largely unexplored. This project illustrates one relatively low-cost method to help libraries interested in creating personalized web sites.

Practical implications

– This paper provides a guide for libraries interested in the implementation of personalization within their web sites.

Originality/value

– The project described in this case study is highly unique within libraries. The paper outlines the feasibility and technical requirements associated with using course enrollment data to add personalized content to a library web site.

A Comparison of Field-Based and Lab-Based Experiments to Evaluate User Experience of Personalised Mobile Devices

There is a growing debate in the literature regarding the tradeoffs between lab and field evaluation of mobile devices. This paper presents a comparison of field-based and lab-based experiments to evaluate user experience of personalised mobile devices at large sports events. A lab experiment is recommended when the testing focus is on the user interface and application-oriented usability related issues. However, the results suggest that a field experiment is more suitable for investigating a wider range of factors affecting the overall acceptability of the designed mobile service. Such factors include the system function and effects of actual usage contexts aspects. Where open and relaxed communication is important (e.g., where participant groups are naturally reticent to communicate), this is more readily promoted by the use of a field study.

A review of quality evaluation of digital libraries based on users’ perceptions

In the past two decades, the use of digital libraries (DLs) has grown significantly. Accordingly, questions about the utility, usability and cost of DLs have started to arise, and greater attention is being paid to the quality evaluation of this type of information system. Since DLs are destined to serve user communities, one of the main aspects to be considered in DL evaluation is the user’s opinion. The literature on this topic has produced a set of varied criteria to judge DLs from the user’s perspective, measuring instruments to elicit users’ opinions, and approaches to analyse the elicited data to conclude an evaluation. This paper provides a literature review of the quality evaluation of DLs based on users’ perceptions. Its main contribution is to bring together previously disparate streams of work to help shed light on this thriving area. In addition, the various studies are discussed, and some challenges to be faced in the future are proposed.