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Gateway Survey Comments

Autumn 2001

Catalog General:
- Purple buttons in catalog are hard to read [15,125]
- Buttons move around/shift too much [15,22]
- As part of the search results, give the major categories the search terms fit under (Like Alta Vista) [92]
- Show more than 12 items in catalog search results [113]
- Visual mapping from catalog search results to library shelves [115]
- More info in browse list; go straight to item, not another list [3]
- Make sure catalog records all have electronic access info in them [7]
- Make it easier to save a list of items found in the catalog -- associate it with a user instead of a browser [125]
- Limits should "stick" until user changes them [7]
- Allow user to set delayed hold (active or inactive; user set) [29]
- Tell me where in the building a book is (not just building, but floor, etc.) [69]
- Format isn't clear ("video" --> DVD, VHS, etc.) [15]
- Clarify format options; some are confusing [7]
- Standardize course naming within ERes [71]
- Terminology and functionality of pages isn't consistent [7]
- Likes ABEbooks.com interface for catalog [54]
Searching the Catalog:
- Provide more advanced search functions right up front. [15]
- Advanced search with multiple criteria (author, title, etc.) [82]
- Search for journal articles by author or title from catalog [24]
- Search multiple fields at once [2]
- Limit searched before doing them [3]
- One “Quick Search” box [23]
- More intelligent search engine; not so “strict,” returns items that are ‘like’ the search [27]
- Make the Author/Title search more obvious [54]
- It sometimes requires librarian “tricks” to find a book, journal, etc. [98]
- Search table of contents of books [65]
- Keywords are not smart about synonyms [68]
- One intuitive super search engine that recognizes author, title, or keyword on its own…like Amazon.com [96]
- Search by translated language and original language [108]
- Server time-out while searching [95]
- Make media selections more specific (DVD, VHS, CD, etc.) [45]
- Easier switching between search parameters [107]
Look and Feel:
- Not eye-appealing [85]
- Needs a more UW Theme (Husky icon, etc.) [4]
- Make it more colorful and more like the ASU page [4]
- Pop-up link descriptions [13]
- More text contrast; too much text in same format -- comes at eyes in "globs" [31]
- Links on homepage not spaced out enough [126]
- Pictures instead of text for sub-headings [18]
- The current layout is "clunky" [30]
New Features:
- Database selector/Wizard [21,91,93]
- Renew/Check records with UW username -- not barcode [9,117]
- List of all new library acquisitions and what's on order [4]
- Integrate courses.washington.edu with course reserves [71]
- Links to other library systems [64,72]
- Searchable staff index [122]
- Site map [34]
- Trivia answer wizard (Ask Jeeves of the Library) [2]
- Help in identifying keywords for searches (thesaurus/index) [32]
- More online info about books; not just title, author etc.; reviews and in-depth info (like Amazon) [3]
- Portal for beginning research in a certain field [122]
- Weekly or monthly rotating alert/highlight to a library service [69]
- Tutorial! [28,60,101]
- Visual mapping from catalog search results to library shelves [115]
- Support for non-English sources (i.e. special keyboards, etc.)
- Live chat -- ask librarians questions [125]
- Online media services [62]
- Saturday Night Live video [94]
- Add $100 to my bank account [73]
Current Features That Need More Prominence:
- Make help links more visible [23]
- Email notice of overdue items [6]
- Contact Us [6]
- Emailing results to self [49]
- Ebook [62]
- Electronic Course Reserves hard to find [72]
- Give Law library more prominence (from frontpage) [82]
- Journals search shouldn't be hidden in catalog -- it should be prominent like databases, catalog, E-Journals (Under Find It!) [83]
- On course reserves page, links for searching by class or by instructor are too small [129]
- How fines are assessed [118]
- Advice on how to search (truncating terms, etc.) [90]
- How do I sign up for a pin number? [87}
- Info on connecting via proxy server [96]
- Interlibrary loan is too hidden [107]
By Subject:
- Need better periodical index by subject [54]
- Fewer layers in By Subject; quicker access [114]
- Too many general indexes are listed under specific topic areas [127]
- Unclear categorization; Website vs. Bibliographies/Resources...what is the difference? [1]
- Search within sub-disciplines of specific majors [76]
Wording:
- Unclear topic headings make it easy to get lost [13]
- Why is it called "The Gateway"? [89]
- Change "By Subject" to "By Discipline" [41]
- Provide 2 levels of explanation; basic is default, click to learn more about "how to" [62]
- Use "Interlibrary Loan" and not some other term [107]
- Notations on the database lack clarity (esp. for new users) [92]
- Make references for CD-ROM usage more clear; specify which library unit [1]
- Inconsistent use of "databases" and "indexes" in By Subject [122]
Navigation:
- Flyout Menus; keep 6 main categories with flyouts for each [31]
- Too many choices on homepage [4,85]
- Add catalog search to homepage with drop-down list of author, title, etc. [33]
- Easy to get lost [7]
- Provide brief explanation of each link from the main page - title? [56,123]
- More redundancy. Ex. proxy erver instructions under "Starting Points" [122]
- Simplify search options [4]
- Too many steps to get to where I want to be [111]
- Use pull-down menus instead of links to present information [34]
- Hard to find proper resource for multidisciplinary works [21,59]
- Alphabetical journal listing is cumbersome [83]
- Unified search for articles, books, journals -- everything on a topic at once [7]
Journals and Databases:
- Distinguish between full-text and abstracts for online journals [65,72]
- Indicate whether journals are available online or not [9,123]
- Better indication of whether or not a journal article is available at UW [115]
- More info about journal content [68]
- Easier access to journals; by title, by subject/keyword [126]
- E-Journal categorization is confusing; can fit multiple categories [80]
- Alphabetical journal listing is cumbersome [83]
- Inconsistent listing on online journals [96,105,106]
- Show vendors (Proquest, webspirs, etc.) on database list; let users narrow from there; explain what is in each [7]
- Databases grouped by category [131]
- An all-purpose database instead of having so many [119]
- Alphabetical list of databases is only helpful is you know exactly what you are looking for [122]
- Better explanation of the databases [16,128]
- Notations on the database lack clarity (esp. for new users) [92]
- Search the databases instead of just listung their names [125]
- Need more back runs of periodicals -- several decades, not just the last few years [54]
Other Comments:
- Need more PR of available resources [13]
- ERIC: Key to abbreviations? [31]
- Media Center: Link from feature films list to film's catalog entry [93]
- Maps Library: Make Wagda more prominent on homepage [51]