Aminah Abdullah Sani accepts award

Success Story: Winning Website Draws Real Crowds into Virtual Library

During 2004, 24% of user sessions on ScienceDirect were generated by library websites. Due to increased implementation of link-resolving software and direct links from library websites to journal pages on publisher platforms, library websites are emerging as a leading source of ScienceDirect referrals.

Libraries across the world recognize the importance of their websites in promoting use of library resources. In Malaysia, a recent Library Website Competition sponsored by Elsevier encouraged libraries to focus on website design.

Each competition entrant attended a four-hour workshop, conducted by Elsevier account development manager Siaw Pae Kee, covering:

• Effective use of library websites to promote library resources.
• Guidelines offered in Library Connect practical assistance pamphlet number 5: How to Design Library Websites to Maximize Usability.
• Feedback on participants’ existing library websites.

Five websites were short-listed based on selection criteria established by Elsevier’s User Centered Design Team. Each was reviewed by a panel of judges from libraries in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan, who selected Multimedia University as the winner. The winning team, Zulkefli Bin Mohd Yusop, Kamal Bin Sujak and Siti Khabshah Binti Masrom, received two full sponsorships to attend the VALA conference in Melbourne, Australia, early next year. Second and third prizes were awarded to Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia respectively.

“The library homepage is the cheapest, fastest and most effective tool for the promotion of library resources, services and facilities,” explained winning team member, Zulkefi Mohd Yusop, Assistant Manager for Information System Management at the Multimedia University Library. “An attractive and user friendly homepage can significantly increase use of online services.”

Aminah Abdullah Sani, Director of Multimedia University’s Library added, "The library homepage is the gateway to a library nowadays. Use of online and digital resources, easily accessible through our new library website, has greatly improved our clients’ satisfaction and met their needs. This competition was a tremendous challenge — to meet our clients’ expectations, gain their attention and make them consistently visit our library homepage. It proved a very good collaboration between publisher and librarians, and I hope it continues.”