Myths and realities of digital reference services: Perspectives of libraries from developing countries

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether differences exist between public and private universities' web sites in terms of visibility and accessibility of the web sites.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach that was taken to study the issue of visibility and accessibility is using the software Alexa and EvalAccess respectively. Alexa is able to determine web site usage, which is an indicator of online quality by showing the number of in‐links and web traffic volume of the web sites. Using Alexa ten public universities' web sites and ten private universities' web sites were ranked. Similarly, EvalAccess is used to evaluate the accessibility problems of these web sites.

Findings

It is found, in the case of public universities' web sites, that the International Islamic University Malaysia has the highest in‐links while Universiti Teknologi Malaysia has the highest web traffic volume. In the case of private universities' web sites, the Multimedia University has the highest in‐links, while the Malaysia University of Science and Technology has the highest web traffic volume. In respect of accessibility problems, the private universities' web sites are having more problems compared to public universities' web sites.

Research limitations/implications

This research on the visibility and accessibility issues of universities' web sites is limited to the situation in Malaysia where public universities are more prominent and seldom face financial constraints if compared with private universities. This research shows that top ranked universities' web sites, whether they are from public or private universities, are highly visible and accessible.

Social implications

It is highly important for those universities' web sites that are not highly visible and accessible that the universities should initiate the necessary measures to improve the development of their web sites.

Originality/value

Not much research has been addressed to issues on visibility and accessibility of universities' web sites in developing countries and this research is conducted to fill that gap.

Citation

Bakeri Abu Bakar, A. (2012), "Myths and realities of digital reference services: Perspectives of libraries from developing countries", Library Management, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 136-141. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435121211217018