The use and usefulness of functions in electronic journals: the experience of the SuperJournal Project

Author(s): Yu, L. Z., Harker, S.

Journal/Book: Program Electron Libr Inform. 2000; 34: Staple Hall, Stone House Court, London EC3a 7PB, England. Aslib. 1-28.

Abstract: This paper examines the general value to users of a range of electronic journal functions and their usefulness in the specific context of the SuperJournal Project. For the evaluation of each of the functions three types of data were analysed in relation to each other and in light of other contextual data: logged data of usage, survey data on user satisfaction, and survey data on the perceived importance of the function. The analysis shows that basic browsing, printing and search make up the core functions of electronic journals; other functions, such as saving of bibliographic data, alerting, customising, links with external resources and communication, serve as peripheral functions. The usefulness of both the core functions and the peripheral functions in a specific service is influenced by various implementation factors. However, it is the realised usefulness of the core functions which determines the use of a service.

Note: Article Eason K, Loughborough Univ Technol, Dept Human Sci, Loughborough LE11 3TU, Leics, ENGLAND

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