ONLINE DATABASE EVALUATION: PART 1

A.B. Credaro©2002

 

NAME OF DATABASE: _________________________________________

PART A: COSTS

TYPE OF LICENCE                                                    (Single Campus/Institution/Other)

 

COST OF LICENCE (A$)                                                      

 

NUMBER OF STUDENTS                                      (Enrolled in courses that would use the database)

 

COST/ STUDENTS RATIO                                                   

 

PART B: TECHNICAL EVALUATION

DATABASE ACCESS

Bandwidth Restrictions? (Gb)                                                    

 

Simultaneous Log-in (Maximum users internationally)                                

 

Page loading rate (poor/fair/good)

 

Is the page unnecessarily graphic intensive? (Y/N)

 

Login? (Automatic or manual)                                                 

 

Automatic Log-off? (Y/N)

 

Is installation of additional software required? ( Y/N)                      

 

Refresh Rate? (how often is the database updated)                

 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Update Newsletter?

 

Live Help Desk Hours (24/7?)

 

Toll Free Phone Number?

 

Fax Number?

 

Email address?

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

 

Completed by: __________________________________  Date: ___________

 

 

 ONLINE DATABASE EVALUATION: PART 2

 

NAME OF DATABASE: _____________________________________________

CONTENT EVALUATION

Publisher/Provider?

 

Are the original sources listed? (Y/N)

 

How many sources are used?

 

Are periodicals indexed cover to cover?

 

Approx. % Australian material?

 

What type of information is included?  (Bibliographic, referral, full text, other)

 

What time period is covered? (year range)

 

Are there any particular subject strengths applicable to your particular college? (List)

 

Are there any particular subject weaknesses that would disadvantage students at your particular college? (List)

 

RECORD ACCESS

Methods? (eg natural language, thesaurus, codes)

 

Is there an Advanced Search Facility? (Y/N)

 

Fuzzy Spelling support? (Y/N)

 

Can different fields be searched individually   (eg Author, publication, date)

 

NAVIGATION

Are links clearly marked? (Y/N)

 

Are there alternative navigation aids?                                 (eg sidebars, drop-down menus, hyperlinks, graphic links)

 

Are there links to information beyond each record?                   (eg: Other documents, Internet sites, etc)

 

TRAINING

Is there an introduction or description on the opening page?

 

Is there an online tutorial? (Y/N)

 

Does each page have a link to a help file? (Y/N)

 

Is there printable supporting documentation for support?

 

Is a live tutorial available? (If yes, is there a charge?)

 

 


 

 

SORTING

Can results be sorted by date? (Y/N)

 

Can results be sorted by geographic area? (Y/N)

 

Can results be sorted by author/publication?

 

RESULT ACCESS

Can search results be saved? (Y/N)

 

Can individual results be emailed? (Y/N)

 

Are tables and graphs included or just referenced?

 

Is there a “Print this” link, or is whole screen printed?

 

DESIGN

Are any graphics that are used appropriate? (Y/N)

 

Is page layout clear? (Y/N)

 

Are results returned at an acceptable speed?  (Y/N)

 

Can individual users customise the layout? (Y/N)

 

List any other databases that have similar information or a comparable service.                                            Note any of this list that have been assessed, and the date of the assessment.

 

 

Additional Comments:

 

 

 

Recommendations:

 

 

 

Name Of Assessor:  __________________________ Date: _________

 




Created by Amanda Credaro
for The Western Sydney Institute of TAFE Library,
Mount Druitt, NSW, AUSTRALIA
November, 2002
This page was created December 2, 2002.