Public Research University

University of Florida
www.ufl.edu/libraries/

1.) Overall Appearance/Design - The main page of the library site gives the user the options to choose from the George A. Smathers Libraries, the Health Science Center Libraries and the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center. Additional links lead to Library West (humanities and social sciences), Marston Science Library, Architecture and Fine Arts Library, Education Library, Allen H. Neuharth Journalism and Communications Library, Music Library and the UF Digital Collection. Each library link gives a brief description of the individual library's holdings and locations. The only site that differs in design layout is the Health Science Center Library. While the other libraries use the whole page to display their content, this site only uses half the screen to display its catalog and other information.

2.) Site Navigability - Due to the vast number of libraries (10 represented on the site) the navigation is extensive, however not all of the individual library pages contain catalogs or database features. A few only contain information about the buildings and their collections (Library West, with a few links to services). Smathers Library (Library East) site only has links to units and services. The navigability of the remaining library sites is well designed with the main categories having bold lettering and the associated links placed below them. The Health Sciences Center Libraries site has well designed links, however the content is restricted to only half of the page (see "Overall Appearance/Design" above).

3.) Use of Emerging Technology - Health Science Center Libraries has a virtual tour feature and even though content is displayed on half of a page, it contains photos, maps and descriptions of the building. Tour is also equipped with links to take the users to certain locations.
The University of Florida Digital Collections gives users access to unique and rare digitized materials in the areas of: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Science and Technology; Maps; Florida (materials related to the state); World (African, Caribbean, South American collections); Florida Collections; and Education Modules - Resources for Teachers.
Library RSS feeds are also available.

4.) Quality of Content - An extensive amount of resources contained within each of the individual libraries connect users to every conceivable subject. Each sub-site is well designed, with good link layout and navigation.

5.) Site Management and Communication - The three "main" sites (George A. Smathers Libraries, Health Science Center Libraries and the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center) contain "last updated" information as well as addresses and e-mail contacts.

Additional Comments - The University of Florida Libraries site is extensive in scope. While not the most efficient or "clean" looking as some of the smaller academic libraries, the site navigability is good and well laid out. The sheer volume of resources that a user has access to makes it an invaluable research tool. The Digital Collection is especially impressive for people doing research and has an abundance of material contained within it.