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Publication Detailed Description
Revisiting digital libraries quality: a multiple‐item scale approach
Journal Title
Performance Measurement and Metrics
Year (definitive publication)
2011
Language
English
Country
United Kingdom
More Information
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Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to deepen the concept of service quality in digital libraries based on the analysis of the Digital Library Service Quality Model (adapted from Zeithaml, Parasuraman and Malhotra) and a multiple‐item scale (dlQUAL scale) created to evaluate the quality and performance of service delivered by the Portuguese Digital Library Consortium as part of the Digital Library Integrated Evaluation Programme.
Design/methodology/approach
The Digital Library Service Quality Model makes it possible to assess gaps between different levels based on a multiple‐item scale to evaluate service quality, which was designed as a web survey. Considering the strategical groups (users, LIS professionals, library managers and top managers), the research team developed four different web‐survey versions to evaluate the different gaps. In the first step of this study, they looked for measures validity.
Findings
The scale proved good psychometric proprieties. This study also showed the usefulness of the Digital Library Service Quality Model to evaluate and analyze digital libraries' service quality.
Practical implications
The scale is valid and useful to evaluate digital libraries' service quality and it can provide valuable performance information to digital libraries' decision‐makers. Moreover, the Digital Library Service Quality Model is a useful instrument to check the critical points that are related to organizational deficiencies. If these gaps are regularly monitored, it is possible to implement adequate correction measures and improve service quality.
Originality/value
This paper presents a Library Service Quality Model specifically designed to evaluate digital libraries.
Acknowledgements
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Keywords
Fields of Science and Technology Classification
- Other Social Sciences - Social Sciences
- Languages and Literature - Humanities