Evaluating MicrobeLibrary on Many Levels: Library Use, User Needs, Accessibility Issues, and Educational Impact Susan Musante American Society for Microbiology

American Society for Microbiology MicrobeLibrary Peer-reviewed resources Venue to publish Connected to ASM’s core themes Supports the scholarship of teaching Community driven

Over 900 Teaching Resources

Review Criteria

Evaluation Evaluation Use, need, and value: Direct contact Webtrends data Online voluntary survey Survey authors Impact on teaching/learning: Future investigations

June 2003compared to 2002 WebTrends - Recorded

Over 30,000 visitors per month Accessing over 500,000 pages From United States and 30 countries WebTrends

Tell Us What You Think WHO is using the MicrobeLibrary? WHAT resources do they use? WHEN do they use the MicrobeLibrary? WHY are they using the MicrobeLibrary? HOW do they hear about the MicrobeLibrary?

User Survey Results When? How? Data from online survey “Tell Us What You Think” as of September 29, respondents. Multiple responses allowed; percentages add up to more than 100%.

Digital publishing versus print Why choose digital Impact of being published in MicrobeLibrary Authors

Digital Publishing Is digital publishing an equally scholarly venue for science and education materials as traditional print publication? What are the benefits of digital publishing? standards Unsure 16% No 16% Yes, if held to 68% the same Larger audience 51% More timely 35% Ease 38% Data from online author survey as of September 29, respondents. Bar graph displays multiple responses; percetnages add up to more than 100%.

Direct Contact: –Very limited number –Depend upon them to provide feedback WebTrends: –Do not know who the visitors are. –Cannot separate out repeat visitors. User Survey: –Voluntary, incentive to respond? –Limited in number of responses (n=110) Author Survey: –Voluntary –Even small number of responses Limitations

Challenges & Next Steps Interface and Management System Sustainability Scholarship

Interface & Management Content management Membership management Registration and subscriptions Reports and analysis Membership surveys and forum

Since 2000, ASM and NSF have supported development of MicrobeLibary Moving to subscription-based access for certain resources January 2004 Access to all resources will require registration Sustainability

Scholarship Recognition Reward ASM’s support

ASM Volunteers and Staff Erica L. Suchman - Chair, Committee for Distance Education Clifford Houston – Chair, Education Board Amy Chang – Director, Education Department Susan Musante – Manager, Faculty & Curriculum Programs Kristen Catlin – Coordinator, Education Resources