Usability of Koha Online Public Access Catalogue during information retrieval with regard to interface design

Usability of Koha Online Public Access Catalogue during information retrieval with regard to interface design | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Usability of Koha Online Public Access Catalogue during information retrieval with regard to interface design Steve Biko Nyambaka, Caroline Mutwiri This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7207139/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in International Journal of Digital Humanities → Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The aim of this study is to analyze objectively the usability of Koha Online Public Access Catalogue during information retrieval with regard to its interface design. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Quantitative method was used in the survey to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC based on its interface design. Quantitative data was collected using Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ). The study location was Technical University of Kenya Library, located in Nairobi City. The study used a stratified random sampling technique which assisted the researcher to determine users who required training in the use of Koha OPAC prior to a usability test. The population of undergraduate users was subdivided into two mutually exclusive segments based on the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval. Users who had undergone OPAC instruction were categorized as experienced users whereas users who had never been trained were categorized as beginners. To achieve categorization, a pre-session interview questionnaire was administered to participants prior to data collection. The researcher was able to administer a usability test on participants in order to analyze whether the interface of Koha OPAC facilitated information retrieval. This study established that although most patrons were able to use icons Koha OPAC to navigate the interface, a few participants cited poor visibility and a lack of clarity of the icons which impeded their navigation hence hindering effective usability of Koha OPAC for information retrieval. Usability Koha OPAC interface information retrieval Introduction Koha, an Integrated Library System (ILS) is one of the earliest open source library automation software (Neupane, 2023 ). Koha is distributed freely and its source code can be altered to suit the needs of local library users. Asim & Mairaj ( 2019 ) posit that the word Koha is extracted from the Maori dialect of New Zealand and it implies “gift” or “donation”. Katipo communications firm initiated the development of Koha ILS on September 6 1999 at the behest of Horowhenua Library Trust (HLT). HLT applied Koha ILS on January 1st 2000, releasing it under a General Public License (GNU). Pearl programming language was used to develop Koha software which functions on UNIX, Linux and Windows operating systems. Koha can be able to adopt either MySQL (My Structured Query Language) or Mariadb database running on Apache Web server. Koha is established using library protocols namely MARC 21 and Z39.50, for purposes of interoperability between Koha and other systems and technologies, while supporting existing workflows and tools (Asim & Mairaj, 2019 ). Koha ILS has a number of modules that are geared towards facilitating library housekeeping operations such as circulation, cataloguing, serial control, acquisition, reports and the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). Yesmin & Ahmed ( 2016 ) asserted that OPAC is deemed to be the core of library functions and the link to library services since it enhances access by clientele to various services of the library. In addition to its browse and search features, Koha OPAC integrates numerous added facilities like making purchase suggestions, holding books, user tagging, bookmarking, comments and reviews (Khatun & Ahmed, 2018 ). As an open source ILS, Koha enhances the adoption of templates and style sheets to customize the interface of Koha OPAC through the use of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) and jQuery. The aim of this paper is to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC with regard to interface design during information retrieval by undergraduate users at the Technical University of Kenya Library (TU-KL), a Public University Library in Nairobi County, Kenya. Usability is the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to realize specified objectives with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use (Khatun & Ahmed, 2018 ). TU-KL manages library operations using Koha ILS. In order to gain access to the Koha OPAC module in TU-KL, patrons have to visit the library website: library.tukenya.ac.ke. TU-KL facilitates usability of its Koha OPAC through information literacy training that is supplemented by guides availed in the library website. Since Koha OPAC facilitates retrieval of information resources due to its vast capabilities and capacities of searching like the basic search, advanced search, keyword search and faceted navigation, all these become futile in the event that Koha OPAC becomes underutilized as observed in the tendency of patrons disregarding the use of Koha OPAC by opting to go to the shelving area directly. Literature review The interface of an information retrieval system is an essential component that determines its usability. Xie ( 2008 ) stated that since the interface is a key feature that facilitates engagement between library patrons and OPAC, its design will determine whether interactions succeed or fail. Hildreth ( 1995 ) initiated a study titled “The GUI OPAC: Approach with caution” which presented on of the earliest research regarding the OPAC interface. Hildreth asserts that when patrons interact with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the first time, they find the interface interesting to use but their initial interest subsides the more they continue to use the GUI OPAC. Hildreth even goes further to liken the GUI OPAC to the old card catalog (“some things change, some things remain the same”). According to (Borgman, 1992 ) one of the issues that leads to the lack of application of human factors principles to interface design is that designers fail to recognize the range of patron diversity, most of the time developing systems based on the assumption that their patrons are more like themselves. Previous research regarding individual differences established that human populations are not homogenous when it comes to their capabilities to use a particular interface. This was amplified further by (Kan, Ramaiah & Foo 2004) who argued that the interface of a web based information retrieval system is an intricate place where system features must supplement diverse user characteristics, cognitive abilities and task requirements. During the design of Koha OPAC interface, the adoption of information search descriptors such as “Library Catalogue”, “call number” and “International Standard Book Number” (ISBN), may be familiar amongst library personnel but foreign to library patrons. Kumar, Rajinder & Singh (2017) confirmed this during analysis on the use of OPAC among University Libraries in Delhi where it was revealed that out of 191 patrons Jamia Milia Islamia University, 35% of users encountered problems while using OPAC since they could not comprehend OPAC features. However, (Kan, Ramaiah & Foo 2004) investigated the Gateway to Electronic Media Services (GEMS), a proprietary information retrieval system which can only be customized by the vendor unlike Koha ILS whose open source nature localizes customization. Khan & Ayesha ( 2022 ) initiated research regarding key features of information management systems for automation in university libraries by adopting a survey research method. Purposive sampling was applied to select a target population consisting of 157 librarians. The study findings revealed that an interface that is user friendly enhances access to bibliographic details of library books. Chen ( 2019 ) carried out research on undergraduate students use of mobile applications to search library catalogs where a sample comprising of 16 participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that 10 respondents found that when using their laptops, the interface of the library catalog was easy to comprehend and use as opposed to that of the mobile application. Chen ( 2019 ) conducted a comparative study that compared computer devices and mobile devices hence resulting in more comprehensive research results than Khan & Ayesha ( 2022 ) whose study participants only used computers. Since Koha OPAC is a web based ILS accessible to both stationary and mobile computer devices, needs to have customizable bootstrap navigation to facilitate access regardless of the device in use. Craven et al. ( 2010 ) initiated a study regarding functionalities of the 2.0 OPAC and was able to find out that participants wanted to perform the functions of OPAC but since some OPAC features such as a link to Google books were not visible, they felt that OPAC did not support them in their quest to retrieve information resources. Ruzegea ( 2012 ) conducted a study on the usability of OPAC interface features by postgraduate students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) where he established that the Library OPAC interface features had several limitations like: visibility (50%), accessibility (16.7%), usability (23%), and navigation (10%). The findings of another study conducted earlier at the same university by (Schmetzke et al., 2007 ) also indicated a lack of visibility of the interface in IIUM Web OPAC interface, as reported by sixty (60%) of the respondents, showing that visibility was more troublesome. This study sought to analyze usability with regard to interface design of Koha OPAC during information retrieval by undergraduate users at TU-KL in Nairobi County The interface design of Koha OPAC in TU-KL presents a basic search bar that contains the “Keyword” search option as the default access point. The link to the advanced search option is located on the header section of the Koha OPAC page. To facilitate patron interactivity, the interface design of Koha OPAC in TU-KL consists of the “Ask a librarian link” which provides real time responses to patron queries (Kwanya, 2017). This study is necessary since the interface as the first point of interaction between the patron and the Koha OPAC system serves as the gateway of usability that requires analysis. Methodology This study adopted a descriptive survey design. A quantitative method was used in the survey to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC with regards to its interface design. Quantitative data was collected using Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ). This research took place at TU-KL which is located in Nairobi Central Business District (NCBD). TU-KL was selected because it has adopted Koha ILS in the management of library functions. The population of the study involved undergraduate students of TU-K. The target population of the study was 8,328 registered undergraduate students drawn from 66 degree programs at TU-K. The study used a stratified random sampling technique which assisted the researcher to determine users who required training on the use of Koha OPAC prior to usability testing. The population of TU-KL undergraduate users was subdivided into two mutually exclusive segments based on the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval. Users who had undergone OPAC instruction were categorized as experienced users whereas users who had never been trained were categorized as beginners. Users were categorized further based on their year of study. To achieve categorization, a pre-session interview questionnaire with information on Koha OPAC instruction, date and time of instruction and year of study was administered to participants at TU-KL prior to data collection. The study used a simplified formula developed by (Yamane, 1967 ) to determine the sample size. Where n = the sample size N = the size of the population (8328) e = precision level (0.05) This formula was used on the undergraduate population of TUK at 95% confidence level. The sample size of each strata was calculated using proportionality as shown below; f = sample / (target population) × strata f = 382/8328 × strata f = 0.046 Where f = chance for selection of each member of the population. To generate the corresponding sample group, each strata within the population was multiplied by this fraction (Orodho, 2016 ). A Pre-task questionnaire was used by the researcher. This questionnaire assisted the researcher to categorize participants based on their information search and retrieval skills using Koha OPAC ranging from beginner level to advanced level. This helped the researcher to come up with categories of beginner and experienced users. The information gathered was intended to assist the researcher to determine the category of users that needed training on the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval before commencement of the usability test. The researcher assigned tasks to participants in TU-KL. Each participant was given brief instructions of task procedures to be observed. Each participant was expected to work out the tasks assigned to them on their own. PSSUQ is a 16 term standardized instrument which was used after the conducting a usability test, in order to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC with regard to its interface design during information retrieval by undergraduate users. PSSUQ measured user responses on a 3 point likert scale. Data analysis was conducted by the researcher after data was collected from the field. Quantitative data was gathered using questionnaires. The researcher organized each questionnaire form filled by respondents and thereafter ascertained that each form had been answered with the answers properly recorded. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data using descriptive statistics. The study’s ethical considerations were such that approval from the National Commission for Science and Innovation (NACOSTI) was granted enabling the researcher to conduct the study in TU-KL. The researcher proceeded to give notice to the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor- Academics, Research, and Students at TU-K, which supervises the University's Library and Resource Services, via a direct pre-visit to the university. The researcher then notified the University Librarian of the planned study, including the data collection techniques to be employed. Results 382 questionnaires were distributed to the target population to collect primary data in order to support the study purpose. However, only 196 questionnaires were dully filled and returned presenting a response rate of 51%. This response rate was able to meet the threshold suggested by (Richardson, 2005 ) who asserted that responses above 50% are acceptable in research studies. The study sought to analyze characteristics of participants to determine their year of study, previous training on Koha OPAC, experience and skills. This was done in order to determine whether some users required training in the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval in order to enable them to participate in the usability test. Before commencement of the usability test, the researcher took beginners through a 10 minute tutorial regarding functionalities and interface design of Koha OPAC. The findings were displayed below in a tabular format. The study endeavored to establish the year of study of participants with findings presented in Table 1. This data was necessary since the purpose of the research was to investigate usability of Koha OPAC by undergraduate users in TU-KL in order to promote retrieval of information resources. This meant that the researcher had to determine the usability of all the undergraduate users of Koha OPAC in TU-KL regardless of their year of study, department or degree programme. This sought to deter biasness. From Table 1, the study found that about 54% of participants were third and fourth year students whereas, about 46% were in their second and first year of study. The findings represented a mix of all categories of undergraduate participants from first year to fourth year which represented diversity. Diverse users provide essential feedback during usability tests and adopting such feedback enhances interface design for all users. Diverse feedback from participants offers a variety of options for the system designers to choose from during customization of Koha OPAC interface so as to enhance retrieval of information resources. The study sought to establish whether participants had been trained on how to retrieve information using Koha OPAC. This was done in order to determine whether there were participants who had never undergone training on the use of Koha OPAC to enable the researcher to identify and train them in order to prepare them for the usability test. The findings were presented in Table 2. It was revealed that more than 50% of the participants had not been trained to use Koha OPAC while less than 50% had been trained. This finding could prevent successful usability of Koha OPAC for information retrieval in TU-KL due to lack of advanced information searching and retrieval skills which ought to be imparted during Koha OPAC training. Instruction regarding the use of OPAC is necessary to facilitate effective search and retrieval of information (Chewe & Chitumbo, 2018 ). The study sought to find out whether participants had used Koha OPAC before in order to determine whether they will have to undergo training on the use of Koha OPAC to enable them to participate in the usability test. The findings were presented in the table below. Table 3 indicated that over 60% of participants had never used Koha OPAC before whereas, less than 40% had used Koha OPAC before. The findings showed that most participants did not have the experience of using Koha OPAC hence increasing the chances of encountering challenges in their attempt to retrieve information resources. The researcher used a pre-task questionnaire to categorize participants based on their previous use of Koha OPAC. Before commencement of the usability test, the researcher conducted a 10 minute tutorial regarding functionalities and interface features of Koha OPAC. This training was accorded to participants who had never used Koha OPAC initially. This was necessary since it would have been hard for participants who had never used Koha OPAC before to perform the usability test that required information retrieval using Koha OPAC. This research analyzed participant’s experience in using Koha OPAC to retrieve information resources in TU-KL. Users were required to find the location of Koha OPAC, perform information retrieval tasks using both basic and advanced search options and locate a help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC. This sought to establish whether the interface design of Koha OPAC facilitated retrieval of information. The first test sought to establish whether participants were able to locate TU-KL website that hosted Koha OPAC. This was critical since one cannot use Koha OPAC without knowing where it is located. Participants used their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) to perform this test. The findings were presented in Table 5. Table 5 showed that about 81% of the participants were able to locate Koha OPAC from TU-KL website whereas about 19% were not able to locate Koha OPAC on the TU-KL website. Since about 19% participants were not able to locate Koha OPAC, it implies that it was not visible to them and this hindered their accessibility to it. At the Malaysian International University, 47% of the participants encountered challenges during their attempt to access OPAC due to its design features which made it hard to navigate (Ruzegea, 2012 ). Absence of a standalone website for Koha OPAC hinders its usability because it becomes difficult to utilize for retrieval of information. Users have to navigate through the university website to the library website in order to access Koha OPAC. However, the current study found that most participants (about 81%) were able to locate Koha OPAC which is an improvement from previous findings. The study purposed to find out participant capability in retrieving information resources using the basic search option of Koha OPAC. Participants were required to search for a book titled “a handbook of human resource management practice” while using their laptop computers, smart phones or tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were displayed in Table 6. Table 6 reveals that more than 75% of participants were able to perform successful search for the information resource whereas about 25% were not able to find the information resource. Some participants who experienced search failures only entered the keyword of the information resource “human resource management” thereby broadening the search and yielding too many search results. Some participants entered the wrong spelling on the basic search option of Koha OPAC resulting to “no results found”. According to (S. Kumar, 2012 ), patrons access the OPAC in a similar manner they would access a search engine, with minimal search terms or complex search strategies. Patrons appreciate spell check facilities offered by internet search engines such as Google, when they misspell their search terms. Koha OPAC in TU-KL in its present state is difficult to use for information retrieval, due to absence of spell check features in its user interface. The study presented another search task to participants requiring them to utilize the basic search option of Koha OPAC to search for a book authored by “Rosenak Sidney” and note down the call number of the book. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were presented in Table 7. Table 7 indicates that over 50% of participants were able to search and note down the call number of the book authored by “Rosenak Sidney”, slightly more than 10% noted that they were able to get results but did not notice the call number whereas 35% indicated that they did not find the information resource. Those who found the book but could not identify the call number indicated that they were not aware of the call number; they could not see it and they did not have any idea of what a call number was. While usability of Koha OPAC basic search option facilitated search and retrieval of the information resource, the process from the catalog to the shelves becomes challenging when users do not have adequate knowledge regarding the call number. This is in confirms (Borgman, 1992 ) who argued that designers fail to recognize the range of patron diversity, most of the time developing systems based on the assumption that their patrons are more like themselves. This prevents effective usability of Koha OPAC in TU-KL since users are not familiar with its features which make its utilization for retrieval of information resources difficult. Participants undertook another usability test using Koha OPAC basic search where they were required to search and retrieve an eBook by downloading it in either PDF or EPUB file format. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were presented in Table 8. Table 8 shows that slightly more than 50% of participants were not able to download the eBook while 49% were able to locate and download the eBook. This meant that even though over 49% of participants were able to access Koha OPAC and they were able to search and locate the eBook, they were not able to download it. Participants that were unable to download the eBook cited lack of visibility of the online link which facilitates access to eBooks on Koha OPAC. The lack of visibility of the eBook link acted as a barrier to effective navigation and retrieval since whenever users got to the results page, they became stranded as they were unable to find the eBook link that ought to take them to the download page. During a usability study regarding the functionality of OPAC, (Craven et al., 2010 ) established that participants wanted to perform search and retrieval functions using OPAC but since some OPAC features such as the link to Google books were not visible, participants felt that OPAC did not support them in their quest to retrieve information resources. The lack of visibility of the eBook link in the Koha OPAC interface meant that its usability for retrieval of eBooks in TU-KL is not effective since participants were unable to utilize it to find the link that ought to link them to the download page to initiate the download process. Another usability test to investigate participant’s ability to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC which entailed the use of Boolean Search Operators was initiated. Participants were asked to retrieve a book titled “Business Accounting 2” authored by “Wood, Frank”. Participants were expected to use the default Boolean operator “and” in order to narrow down the result and to enhance specificity and accuracy. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. Findings were presented in Table 9. Table 9 showed that over 50% of users were not able to use Boolean operators of the advanced search option of Koha OPAC to facilitate retrieval of “Business Accounting 2” authored by “Wood Frank”. Less than 50% of participants were able to find the book. Participants that were unable to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC used a single search term in all the three default search boxes generating hundreds of results which made it difficult to retrieve “Business Accounting 2” authored by “Wood Frank”, failure to select appropriate access points from the drop down menus and some of them used two search terms on a single search box yielding nil results. These findings indicate that participants (53%) who were unable to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC effectively encountered difficulties that may be attributed to the interface design of Koha OPAC and lack of information search strategies using Boolean Operators which are meant to facilitate effective retrieval of needed information resources. Khatun & Ahmed ( 2018 ) asserted that interface customization that presents a small screen layout seamlessly integrating basic and advanced searches helps users to use both basic and advanced search options with ease. This implies that usability of the advanced search options of Koha OPAC in TU-KL does not enhance efficient retrieval of information resources to the majority of users since they are not able to use Boolean operators to combine search queries to enable retrieval of needed information resources since the advanced search option was located on the header of the TU-KL Koha OPAC interface page, separate from the basic search option. The inability to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC effectively undermines its usability as an information retrieval tool for utilization in retrieval of information resources in TU-KL. A usability test to investigate whether participants could be able to identify any help features or search aids on the user interface of Koha OPAC was undertaken. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were presented in Table 10 . Table 10 reveals that about 70% of participants could not locate any help features on the interface of Koha OPAC while about 30% noted that they could locate a help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC. Participants (about 70%) who could not find a help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC cited lack of visibility of the help feature. Participants found it difficult to identify the help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC since it had been presented as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) thereby lacking clarity. Ruzegea (2012) noted visibility as the main barrier to usability of the interface features of a library OPAC. Lack of clarity and poor visibility of the help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC in TU-KL interferes with its usability as an application that ought to provide assistance to users who encounter challenges during utilization of Koha OPAC for retrieval of information resources. The study sought to analyze the interface design of Koha OPAC in order to determine its usability during information retrieval among undergraduate students in TU-KL. This was necessary in order to find out whether the interface design of Koha OPAC in TU-KL facilitates retrieval of information resources. The study analyzed; icons, search box and standard terminology used on the interface of Koha OPAC in order to determine whether they facilitate retrieval of information resources. The findings were presented in Table 11. Table 11 Koha OPAC Interface Design Statement about interface design in information retrieval Strongly disagree Percentage Strongly Agree Agree Total Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Mean SD The Koha OPAC interface provides icons with clear activation that makes it obvious when the next operation can be started 56 28.6 86 43.9 54 27.6 196 100 1.846 0.839 I am able to access e-books, e-journals and theses in full text using the Koha OPAC search box 111 56.6 60 30.6 25 12.8 196 100 2.265 0.906 Koha OPAC presents a search box fitted with access points with standard terminology 37 18.9 135 68.9 24 12.2 196 100 2.500 0.794 The researcher wanted to establish whether icons make it easy for the user to navigate the interface of Koha OPAC during information retrieval in order to determine whether the icons facilitate usability of Koha OPAC. Analysis of the icons on the interface of Koha OPAC showed that the mean score was 1.846 which represented an average level of agreement among users regarding clarity of activation icons and usability of Koha OPAC interface design. The mean suggested that, on average, users leaned towards agreement that Koha OPAC had an interface fitted with icons that made it obvious when the next operation will be initiated. The interface of Koha OPAC displayed a search bar with a drop down menu that contained 8 access points. A”Go” button that activated information retrieval was present on the interface of Koha OPAC search box which prompted action from the user following query formulation. This compelled users to express a high level of satisfaction with the clarity of activation icons and usability of the interface. The standard deviation value of 0.839 indicated variability of users' responses around the mean. A higher standard deviation suggests more variability among user opinions and experiences. In this case, the standard deviation of 0.839 indicated a relatively higher variability, suggesting differing perceptions and experiences among users. This meant that some participants (about 29%) found icons to be difficult to identify hence they struggled to know when to initiate the next operation. The other participants (about 71%) found them to be clear and easy to use. This variation could be due to lack of clarity and visibility of Koha OPAC icons which hinders usability of Koha OPAC during its utilization for retrieval of information resources because identifying the appropriate icon becomes difficult. Xie (2008) identified that library software interface enable patrons to easily navigate and access resources in our technologically driven world by acting as instruments of enormous amounts of information. Nevertheless, this study found out that although majority of patrons (about 71%) are able to utilize the icons of Koha OPAC to navigate the interface, there are other users (about 29%) who cited poor visibility and a lack of clarity of the icons which impeded navigation. This has a negative effect on the usability of Koha OPAC for information retrieval. Conclusion The study concluded that the interface of Koha OPAC in TU-KL was designed using icons that have been made clear to enable patrons to know when the next activity begins. Conclusion was also made that Koha OPAC search box had descriptors with standard terminology. It was concluded that, on average, patrons tended to agree with the presence of a search box designed using descriptors with standard terminology. However, it was concluded that despite clear icons and search boxes, some patrons were still unable to use Koha OPAC to retrieve e-Books, e-journals and other information resources. The study concludes that some patrons may not utilize the Koha OPAC interface to meet their information needs owing to failure in facilitating retrieval of e-Books, lack of understanding of terminologies on the drop down menu of Koha OPAC and poor visibility of icons. This puts the usability of Koha OPAC in jeopardy since its interface design is not effective in facilitating retrieval of both physical and e-resources. Declarations Author Contribution Dr. Caroline Mutwiri supervised the development of this study and gave valuable in put in the area of discussions, literature review and conclusion. Participant consent was obtained References Asim, M., & Mairaj, M. I. (2019). Librarians’ perceptions about adoption and uses of the Koha integrated library software in Punjab, Pakistan. The Electronic Library , 37 (4), 624–635. https://doi.org/10.1108/el-11-2018-0224 Borgman, C. L. (1992). Cultural diversity in interface design. 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Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education , 30 (4), 387–415. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602930500099193 Ruzegea, M. (2012). The Usability of OPAC Interface Features: The Perspective of Postgraduate Students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Library Philosophy & Practice , 1–20. Schmetzke, A., Greifeneder, E., Yushiana, M., & Abdul Rani, W. (2007). Heuristic evaluation of interface usability for a web-based OPAC. Library Hi Tech , 25 (4), 538–549. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830710840491 Xie, I. (2008). Interactive IR in OPAC Environments. In Interactive Information Retrieval in Digital Environments (Vol. 9781848216, pp. 29–52). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-240-4.ch002 Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics, An Introductory Analysis (2nd Ed.). Harper & Row. Yesmin, S., & Ahmed, S. M. Z. (2016). Preference of Bangladesh university students for searching the library catalogue: OPAC or discovery tool? The Electronic Library , 34 (4), 683–695. https://doi.org/10.1108/el-07-2015-0139 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in International Journal of Digital Humanities → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 10 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 10 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Aug, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 10 Aug, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 29 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 24 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7207139","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":492322255,"identity":"642acb33-1706-424f-bc8a-457eeac6ae80","order_by":0,"name":"Steve Biko Nyambaka","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABBElEQVRIie3RsUoDMRjA8U8C6RI5x3TyFVICEeGsrxIJXJcbCoLc0CHTdatr7zFEcE45uC6HXQ8yFXFziMuBS/XKoVuqbh3yX74Q+JGEAIRCRxoCkN/rmPXT/Img/Tr5Pyl/JxdUvT5OZ8k5RJvVC8k2nBm0dVDHXnK5TIRdVulIU4U4qa1gBnMKTeIlrJHCEpydaIrwsMhtzAwIAFceIJPWkl12raNy8FHsnjsyaDvyeYCkwp7m6Y0GheFdm+5ipDul8b+f1W93tlgkKqeKU1cpPizJLZW18pP15MlOW3V1H622Ts7Go8V6/uBcNfYSOJP9xD87+/+RfgAQ+S8dCoVCob4vqsxXuFTCHKMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Kenyatta University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Steve","middleName":"Biko","lastName":"Nyambaka","suffix":""},{"id":492322258,"identity":"01ea237a-d63a-4dab-bb1c-1c6669cb5487","order_by":1,"name":"Caroline Mutwiri","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kenyatta University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Caroline","middleName":"","lastName":"Mutwiri","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-24 15:38:20","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7207139/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7207139/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42803-025-00111-x","type":"published","date":"2025-11-12T15:57:26+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":96106192,"identity":"03d4b42f-2dda-4435-856c-4649dc6b895e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-17 16:12:47","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":486524,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7207139/v1/a57e86e3-e084-4655-8c6e-ad230e6a09cb.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Usability of Koha Online Public Access Catalogue during information retrieval with regard to interface design","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eKoha, an Integrated Library System (ILS) is one of the earliest open source library automation software (Neupane, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Koha is distributed freely and its source code can be altered to suit the needs of local library users. Asim \u0026amp; Mairaj (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) posit that the word Koha is extracted from the Maori dialect of New Zealand and it implies “gift” or “donation”. Katipo communications firm initiated the development of Koha ILS on September 6 1999 at the behest of Horowhenua Library Trust (HLT). HLT applied Koha ILS on January 1st 2000, releasing it under a General Public License (GNU). Pearl programming language was used to develop Koha software which functions on UNIX, Linux and Windows operating systems. Koha can be able to adopt either MySQL (My Structured Query Language) or Mariadb database running on Apache Web server. Koha is established using library protocols namely MARC 21 and Z39.50, for purposes of interoperability between Koha and other systems and technologies, while supporting existing workflows and tools (Asim \u0026amp; Mairaj, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKoha ILS has a number of modules that are geared towards facilitating library housekeeping operations such as circulation, cataloguing, serial control, acquisition, reports and the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). Yesmin \u0026amp; Ahmed (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e) asserted that OPAC is deemed to be the core of library functions and the link to library services since it enhances access by clientele to various services of the library. In addition to its browse and search features, Koha OPAC integrates numerous added facilities like making purchase suggestions, holding books, user tagging, bookmarking, comments and reviews (Khatun \u0026amp; Ahmed, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). As an open source ILS, Koha enhances the adoption of templates and style sheets to customize the interface of Koha OPAC through the use of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) and jQuery.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe aim of this paper is to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC with regard to interface design during information retrieval by undergraduate users at the Technical University of Kenya Library (TU-KL), a Public University Library in Nairobi County, Kenya. Usability is the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to realize specified objectives with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use (Khatun \u0026amp; Ahmed, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). TU-KL manages library operations using Koha ILS. In order to gain access to the Koha OPAC module in TU-KL, patrons have to visit the library website: library.tukenya.ac.ke. TU-KL facilitates usability of its Koha OPAC through information literacy training that is supplemented by guides availed in the library website. Since Koha OPAC facilitates retrieval of information resources due to its vast capabilities and capacities of searching like the basic search, advanced search, keyword search and faceted navigation, all these become futile in the event that Koha OPAC becomes underutilized as observed in the tendency of patrons disregarding the use of Koha OPAC by opting to go to the shelving area directly.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Literature review","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe interface of an information retrieval system is an essential component that determines its usability. Xie (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e) stated that since the interface is a key feature that facilitates engagement between library patrons and OPAC, its design will determine whether interactions succeed or fail. Hildreth (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1995\u003c/span\u003e) initiated a study titled “The GUI OPAC: Approach with caution” which presented on of the earliest research regarding the OPAC interface. Hildreth asserts that when patrons interact with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the first time, they find the interface interesting to use but their initial interest subsides the more they continue to use the GUI OPAC. Hildreth even goes further to liken the GUI OPAC to the old card catalog (“some things change, some things remain the same”).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to (Borgman, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e) one of the issues that leads to the lack of application of human factors principles to interface design is that designers fail to recognize the range of patron diversity, most of the time developing systems based on the assumption that their patrons are more like themselves. Previous research regarding individual differences established that human populations are not homogenous when it comes to their capabilities to use a particular interface. This was amplified further by (Kan, Ramaiah \u0026amp; Foo 2004) who argued that the interface of a web based information retrieval system is an intricate place where system features must supplement diverse user characteristics, cognitive abilities and task requirements. During the design of Koha OPAC interface, the adoption of information search descriptors such as “Library Catalogue”, “call number” and “International Standard Book Number” (ISBN), may be familiar amongst library personnel but foreign to library patrons. Kumar, Rajinder \u0026amp; Singh (2017) confirmed this during analysis on the use of OPAC among University Libraries in Delhi where it was revealed that out of 191 patrons Jamia Milia Islamia University, 35% of users encountered problems while using OPAC since they could not comprehend OPAC features. However, (Kan, Ramaiah \u0026amp; Foo 2004) investigated the Gateway to Electronic Media Services (GEMS), a proprietary information retrieval system which can only be customized by the vendor unlike Koha ILS whose open source nature localizes customization.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKhan \u0026amp; Ayesha (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) initiated research regarding key features of information management systems for automation in university libraries by adopting a survey research method. Purposive sampling was applied to select a target population consisting of 157 librarians. The study findings revealed that an interface that is user friendly enhances access to bibliographic details of library books. Chen (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) carried out research on undergraduate students use of mobile applications to search library catalogs where a sample comprising of 16 participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that 10 respondents found that when using their laptops, the interface of the library catalog was easy to comprehend and use as opposed to that of the mobile application. Chen (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) conducted a comparative study that compared computer devices and mobile devices hence resulting in more comprehensive research results than Khan \u0026amp; Ayesha (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e) whose study participants only used computers. Since Koha OPAC is a web based ILS accessible to both stationary and mobile computer devices, needs to have customizable bootstrap navigation to facilitate access regardless of the device in use.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCraven et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e) initiated a study regarding functionalities of the 2.0 OPAC and was able to find out that participants wanted to perform the functions of OPAC but since some OPAC features such as a link to Google books were not visible, they felt that OPAC did not support them in their quest to retrieve information resources. Ruzegea (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e) conducted a study on the usability of OPAC interface features by postgraduate students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) where he established that the Library OPAC interface features had several limitations like: visibility (50%), accessibility (16.7%), usability (23%), and navigation (10%). The findings of another study conducted earlier at the same university by (Schmetzke et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e) also indicated a lack of visibility of the interface in IIUM Web OPAC interface, as reported by sixty (60%) of the respondents, showing that visibility was more troublesome. This study sought to analyze usability with regard to interface design of Koha OPAC during information retrieval by undergraduate users at TU-KL in Nairobi County\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe interface design of Koha OPAC in TU-KL presents a basic search bar that contains the “Keyword” search option as the default access point. The link to the advanced search option is located on the header section of the Koha OPAC page. To facilitate patron interactivity, the interface design of Koha OPAC in TU-KL consists of the “Ask a librarian link” which provides real time responses to patron queries (Kwanya, 2017). This study is necessary since the interface as the first point of interaction between the patron and the Koha OPAC system serves as the gateway of usability that requires analysis.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methodology","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study adopted a descriptive survey design. A quantitative method was used in the survey to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC with regards to its interface design. Quantitative data was collected using Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ). This research took place at TU-KL which is located in Nairobi Central Business District (NCBD). TU-KL was selected because it has adopted Koha ILS in the management of library functions. The population of the study involved undergraduate students of TU-K. The target population of the study was 8,328 registered undergraduate students drawn from 66 degree programs at TU-K.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study used a stratified random sampling technique which assisted the researcher to determine users who required training on the use of Koha OPAC prior to usability testing. The population of TU-KL undergraduate users was subdivided into two mutually exclusive segments based on the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval. Users who had undergone OPAC instruction were categorized as experienced users whereas users who had never been trained were categorized as beginners. Users were categorized further based on their year of study. To achieve categorization, a pre-session interview questionnaire with information on Koha OPAC instruction, date and time of instruction and year of study was administered to participants at TU-KL prior to data collection. The study used a simplified formula developed by (Yamane, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1967\u003c/span\u003e) to determine the sample size.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhere n = the sample size\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eN = the size of the population (8328)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ee = precision level (0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis formula was used on the undergraduate population of TUK at 95% confidence level. The sample size of each strata was calculated using proportionality as shown below;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ef = sample / (target population) × strata\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ef = 382/8328 × strata\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ef = 0.046\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhere f = chance for selection of each member of the population. To generate the corresponding sample group, each strata within the population was multiplied by this fraction (Orodho, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA Pre-task questionnaire was used by the researcher. This questionnaire assisted the researcher to categorize participants based on their information search and retrieval skills using Koha OPAC ranging from beginner level to advanced level. This helped the researcher to come up with categories of beginner and experienced users. The information gathered was intended to assist the researcher to determine the category of users that needed training on the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval before commencement of the usability test. The researcher assigned tasks to participants in TU-KL. Each participant was given brief instructions of task procedures to be observed. Each participant was expected to work out the tasks assigned to them on their own. PSSUQ is a 16 term standardized instrument which was used after the conducting a usability test, in order to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC with regard to its interface design during information retrieval by undergraduate users. PSSUQ measured user responses on a 3 point likert scale.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eData analysis was conducted by the researcher after data was collected from the field. Quantitative data was gathered using questionnaires. The researcher organized each questionnaire form filled by respondents and thereafter ascertained that each form had been answered with the answers properly recorded. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data using descriptive statistics. The study’s ethical considerations were such that approval from the National Commission for Science and Innovation (NACOSTI) was granted enabling the researcher to conduct the study in TU-KL. The researcher proceeded to give notice to the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor- Academics, Research, and Students at TU-K, which supervises the University's Library and Resource Services, via a direct pre-visit to the university. The researcher then notified the University Librarian of the planned study, including the data collection techniques to be employed.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e382 questionnaires were distributed to the target population to collect primary data in order to support the study purpose. However, only 196 questionnaires were dully filled and returned presenting a response rate of 51%. This response rate was able to meet the threshold suggested by (Richardson, \u003cspan\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e) who asserted that responses above 50% are acceptable in research studies. The study sought to analyze characteristics of participants to determine their year of study, previous training on Koha OPAC, experience and skills. This was done in order to determine whether some users required training in the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval in order to enable them to participate in the usability test. Before commencement of the usability test, the researcher took beginners through a 10 minute tutorial regarding functionalities and interface design of Koha OPAC. The findings were displayed below in a tabular format.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study endeavored to establish the year of study of participants with findings presented in Table\u0026nbsp;1. This data was necessary since the purpose of the research was to investigate usability of Koha OPAC by undergraduate users in TU-KL in order to promote retrieval of information resources. This meant that the researcher had to determine the usability of all the undergraduate users of Koha OPAC in TU-KL regardless of their year of study, department or degree programme. This sought to deter biasness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943579.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Table\u0026nbsp;1, the study found that about 54% of participants were third and fourth year students whereas, about 46% were in their second and first year of study. The findings represented a mix of all categories of undergraduate participants from first year to fourth year which represented diversity. Diverse users provide essential feedback during usability tests and adopting such feedback enhances interface design for all users. Diverse feedback from participants offers a variety of options for the system designers to choose from during customization of Koha OPAC interface so as to enhance retrieval of information resources.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study sought to establish whether participants had been trained on how to retrieve information using Koha OPAC. This was done in order to determine whether there were participants who had never undergone training on the use of Koha OPAC to enable the researcher to identify and train them in order to prepare them for the usability test. The findings were presented in Table\u0026nbsp;2.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943599.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was revealed that more than 50% of the participants had not been trained to use Koha OPAC while less than 50% had been trained. This finding could prevent successful usability of Koha OPAC for information retrieval in TU-KL due to lack of advanced information searching and retrieval skills which ought to be imparted during Koha OPAC training. Instruction regarding the use of OPAC is necessary to facilitate effective search and retrieval of information (Chewe \u0026amp; Chitumbo, \u003cspan\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study sought to find out whether participants had used Koha OPAC before in order to determine whether they will have to undergo training on the use of Koha OPAC to enable them to participate in the usability test. The findings were presented in the table below.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943619.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;3 indicated that over 60% of participants had never used Koha OPAC before whereas, less than 40% had used Koha OPAC before. The findings showed that most participants did not have the experience of using Koha OPAC hence increasing the chances of encountering challenges in their attempt to retrieve information resources. The researcher used a pre-task questionnaire to categorize participants based on their previous use of Koha OPAC. Before commencement of the usability test, the researcher conducted a 10 minute tutorial regarding functionalities and interface features of Koha OPAC. This training was accorded to participants who had never used Koha OPAC initially. This was necessary since it would have been hard for participants who had never used Koha OPAC before to perform the usability test that required information retrieval using Koha OPAC.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research analyzed participant\u0026rsquo;s experience in using Koha OPAC to retrieve information resources in TU-KL. Users were required to find the location of Koha OPAC, perform information retrieval tasks using both basic and advanced search options and locate a help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC. This sought to establish whether the interface design of Koha OPAC facilitated retrieval of information. The first test sought to establish whether participants were able to locate TU-KL website that hosted Koha OPAC. This was critical since one cannot use Koha OPAC without knowing where it is located. Participants used their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) to perform this test. The findings were presented in Table\u0026nbsp;5.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943650.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 5 showed that about 81% of the participants were able to locate Koha OPAC from TU-KL website whereas about 19% were not able to locate Koha OPAC on the TU-KL website. Since about 19% participants were not able to locate Koha OPAC, it implies that it was not visible to them and this hindered their accessibility to it. At the Malaysian International University, 47% of the participants encountered challenges during their attempt to access OPAC due to its design features which made it hard to navigate (Ruzegea, \u003cspan\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). Absence of a standalone website for Koha OPAC hinders its usability because it becomes difficult to utilize for retrieval of information. Users have to navigate through the university website to the library website in order to access Koha OPAC. However, the current study found that most participants (about 81%) were able to locate Koha OPAC which is an improvement from previous findings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study purposed to find out participant capability in retrieving information resources using the basic search option of Koha OPAC. Participants were required to search for a book titled \u0026ldquo;a handbook of human resource management practice\u0026rdquo; while using their laptop computers, smart phones or tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were displayed in Table\u0026nbsp;6.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943670.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 6 reveals that more than 75% of participants were able to perform successful search for the information resource whereas about 25% were not able to find the information resource. Some participants who experienced search failures only entered the keyword of the information resource \u0026ldquo;human resource management\u0026rdquo; thereby broadening the search and yielding too many search results. Some participants entered the wrong spelling on the basic search option of Koha OPAC resulting to \u0026ldquo;no results found\u0026rdquo;. According to (S. Kumar, \u003cspan\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), patrons access the OPAC in a similar manner they would access a search engine, with minimal search terms or complex search strategies. Patrons appreciate spell check facilities offered by internet search engines such as Google, when they misspell their search terms. Koha OPAC in TU-KL in its present state is difficult to use for information retrieval, due to absence of spell check features in its user interface.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study presented another search task to participants requiring them to utilize the basic search option of Koha OPAC to search for a book authored by \u0026ldquo;Rosenak Sidney\u0026rdquo; and note down the call number of the book. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were presented in Table\u0026nbsp;7.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943691.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 7 indicates that over 50% of participants were able to search and note down the call number of the book authored by \u0026ldquo;Rosenak Sidney\u0026rdquo;, slightly more than 10% noted that they were able to get results but did not notice the call number whereas 35% indicated that they did not find the information resource. Those who found the book but could not identify the call number indicated that they were not aware of the call number; they could not see it and they did not have any idea of what a call number was. While usability of Koha OPAC basic search option facilitated search and retrieval of the information resource, the process from the catalog to the shelves becomes challenging when users do not have adequate knowledge regarding the call number. This is in confirms (Borgman, \u003cspan\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e) who argued that designers fail to recognize the range of patron diversity, most of the time developing systems based on the assumption that their patrons are more like themselves. This prevents effective usability of Koha OPAC in TU-KL since users are not familiar with its features which make its utilization for retrieval of information resources difficult.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants undertook another usability test using Koha OPAC basic search where they were required to search and retrieve an eBook by downloading it in either PDF or EPUB file format. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were presented in Table\u0026nbsp;8.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943710.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 8 shows that slightly more than 50% of participants were not able to download the eBook while 49% were able to locate and download the eBook. This meant that even though over 49% of participants were able to access Koha OPAC and they were able to search and locate the eBook, they were not able to download it. Participants that were unable to download the eBook cited lack of visibility of the online link which facilitates access to eBooks on Koha OPAC. The lack of visibility of the eBook link acted as a barrier to effective navigation and retrieval since whenever users got to the results page, they became stranded as they were unable to find the eBook link that ought to take them to the download page. During a usability study regarding the functionality of OPAC, (Craven et al., \u003cspan\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e) established that participants wanted to perform search and retrieval functions using OPAC but since some OPAC features such as the link to Google books were not visible, participants felt that OPAC did not support them in their quest to retrieve information resources. The lack of visibility of the eBook link in the Koha OPAC interface meant that its usability for retrieval of eBooks in TU-KL is not effective since participants were unable to utilize it to find the link that ought to link them to the download page to initiate the download process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother usability test to investigate participant\u0026rsquo;s ability to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC which entailed the use of Boolean Search Operators was initiated. Participants were asked to retrieve a book titled \u0026ldquo;Business Accounting 2\u0026rdquo; authored by \u0026ldquo;Wood, Frank\u0026rdquo;. Participants were expected to use the default Boolean operator \u0026ldquo;and\u0026rdquo; in order to narrow down the result and to enhance specificity and accuracy. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. Findings were presented in Table\u0026nbsp;9.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943728.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;9 showed that over 50% of users were not able to use Boolean operators of the advanced search option of Koha OPAC to facilitate retrieval of \u0026ldquo;Business Accounting 2\u0026rdquo; authored by \u0026ldquo;Wood Frank\u0026rdquo;. Less than 50% of participants were able to find the book. Participants that were unable to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC used a single search term in all the three default search boxes generating hundreds of results which made it difficult to retrieve \u0026ldquo;Business Accounting 2\u0026rdquo; authored by \u0026ldquo;Wood Frank\u0026rdquo;, failure to select appropriate access points from the drop down menus and some of them used two search terms on a single search box yielding nil results. These findings indicate that participants (53%) who were unable to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC effectively encountered difficulties that may be attributed to the interface design of Koha OPAC and lack of information search strategies using Boolean Operators which are meant to facilitate effective retrieval of needed information resources. Khatun \u0026amp; Ahmed (\u003cspan\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) asserted that interface customization that presents a small screen layout seamlessly integrating basic and advanced searches helps users to use both basic and advanced search options with ease. This implies that usability of the advanced search options of Koha OPAC in TU-KL does not enhance efficient retrieval of information resources to the majority of users since they are not able to use Boolean operators to combine search queries to enable retrieval of needed information resources since the advanced search option was located on the header of the TU-KL Koha OPAC interface page, separate from the basic search option. The inability to use the advanced search option of Koha OPAC effectively undermines its usability as an information retrieval tool for utilization in retrieval of information resources in TU-KL.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA usability test to investigate whether participants could be able to identify any help features or search aids on the user interface of Koha OPAC was undertaken. Participants performed this task using their laptop computers, smart phones and tablets connected to the TU-KL Wi-Fi. The findings were presented in Table \u003cspan\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1753943747.png\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 10 reveals that about 70% of participants could not locate any help features on the interface of Koha OPAC while about 30% noted that they could locate a help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC. \u0026nbsp; Participants (about 70%) who could not find a help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC cited lack of visibility of the help feature. Participants found it difficult to identify the help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC since it had been presented as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) thereby lacking clarity. Ruzegea (2012) noted visibility as the main barrier to usability of the interface features of a library OPAC. Lack of clarity and poor visibility of the help feature on the interface of Koha OPAC in TU-KL interferes with its usability as an application that ought to provide assistance to users who encounter challenges during utilization of Koha OPAC for retrieval of information resources.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study sought to analyze the interface design of Koha OPAC in order to determine its usability during information retrieval among undergraduate students in TU-KL. This was necessary in order to find out whether the interface design of Koha OPAC in TU-KL facilitates retrieval of information resources. The study analyzed; icons, search box and standard terminology used on the interface of Koha OPAC in order to determine whether they facilitate retrieval of information resources. The findings were presented in Table 11.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 11 Koha OPAC Interface Design\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"935\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 311px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatement about interface design in information retrieval\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 151px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePercentage\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStrongly Agree\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgree\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFreq.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e%\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFreq.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e%\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFreq.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 47px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e%\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFreq.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e%\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMean\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSD\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 311px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThe Koha OPAC interface provides icons with clear activation that makes it obvious when the next operation can be started\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e43.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 47px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e196\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.846\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.839\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 311px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eI am able to access e-books, e-journals and theses in full text using the Koha OPAC search box\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e111\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 47px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e196\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.265\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.906\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 311px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eKoha OPAC presents a search box fitted with access points with standard terminology\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e135\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e68.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 47px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e196\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.500\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 66px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.794\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe researcher wanted to establish whether icons make it easy for the user to navigate the interface of Koha OPAC during information retrieval in order to determine whether the icons facilitate usability of Koha OPAC. Analysis of the icons on the interface of Koha OPAC showed that the mean score was 1.846 which represented an average level of agreement among users regarding clarity of activation icons and usability of Koha OPAC interface design. The mean suggested that, on average, users leaned towards agreement that Koha OPAC had an interface fitted with icons that made it obvious when the next operation will be initiated. The interface of Koha OPAC displayed a search bar with a drop down menu that contained 8 access points. A\u0026rdquo;Go\u0026rdquo; button that activated information retrieval was present on the interface of Koha OPAC search box which prompted action from the user following query formulation. This compelled users to express a high level of satisfaction with the clarity of activation icons and usability of the interface. The standard deviation value of 0.839 indicated variability of users\u0026apos; responses around the mean. A higher standard deviation suggests more variability among user opinions and experiences. In this case, the standard deviation of 0.839 indicated a relatively higher variability, suggesting differing perceptions and experiences among users. This meant that some participants (about 29%) found icons to be difficult to identify hence they struggled to know when to initiate the next operation. The other participants (about 71%) found them to be clear and easy to use. This variation could be due to lack of clarity and visibility of Koha OPAC icons which hinders usability of Koha OPAC during its utilization for retrieval of information resources because identifying the appropriate icon becomes difficult. Xie (2008) identified that library software interface enable patrons to easily navigate and access resources in our technologically driven world by acting as instruments of enormous amounts of information. Nevertheless, this study found out that although majority of patrons (about 71%) are able to utilize the icons of Koha OPAC to navigate the interface, there are other users (about 29%) who cited poor visibility and a lack of clarity of the icons which impeded navigation. This has a negative effect on the usability of Koha OPAC for information retrieval.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study concluded that the interface of Koha OPAC in TU-KL was designed using icons that have been made clear to enable patrons to know when the next activity begins. Conclusion was also made that Koha OPAC search box had descriptors with standard terminology. It was concluded that, on average, patrons tended to agree with the presence of a search box designed using descriptors with standard terminology. However, it was concluded that despite clear icons and search boxes, some patrons were still unable to use Koha OPAC to retrieve e-Books, e-journals and other information resources. The study concludes that some patrons may not utilize the Koha OPAC interface to meet their information needs owing to failure in facilitating retrieval of e-Books, lack of understanding of terminologies on the drop down menu of Koha OPAC and poor visibility of icons. This puts the usability of Koha OPAC in jeopardy since its interface design is not effective in facilitating retrieval of both physical and e-resources.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDr. Caroline Mutwiri supervised the development of this study and gave valuable in put in the area of discussions, literature review and conclusion.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipant consent was obtained\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAsim, M., \u0026amp; Mairaj, M. I. (2019). Librarians\u0026rsquo; perceptions about adoption and uses of the Koha integrated library software in Punjab, Pakistan. \u003cem\u003eThe Electronic Library\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e37\u003c/em\u003e(4), 624\u0026ndash;635. https://doi.org/10.1108/el-11-2018-0224\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBorgman, C. L. (1992). 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Preference of Bangladesh university students for searching the library catalogue: OPAC or discovery tool? \u003cem\u003eThe Electronic Library\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e34\u003c/em\u003e(4), 683\u0026ndash;695. https://doi.org/10.1108/el-07-2015-0139\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-digital-humanities","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"ijdh","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Digital Humanities](http://link.springer.com/journal/42803)","snPcode":"42803","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/42803/3","title":"International Journal of Digital Humanities","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Usability, Koha, OPAC, interface, information retrieval","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7207139/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7207139/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe aim of this study is to analyze objectively the usability of Koha Online Public Access Catalogue during information retrieval with regard to its interface design. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Quantitative method was used in the survey to analyze the usability of Koha OPAC based on its interface design. Quantitative data was collected using Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ). The study location was Technical University of Kenya Library, located in Nairobi City. The study used a stratified random sampling technique which assisted the researcher to determine users who required training in the use of Koha OPAC prior to a usability test. The population of undergraduate users was subdivided into two mutually exclusive segments based on the use of Koha OPAC for information retrieval. Users who had undergone OPAC instruction were categorized as experienced users whereas users who had never been trained were categorized as beginners. To achieve categorization, a pre-session interview questionnaire was administered to participants prior to data collection. The researcher was able to administer a usability test on participants in order to analyze whether the interface of Koha OPAC facilitated information retrieval. This study established that although most patrons were able to use icons Koha OPAC to navigate the interface, a few participants cited poor visibility and a lack of clarity of the icons which impeded their navigation hence hindering effective usability of Koha OPAC for information retrieval.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Usability of Koha Online Public Access Catalogue during information retrieval with regard to interface design","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-07-31 06:46:26","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7207139/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-08-10T14:16:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-10T14:15:17+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"304697046218852399288216780744781844428","date":"2025-08-10T13:53:27+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-08-10T13:47:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-08-10T13:45:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-07-29T04:26:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"International Journal of Digital Humanities","date":"2025-07-24T15:27:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-digital-humanities","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"ijdh","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Digital Humanities](http://link.springer.com/journal/42803)","snPcode":"42803","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/42803/3","title":"International Journal of Digital Humanities","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"d98e0cde-b462-49a6-98d4-719e0de725ef","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 31st, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-11-17T16:11:38+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7207139","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42803-025-00111-x","journal":{"identity":"international-journal-of-digital-humanities","isVorOnly":false,"title":"International Journal of Digital Humanities"},"publishedOn":"2025-11-12 15:57:26","publishedOnDateReadable":"November 12th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-07-31 06:46:26","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s42803-025-00111-x","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42803-025-00111-x","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7207139","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7207139","identity":"rs-7207139","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}