Abstract

This study aims to conduct a content analysis of the library websites of state and foundation universities in Türkiye based on current items, to assess Türkiye’s position at an international level, and to offer suggestions for improvement. Within the scope of the research, a total of 206 university library websites were examined, including 128 state and 78 foundation universities. Quantitative content analysis was conducted using a checklist of 88 items under nine headings derived from the literature. The research data were analyzed quantitatively using relationship (Chi-square and correlation) and mean or median comparison (independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U) tests. The results indicated that state universities had a significantly higher mean number of items (41) compared to foundation universities (35), that there was a weak negative correlation between the university’s foundation year and content diversity (r = -0.202), and that 29 items showed a relationship with the university type. Comparisons with international studies showed that university library websites in Türkiye provide less than 50% coverage in 29 items, primarily Web 2.0 tools, mobile applications, user guides, in-site search, site maps, information literacy programs and feedback, and show lower performance compared to both developed and some developing countries in these items. Research results can guide university libraries in developing digital service policies and library managers and webmasters in technological adaptation processes.

Keywords: University libraries, library services, library websites, website content, web content analysis

References

  1. Aharony, N. (2012). An analysis of American academic libraries’ websites: 2000‐2010. The Electronic Library, 30(6), 764-776. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211282091
  2. Akgül, Y. (2021). Accessibility, usability, quality performance, and readability evaluation of university websites of Turkey: A comparative study of state and private universities. Universal Access in the Information Society, 20(1), 157-170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-020-00715-w
  3. Al, U. ve Bahşişoğlu, H. K. (2000). Türkiye’deki üniversite kütüphanelerine ait web sitelerinin içerik açısından değerlendirilmesi. Bilgi Dünyası, 1(2), 307-329. https://bd.org.tr/index.php/bd/article/view/423/419
  4. Al-Qallaf, C. L. ve Ridha, A. (2019). A comprehensive analysis of academic library websites: Design, navigation, content, services, and Web 2.0 tools. International Information & Library Review, 51(2), 93-106. https://doi.org/10.1080/10572317.2018.1467166
  5. Bajpai, K. ve Verma, S. (2021). Content analysis of library websites of CSIR-Institutions of Uttar Pradeshand Delhi, India. Library Progress (International), 41(2), 337-346. https://doi.org/10.5958/2320-317X.2021.00037.4
  6. Brower, S. M. (2004). Academic health sciences library website navigation: An analysis of forty-one websites and their navigation tools. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 92(4), 412-420. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC521512/
  7. Chow, A. S., Bridges, M. ve Commander, P. (2014). The website design and usability of US academic and public libraries: Findings from a nationwide study. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 53(3), 253-265.
  8. Coe, K. ve Scacco, J. M. (2017). Content analysis, quantitative. J. Matthes, C.S. Davis ve R.F. Potter (Ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118901731.iecrm0045
  9. Comeaux, D. J. (2017). Web design trends in academic libraries - A longitudinal study. Journal of Web Librarianship, 11(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19322909.2016.1230031
  10. Comeaux, D. ve Schmetzke, A. (2013). Accessibility of academic library web sites in North America: Current status and trends (2002‐2012). Library Hi Tech, 31(1), 8-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831311303903
  11. Devi, K. K. ve Verma, M. K. (2019). Content evaluation and the design trends of national institutes of technology (NITS) library websites of India: An evaluative study. Journal of Indian Library Association, 53(2-3), 135-147. https://www.ilaindia.net/jila/index.php/jila/article/view/99
  12. Herring, S. C. (2010). Web content analysis: Expanding the paradigm. J. Hunsinger, L. Klastrup, ve M. Allen (Ed.), International handbook of Internet research içinde (s. 233-249). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9789-8_14
  13. International Organization for Standardization [ISO]. (2008). Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 151: Guidance on World Wide Web user interfaces (ISO 9241-151:2008). https://www.iso.org/standard/37031.html
  14. Khan, A., Idrees, H. ve Mudassir, K. (2015). Library web sites for people with disability: Accessibility evaluation of library websites in Pakistan. Library Hi Tech News, 32(6), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-01-2015-0010
  15. Kumar, N. ve Verma, S. (2018). Content analysis of library websites of NAAC accredited ‘A’ grade university in central zone of India: A study. Library Waves, 4(2), 68-77. http://librarywaves.com/index.php/lw/article/view/69
  16. Kurulgan, M. ve Bayram, F. (2006). Üniversite kütüphaneleri web sitelerinin biçim ve içerik analizi: Türkiye’deki uygulamaya ilişkin bir araştırma. Türk Kütüphaneciliği, 20(2), 141-172. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/815149
  17. McMillan, S. J. (2000). The microscope and the moving target: The challenge of applying content analysis to the World Wide Web. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 77(1), 80-98. https://doi.org/10.1177/107769900007700107
  18. Mumtaz, R., Shahzad, K. ve Ahmad, S. (2021). Evaluation of web-based contents of 177 university libraries in Pakistan. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-Journal), 6093. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/6093
  19. Odabaş, H. ve Polat, C. (2011). Türkiye’de üniversite kütüphaneleri standartları. Atatürk Üniversitesi Türkiyat Araştırmaları Enstitüsü Dergisi, (45), 321-346. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/ataunitaed/issue/2884/39840
  20. Öztürk, E., Şener, G. ve Süher, H. K. (2016). Sosyal medya çağında ürün yerleştirme: Instagram ve insta bloggerlar üzerine bir içerik analizi. Global Media Journal TR Edition, 6(12), 355-386. https://globalmediajournaltr.yeditepe.edu.tr/sites/default/files/sayilar/2016_bahar/15_eda_ozturk_gul_sener_h._kemal_suher.pdf
  21. Pallant, J. (2017). SPSS kullanma kılavuzu: SPSS ile adım adım veri analizi (S. Balcı ve B. Ahi, Çev.). Anı Yayıncılık.
  22. Pareek, S. ve Gupta, D. K. (2013). Academic library websites in Rajasthan: An analysis of content. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 913. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/913
  23. Polat, C. ve Akkaya, M. A. (2024). Yükseköğretim kurumlarının akreditasyon sürecinde kütüphane ve bilgi hizmetlerinin rolüne yönelik kavramsal bir yaklaşım. Bilgi Dünyası, 25(2), 353-381. https://doi.org/10.15612/BD.2024.774
  24. Rafiq, S., Ashiq, M., Ur Rehman, S. ve Yousaf, F. (2021). A content analysis of the websites of the world’s top 50 universities in medicine. Science & Technology Libraries, 40(3), 260-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2021.1889446
  25. Şerefoğlu Henkoğlu, H. (2021). Türkiye’deki üniversite kütüphane web sitelerinin web içeriği erişilebilirlik kılavuzu kapsamında değerlendirilmesi. Bilgi Dünyası, 22(2), 251-288. https://doi.org/10.15612/BD.2021.619
  26. Şerefoğlu Henkoğlu, H. ve Demirkol, D. (2018). Web sitesi kullanılabilirliğinin ölçülmesi: Aydın Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi kütüphanesi web sitesi örneği. Bilgi Dünyası, 19(2), 113-143. https://doi.org/10.15612/BD.2018.665
  27. Tabachnick, B. G. ve Fidell, L. S. (2015). Çok değişkenli istatistiklerin kullanımı (B. Bıçak ve diğerleri, Çev.). Nobel.
  28. Tavluoğlu, C. (2013). Üniversite kütüphanelerinde Web 2.0 araçlarının kullanımı. [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Hacettepe Üniversitesi. https://www.academia.edu/download/32044021/10006937.pdf
  29. Tiryaki Ersen, S. (2004). Üniversite kütüphaneleri web sitelerinin değerlendirilmesi: Hacettepe Üniversitesi kütüphaneleri örneği. [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Hacettepe Üniversitesi
  30. Toprak, F. (2025). Türkiye’deki üniversite kütüphane web sitelerinin içerik analizi. [Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Çankırı Karatekin Üniversitesi.
  31. Ullah, M. (2021). Content analysis of medical college library websites in Pakistan indicates necessary improvements. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 38(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12386
  32. Vaughan, J. (2001). Three iterations of an academic library web site. Information Technology and Libraries, 20(2), 81-92.
  33. World Wide Web Consortium. (2025). Understanding success criterion 2.4.5: Multiple ways (Level AA). https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/multiple-ways.html
  34. Wells, D. (2021). Online public access catalogues and library discovery systems. B. Hjørland ve C. Gnoli (Ed.) içinde, ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge Organization. https://www.isko.org/cyclo/opac
  35. Wilson, D. E. (2015). Web content and design trends of Alabama academic libraries. The Electronic Library, 33(1), 88-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-05-2013-0100
  36. Yükseköğretim Bilgi Yönetim Sistemi. (2023, 31 Ekim). Türlerine göre mevcut üniversite sayısı. https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/

Copyright and license

Copyright © 2025 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite

Toprak, F., & Çapkın, Çağdaş. (2025). Quantitative Content Analysis of Library Websites of State and Foundation Universities in Türkiye. Information World, 26(1), 39-80. https://doi.org/10.15612/BD.2025.821