Title: Web-Based Bibliographic and Full Text Retrieval: Which Features/Which Users?
Author: Gary Perlman, Consulting Research Scientist, OCLC, perlman@acm.org, www.acm.org/~perlman/
Location: http://www.acm.org/~perlman/patronlib.html
Modified:
Contents:
  • What is OCLC?
  • What is FirstSearch?
  • Examples of Feature Development
  • How OCLC does Usability Testing
  • Comparing Librarians and Patrons
  • Example Features in Progress
  • Conclusions
  • Abstract: How do people really use a search system? How do librarians and library patrons behave differently when searching Web-based bibliographic and full text information? What search options requested by librarians are actually used by patrons, and which are not? In this talk I will summarize some observations, both formal and informal of librarians and patrons, when access ing bibliographic and full text information, primarily though the OCLC FirstSearch® service. I will discuss how features in FirstSearch are developed for both sophisticated and untrained users, and offer the uncontroversial conclusion that both have their place in online search systems.
    Disclaimer: These notes represent my views, not necessarily those of OCLC. Any features described may or may not appear in software or services provided by OCLC.


    What is OCLC?


    What is FirstSearch?


    Examples of Feature Development


    How OCLC Ensures Usability

    Design

    Testing

    FirstSearch


    Comparing Librarians and Patrons

    Observations from usability tests, server logs, and comments.
    Librarians Patrons
    Profile trained professional wanting full control Show me the full text, now! Here are some terms. Now, get me there.
    Training trained in general, use system help, look at more options first webbed mimickers - know some of what what Yahoo does; if I need to use help, I don't want to use it

    See a box and fill it up,
    Click on Go! and hope for luck.
    See a box not far away,
    Check it to work just your way.

    Source Selection judicious choice of databases "What's a database?"
    Formulation Plan searches, concerned about quality of search and authority of retrieved data ad hoc satisficing; academic interest in peer review
    Index use request dozens per database; use index for phrase index term selection 95% of searches are keyword, author, title; do not understand phrase indexes
    Term Selection thesaurus, browse index, variants use 1-2 terms, natural language; get lost in any of these tools; that are "off the path to results"; can not fathom what catalogers do; do not trust controlled vocabularies
    Query Language use Booleans, parentheses, truncation, wildcards, proximity free form, +required, -avoided, wildcard*
    Limits Set limits in advance Huh?
    Relevance Don't know how defined Don't know it should be defined
    Results Evaluation Compare results to previous search results (more/less, better/worse) Begin looking at records, even if millions (assume relevance ranking); don't know why anyone would want bibliographic records (Web effect)
    Budget cost conscious; don't want graphics "Hey, where's the full text?"
    Customization highlight library resources: YourFirstSearch save session history: MyFirstSearch
    Choice Make/influence choices Use what's provided

    Example Features in Progress


    Conclusions