A Comparative Study of Major OPACs in Selected Academic Libraries for Developing Countries — User Study and Subjective User Evaluation

The lack of an understanding of the characteristics, skills, and searching abilities of a specific user group in computer-based information systems hinders library and information science professionals in making the best decisions when designing, acquiring, and managing information systems. The objective of this study was to provide information on the characteristics of a specific group of international college students from a developing country, in order to assist system managers in the selection of OPACs.The major conclusions of this study are: (1) academic level of study and age of the students affect the preference for the type of OPAC system selected, but the academic major of the students does not affect the preference; (2) system designers should prepare more specific instructions regarding searching methods; (3) system designers should focus on the design of the system menu, since the most common method of learning about OPAC systems was the instructions in the menu; and (4) menu-driven systems should be the first selection of OPAC systems for Korean students.Recommendations are proposed when designing, adopting, or managing a new OPAC system. Topics for further studies on the characteristics of OPAC systems and their use are also suggested.     

OPAC 2.0发展研究

以Web2．0的发展为背景，分析了Lib2．0的核心理念和OPAC2．0的特点，介绍了国外开发的具有OPAC2．0典型特征的3个OPAC系统，并结合WPopac系统给出一个OPAC2．0的设计构想，以期帮助研究与开发，最后指出OPAC2．0是OPAC系统的研究方向和发展目标。     

试论联机检索系统的用户接口技术

用户接口是联机检索系统的一个重要组成部分, 其功能的优劣直接影响到联机系统的使用效果。针对这一问题, 本文主要探讨了联机系统用户界面的风格形式、接口系统的主要类型及其功能, 并对影响接口系统未来发展的几项关键技术进行了分析。     

Augmented Assistance in Online Catalog Subject Searching

Researchers have just begun to acknowledge the importance of incorporating the component of human-computer interaction in the design of online information systems. With the advent of interactive computer systems designed for direct use by the general public, the need has become apparent to design "friendly" user interfaces. In this regard, online public access calalogs, OPACs, are no exception. Recent research studies of OPAC users have found that (i) subject access in online catalogs is coming to be valued at least as much as known item access, and that (ii) OPAC users have a number of serious difficulties with subject searching. Consequently, we need to understand what characterizes human-computer compatibility and to examine various means of assisting the OPAC user at the heart of online searching tasks.     

从Google效应看OPAC2.0及编目馆员的发展

在新型网络技术及服务的影响下,Google已成为用户搜索信息的首选,致使OPAC处于转型的边缘。OPAC2.0脱离了图书馆自动化集成系统的束缚,结合最新的信息技术,建立起了检索范围广泛、书目内容丰富、文献内容相关联、以用户为中心的检索系统。OPAC2.0的新功能促使图书馆编目工作发生着巨大的调整与改变,同时也促进了编目馆员向专业信息组织人员的转变。     

基于OPAC系统的全文资源整合实践模式研究

高校图书馆围绕各信息服务系统的整合逐渐深入。文章对国内外高校图书馆基于OPAC系统对电子全文资源实施整合的实践进行了调研,并在此基础上对各馆实现整合的7种模式及各自的优、劣势进行了分析。     

Multilingual Information Access (MLIA) Tools on Google and WorldCat: Bi/Multilingual University Students’ Experience and Perceptions

Abstract

This article reports on the results of an exploratory user-centered study that examined how technological advancements in natural language processing (NLP) such as the availability of multilingual information access (MLIA) tools impact the information searching behavior of bi/multilingual academic users. Thirty-one bi/multilingual students participated in a controlled lab-based user experiment in which they carried out two assigned tasks each on Google and WorldCat for a total of four tasks, and then completed a post experiment questionnaire. The captures from the experiment showed 86.7% of the participants using multilingual information access tools. Further analyses of the captures also showed that participants were more likely to use MLIA tools when the instructions for the task were stated in their native language. An independent samples t-test revealed that participants spent less time on their searches when they used MLIA tools. The study revealed considerable diversity in the information searching behavior of the participants, even within the same pair of languages, and even for the same user. Diversity was noted for instance, on which tasks MLIA tools were used and in how these tools were used. User-centered designed, personalized multilingual information retrieval (PMLIR) models could hold promise for best representing the information searching behavior of bi/multilingual users.     

Search systems and their features: What college students use to find and save information

College students have often been surveyed about their general information seeking behaviors. However, little has been done to explore what specific system features they use to find and save information when they are working on their real-life tasks. In this study, 32 college students were invited to an information interaction lab for a session in which they recalled a recently finished task and worked on a to-be-finished task using a computer in the lab. They were asked to complete questionnaires regarding what systems they used to finish their tasks and what features were helpful for searching and for saving information. Results showed that college students rely more heavily on the Internet sources than on library sources, even for their course related work. The study identified fourteen categories of system features helpful for information search and eight categories helpful for information saving. The findings have implications for designing systems that will better help people accomplish their tasks.     

基于OPAC系统的全文资源整合实践模式研究

高校图书馆围绕各信息服务系统的整合逐渐深入。文章对国内外高校图书馆基于OPAC系统对电子全文资源实施整合的实践进行了调研,并在此基础上对各馆实现整合的7种模式及各自的优、劣势进行了分析。     

科研用户网络学术信息搜寻行为有限理性实验研究:基于任务情境分析视角

[目的/意义]网络学术信息资源在科研工作者科学研究过程中发挥着越来越重要的作用。通过对不同任务情境下科研用户网络信息搜寻过程中认知理性和行为特征、学术信息的评判标准和影响因素的研究,为科研用户信息行为的深入研究奠定基础。[方法/过程]运用发声思维研究方法,从不同任务情境视角对科研用户信息搜寻过程中网络学术信息评判与影响因素进行对比分析,在此基础上,讨论与分析科研用户网络学术信息搜寻行为理性与其根源。[结果/结论]在不同任务情境下科研用户网络学术信息资源的选择与评判是多侧面维度、多方面因素综合作用的结果,存在共性与差异;任务情境是科研用户心智模式塑造和网络学术信息意义建构过程中的关键条件变量;网络环境中的科研用户网络学术信息搜寻行为与搜寻过程是有限理性的,任务情境是有限理性行为的关键驱动因素。     

Measuring Law Library Catalog Web Site Usability: A Web Analytic Approach

ABSTRACT

Although there is a proliferation of information available on the Web, and law professors, students, and other users have a variety of channels to locate information and complete their research activities, the law library catalog still remains an important source for offering users access to information that has been evaluated and cataloged by experts. The usability of the catalog needs to be effectively measured before any necessary improvements can be made. This study was undertaken to investigate the information retrieval patterns of users of the Rutgers Law Library Online Public Access Catalog and to develop the catalog into a more effective search tool for these users. This study used an experimental approach to measure the usability of our catalog by analyzing the transaction logs from the OPAC system and the results from Google Analytics. The findings provided not only important information on user demographics and their computer systems, but also more insight on the search behaviors of users. The specific findings included the following:

1. As a Web-analytic tool Google Analytics provided extensive information on the OPAC and the navigational behaviors of users.

2. Fifty-eight percent of our users visited the Web site regularly.

3. The most popular search method, which was employed by 37% of our users, was by title.

4. Most patrons used computer systems with a high resolution and color depth monitor and visited the catalog Web site with a high-speed Internet connection.

5. Suggestions were made by the authors to improve the users’ search experience of the catalog Web site.

This study is significant to libraries with Web catalogs because it demonstrates the potential value of using Google Analytics as a Web analytics tool in combination with the OPAC transaction logs to measure catalog usability.     

Personal factors and personal information activities behaviors of faculty in selected universities in Ghana

This study examined how demographic characteristics of faculty influence their personal information activities behaviors, namely information creation, information organization, and information storage. Data was collected from a sample of 235 faculty in six universities in Ghana using a questionnaire. Age, gender, rank and university of affiliation predicted personal information activities behaviors in different directions and with different magnitudes. Gender made a difference in information organization and information storage while age made a difference in respect of information creation and information organization only. Faculty ages 4049 years created information the most, followed by those above 50 years. Males stored information more than females. Rank made a difference in information creation, organization and storage, but university of affiliation made a difference in information creation and information storage, and not information organization. It is common among information system designers and managers to implement information management systems without considering the differential influence of personal variables on human information behaviors. This omission denies information users adequate access and maximum use of the information in their information space. Institutional leaders and PIM systems designers should consider demographic and other personal factors of faculty in information literacy programs. Profiling of users' personal characteristics when designing personal information management systems will enhance maximum access and utilisation of personal information.     

新信息环境下基于OPAC的图书馆资源整合

随着OPAC的不断发展,基于OPAC的图书馆资源整合仍然是新信息环境下数字资源整合的一种重要方式.将图书馆电子资源与OPAC书目查询系统整合在一起,为读者开辟了更加快捷地获取文献全文的渠道.本文结合实际,就电子资源与图书馆OPAC的整合谈一些看法.     

Designing Search: Effective Search Interfaces for Academic Library Web Sites

ABSTRACT

Academic libraries customize, support, and provide access to myriad information systems, each with complex graphical user interfaces. The number of possible information entry points on an academic library Web site is both daunting to the end-user and consistently challenging to library Web site designers. Faced with the challenges inherent in designing online search interfaces and the ever-growing amount of resources available online, Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries sought to explore how to build effective search interfaces that, at the same time, support a wide variety of computer users and provide comprehensive access to assorted collections of electronic resources. Over a nine-month period, the libraries designed, implemented, and tracked the usage of two different search interfaces on their home page. Each interface allowed users to choose between four different search targets. In this case study, the authors discuss the complexities of designing search interfaces, outline findings from the nine-month study, evaluate the effectiveness of the two interface designs, and talk about future research in these areas.     

Web 2.0时代OPAC发展及书目创新服务的思考

简述Web2.0、图书馆2.0以及OPAC 2.0的概念和特点，从Web2.0时代图书馆OPAC“以用户为中心”的理念出发，对其相关功能的加强、改进和革新进行详细分析。在此基础上，深入思考为适应这种OPAC的发展趋势，图书馆书目服务机构应如何转变传统思路，如何为提升书目服务效率采取各项有效措施。     

国内外大学图书馆联机公共检索目录（OPAC）现状分析

选择国内外大学图书馆中有影响的10种联机公共检索目录(OPAC)系统，对影响用户使用OPAC检索功能的若干核心指标进行深入分析，并以此为基础对我国OPAC系统的发展提出若干建议。     

网络信息搜索行为影响因素研究：基于高校学生的实证

通过对高校学生进行实证研究,从用户社会组织背景、用户情感、用户知识结构、搜索任务、信息对象、检索工具六大维度出发,探讨影响用户网络信息搜索行为的相关因素。研究采用逻辑回归,其结果有助于了解用户信息搜索行为的特点,为开展信息素养教育和信息资源的管理、利用工作提供有效的指导。     

试析因特网对用户利用图书馆OPAC的影响

本文从网络时代这一特定背景出发,分析了因特网搜索引擎对用户利用图书馆OPAC的搜索策略、搜索习惯和期望值的影响,旨在探讨现行图书馆OPAC系统与界面的缺陷及不足,以建立一套真正符合终端用户搜索任务需要的图书馆OPAC系统。     

Web2.0环境下的资源发现与服务传递:以Primo和Encore为例

Web2.0环境下图书馆面临一些问题,包括商业化信息服务系统带来的冲击、OPAC不能满足用户的检索需求以及电子资源服务系统的局限性。本文以Primo和Encore为例,首先对新一代资源发现和服务传递系统的功能进行了解析,包括一站式检索、丰富的信息组织和揭示、个性化和社会化功能,然后探讨了Primo和Encore的不同。最后展望了图书馆信息服务系统的发展趋势,包括进行统一资源管理,浏览和搜索并重以及在用户的环境中嵌入服务。     

浅议图书馆新型OPAC系统发展趋势——以汇文OPAC系统为例

分析了目前图书馆OPAC系统存在的主要不足,以汇文OPAC系统为例,详细阐述了在library2.0环境下,新型OPAC系统的重点发展方向,归纳出新型OPAC系统应以用户需求为导向,提供更具个性化、智能化,功能更强大、更加开放的检索和信息揭示功能。