System design and cataloging meet the user: User interfaces to online public access catalogs

Abstract

Current research on user interfaces to online public access catalogs is reviewed in an attempt to identify research methods and findings applicable to the design of effective user interfaces to online public access catalogs. A broad definition of user interface is employed which includes data structures, in addition to searching and indexing software. The following features of online public access catalogs are discussed: the demonstration of relationships between records, the provision of entry vocabularies, the arrangement of multiple entries on the screen, the provision of access points, the display of single records, and the division of the catalog into separate files or Indexes. For each feature, user studies and other research on online public access catalogs are reviewed and those findings summarized which provide insight into user needs concerning that particular feature; issues are identified and directions for further research are suggested. Implications for cataloging codes and standards and system design are discussed.

The Effect of Interface Design on Item Selection in an Online Catalog

“…Shires and Olszak (1992) reviewed basic interface design issues for online catalogs and focused almost exclusively on screen design for conveying command and search concepts more clearly. Yee (1991) surveyed research on user interfaces in order to identify research methods and findings applicable to the design of effective user interfaces to online catalogs. On the issue of single record display, Yee points out that many have asserted that labeled displays aid in user comprehension, but only one group of researchers has in fact studied this phenomenon.…”

Indización y recuperación por materias en los opacs de las bibliotecas españolas: ¿dos décadas de evaluación?

“…Pese al gran desarrollo experimentado por los opacs en los últimos años, los problemas que presentan en cuanto al diseño así como las dificultades a las que se enfrentan los usuarios de estos sistemas en España "parecen" haber discurrido por los mismos cauces que en otros países y los usuarios siguen teniendo los mismos problemas que hace décadas en la búsque-da de información, sobre todo cuando se utilizan materias (Ríos, 1991;Yee, 1991;Mano, 1994;Fernán-dez;Peis, 1995;Frías, 1997). Decimos "parecen" ya que al no existir resultados concluyentes y a falta de estudios a gran escala se asumirán los resultados obtenidos en otros países como extrapolables a la realidad española, con independencia del entorno socio cultural.…”

Subject No-hits Searches in an Academic Library Online Catalog: An Exploration of Two Potential Ameliorations

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Curiously, despite the momentum built up during this period of concentrated research, the online cata log sector of the subject access research front became comparatively quiet over the subsequent decade.…”