Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use
Despite widespread use of Internet search engines, the online catalogue is still the main pathway to the collection of a particular library. The use of Internet search engines does, however, have implications for user expectations around the online catalogue, and search strategies when using the onl...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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2021
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/154163 |
| _version_ | 1811679275372249088 |
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| author | Waller, Vivienne |
| author_facet | Waller, Vivienne |
| author_sort | Waller, Vivienne |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Despite widespread use of Internet search engines, the online catalogue is still the main pathway to the collection of a particular library. The use of Internet search engines does, however, have implications for user expectations around the online catalogue, and search strategies when using the online catalogue. There is much research on online catalogue use that predates search engine use, and there is a need for more up-to-date research, particularly on the use of online catalogues in public libraries. This paper reports on an analysis of transaction logs of end users of the online catalogue of a large public library in Australia, the State Library of Victoria. It compares searches over four years, taking into account the search settings and search strategies and looking at search success, including the reasons for search failure. The paper also introduces the concept of abandonment rates to online catalogue search, defining a metric that adds to the useful information that can be determined from transaction logs. The paper uses the findings as the basis for its concluding recommendations for how public library users can be assisted to find what they are looking for on the library catalogue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:06:34Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/154163 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:06:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1541632021-12-15T20:10:41Z Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use Waller, Vivienne Library and information science Despite widespread use of Internet search engines, the online catalogue is still the main pathway to the collection of a particular library. The use of Internet search engines does, however, have implications for user expectations around the online catalogue, and search strategies when using the online catalogue. There is much research on online catalogue use that predates search engine use, and there is a need for more up-to-date research, particularly on the use of online catalogues in public libraries. This paper reports on an analysis of transaction logs of end users of the online catalogue of a large public library in Australia, the State Library of Victoria. It compares searches over four years, taking into account the search settings and search strategies and looking at search success, including the reasons for search failure. The paper also introduces the concept of abandonment rates to online catalogue search, defining a metric that adds to the useful information that can be determined from transaction logs. The paper uses the findings as the basis for its concluding recommendations for how public library users can be assisted to find what they are looking for on the library catalogue. Published version 2021-12-15T08:21:54Z 2021-12-15T08:21:54Z 2010 Journal Article Waller, V. (2010). Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use. Library and Information Science Research E-Journal, 20(1), 1-27. https://dx.doi.org/10.32655/LIBRES.2010.1.3 1058-6768 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/154163 10.32655/LIBRES.2010.1.3 1 20 1 27 en Library and Information Science Research E-Journal © 2010 Vivienne Waller. All rights reserved. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | Library and information science Waller, Vivienne Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use |
| title | Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use |
| title_full | Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use |
| title_fullStr | Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use |
| title_short | Accessing the collection of a large public library : an analysis of OPAC use |
| title_sort | accessing the collection of a large public library an analysis of opac use |
| topic | Library and information science |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/154163 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wallervivienne accessingthecollectionofalargepubliclibraryananalysisofopacuse |