<$BlogRSDUrl$> Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A. Author/Speaker/Consultant
Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A. Author/Speaker/Consultant
Internet Happenings, Events and Sources


Saturday, October 09, 2004  

Quick - Define Online
http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA452319

Sounds like such a simple request: Library patrons often want to limit their catalog search strictly to items they can find online. But, says Roy Tennant, user services architect at the California Digital Library and author of "Managing the Digital Library," librarians (and their system designers) haven't refined the search functions enough to allow that to happen easily and quickly. Problems often begin on the opening screen, which seldom offer a way to limit resources; "advanced search" options often are no better. Some libraries offer a special "collection" of online resources, while others demand that users search first, then apply a limit and re-execute the search. Further, almost every library states the option differently -- E-books, Electronic Resources, Web Resources, Internet, Online/Computer Resources, Computer File, Online Resources, Electronic Resources (web) and Internet Resources, to name a few. Is it any wonder patrons have difficulty when librarians can't even agree what "online" means? Tennant calls on library professionals to find ways to enable users to limit searches to full text online: "Users rightly expect this ability. Their not being able to do it easily, or at all, is a disturbing failure of our profession."

posted by Marcus Zillman | 4:20 AM
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