User expectations in the time of Google: usability testing of federated searching.

As libraries expand their services into the world of federated searching, librarians need to work with users to discover what their expectations are and how the library can customize the software to meet users' expectations. This article describes the user testing performed at Texas A&M University d...

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Publicado en:Internet Reference Services Quarterly Vol. 12; no. 1/2; pp. 159 - 179
Autores principales: Ponsford BC, vanDuinkerken W
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd 2007
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: User expectations in the time of Google: usability testing of federated searching.
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          Ponsford BC
          vanDuinkerken W
        affil: Digital Services Librarian, Evans Library at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-5000; bponsfor@lib-gw.tamu.edu
      sug:
        subj:
          Information Retrieval Methods
          Libraries, Academic
          Web Search Engines Evaluation
          User-Computer Interface
          Computerized Literature Searching, End User
          Pretest-Posttest Design
          Student Attitudes
          Students, College
          Human
      ab: As libraries expand their services into the world of federated searching, librarians need to work with users to discover what their expectations are and how the library can customize the software to meet users' expectations. This article describes the user testing performed at Texas A&M University during 2005 as the libraries implemented a new federated search service called Search Now (ExLibris' MetaLib). Over fifty volunteers-including undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and library faculty and staff-helped to test the new system and offered suggestions for improvements. Problems were noted and, where possible, modifications were made to improve results. These modifications were then tested again. Major issues noted during the usability testing included: user expectations of search performance; information included in and the layout of the search results; availability of advanced search options; and lack of ability to limit by format, scholarly nature of journal, date and full-text availability. Suggestions for further development are also presented.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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        research
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      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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