Abstract
Following their first appearance in the UK in 1981 the use of OPACs (online public access catalogues) quickly spread, chiefly in academic but also in public libraries. Search facilities were initially fairly limited, being restricted to index keys of fixed length, mainly because of the expense of disk storage, and these OPACs were most suitable for known item searching. Keyword and Author searching followed, together with the use of Boolean operators, and Keyword quickly established itself as an alternative to structured subject headings. Some libraries adopted touch-screen terminals. User reactions are hard to find, though several libraries, including Hertfordshire County, conducted surveys; most users seem to have found OPACs to be an improvement.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
