OPAC Research Articles

Improving relations between users and libraries: a survey of Chinese academic libraries

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of library services according to user experiences (UXs). The study discusses underlying internal problems existing in libraries that affect user satisfaction. Furthermore, it seeks to identify ways to improve the UX. Design/methodology/approach The methodology comprised a questionnaire administered at Nanjing University Library, China. The survey examined users’ satisfaction with the online public access catalogue, locating books on the shelves, and users’ participation in the organization of library resources. This study used the annual reading quantity of users system, a new system of measurement that distinguishes between informal and avid library users. Findings The data analysis indicated poor user satisfaction. The problems were mainly associated with the libraries’ resource organization, such as descriptive cataloguing, subject headings and classification, which is controlled by library administration. Moreover, users’ feedback is not integrated within the library system. Because of the process-oriented architecture of the current integrated library system, librarians and users do not communicate effectively. These barriers between users and the library staff members are difficult to overcome. Originality/value The study describes that the results relate to user satisfaction with searching and locating books based on the patron’s reading level. Differences were observed between light and avid readers in terms of satisfaction with the ease of searching and finding books. This demonstrates the internal connections of these results with library procedures. Furthermore, this study identifies improvement measures to resolve these problems.

Libraries electronic catalogs in the struggle for users: «old» and new approaches

Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) is considered as a tool to ensure the usefulness and attractiveness of libraries for users. Modern approaches to make a search in OPAC effective and convenient, to satisfy the requirements and expectations of readers are characterized. The views of researchers and practitioners in this regard are compared.

Affective choosing of clustering and categorization representations in e-book interfaces

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate user experiences with a touch-wall interface featuring both clustering and categorization representations of available e-books in a public library to understand human information interactions under work-focused and recreational contexts.Design/methodology/approach– Researchers collected questionnaires from 251 New Taipei City Library visitors who used the touch-wall interface to search for new titles. The authors applied structural equation modelling to examine relationships among hedonic/utilitarian needs, clustering and categorization representations, perceived ease of use (EU) and the extent to which users experienced anxiety and uncertainty (AU) while interacting with the interface.Findings– Utilitarian users who have an explicit idea of what they intend to find tend to prefer the categorization interface. A hedonic-oriented user tends to prefer clustering interfaces. Users reported EU regardless of which interface they engaged with. Results revealed that use of the clustering interface had a negative correlation with AU. Users that seek to satisfy utilitarian needs tended to emphasize the importance of perceived EU, whilst pleasure-seeking users were a little more tolerant of anxiety or uncertainty.Originality/value– The Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) encourages library visitors to borrow digital books through the implementation of an information visualization system. This situation poses an opportunity to validate uses and gratification theory. People with hedonic/utilitarian needs displayed different risk-control attitudes and affected uncertainty using the interface. Knowledge about user interaction with such interfaces is vital when launching the development of a new OPAC.

Making Metadata Maker: A Web Application for Metadata Production

Cataloging and metadata operations in academic libraries are focusing on original cataloging of their unique and hidden collections that have not been available to users because of a lack of metadata. However, creating MARC format metadata is an expensive process; libraries need professional catalogers with appropriate experience and knowledge or must train staff to do the work. To improve the cataloging and metadata creation workflow, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library developed a web application, Metadata Maker, which allows anyone to create metadata in four different formats, including MARC21 for an online public access catalog, regardless of their familiarity with metadata standards or systems that utilize the metadata. Released as an open source application, Metadata Maker supports diacritics and Unicode non-Roman language encoding, and creates metadata records that ensure discovery and access of unique library collections.

KEMAMPUAN MENELUSUR KATALOG DARING: HASIL PENGUJIAN KATALOG DARING PADA 10 PERPUSTAKAAN BESAR DI INDONESIA

The study aims to find out whether important search techniques could be employed to find records in the ten online public access catalogs (OPACs) tested. The following search tests are conducted: (1) test to determine the fields used as access point to records, and the number of fields searched when a two-word syntax was used; (2) search using one to three charaters, one word, and English stopwords; (3) search using boolean AND, OR or NOT and their combinations; (4) phrase search; (5) truncation search; and (6) search using filters (e.g., language or year of publication) provided by the OPACs. Results of the tests were: (1) access to records was available through title, author, subject, series, and note in eight systems; (2) a two-word syntax was searched only in one field in all systems; (3) English words and syntaxes of one to three characters were searched in eight systems; (4) boolean operators AND, OR and NOT and their combinations could be used only in one system; (5) search employing filters could be performed in three systems. It was concluded that nine of the ten OPACs could not provide optimal access to records. The OPAC is the only access to library collections for those who search through the Internet; therefore, complete search tests of its search facilities are required before a system is released. Further research is needed to find efficient search test methods that could be used by the developers and librarians to prove that a search facility functions.

An Investigation and Analysis of Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs) in University Libraries in Sri Lanka

. This study aimed to investigate the usage, user satisfaction and native problems of OPACs in Sri Lankan university libraries. Primary data was collected from 570 users comprising faculty members and students of the six universities. A questionnaire, online survey and participatory observation were used as the data collection tools to obtain information about the OPAC. The data thus collected was analyzed with the help of basic statistical measures to present finding in percentages and ranking formats. Primary data revealed that OPAC has to be developed much more than the stages in which it was introduced to the Sri Lankan university system in 2000. Further, facilities provided with the system were insufficient and majority of users unaware about them. In addition to that, it demonstrated OPACs possessed in primary stages this situation caused to dissatisfaction with users and staff members. Appropriate and continues training for users and staff members, technological advancement and the native language searching facilities can overcome the identified problems. This is a pioneering work in Sri Lanka studying the quality and problems of the OPACs. Since some libraries in Sri Lanka are going for the OPACs, this study could influence to policy and decision makers to implement effective OPACs in Sri Lanka. Keeping in perspective the approach of skillful users and their user behavior, this research suggests recommendation for user-friendly OPACs included simplistic search strategies for university libraries in Sri Lanka.

Evaluating federated search tools: usability and retrievability framework

Purpose– This study aims to explore a framework for evaluating and comparing two federated search tools (FSTs) using two different retrieval protocols: XML gateways and Z39.50. FSTs are meta-information retrieval systems developed to facilitate the searching of multiple resources through a single search box. FSTs allow searching of heterogeneous platforms, such as bibliographic and full-text databases, online public access catalogues, web search engines and open-access resources.Design/methodology/approach– The proposed framework consists of three phases: the usability testing, retrievability performance assessment and overall comparison. The think-aloud protocol was implemented for usability testing and FSTs retrieval consistency, and precision tests were carried out to assess the retrievability performance for 20 real user queries.Findings– Participants were directed to assign weights for the interface usability and system retrievability importance as indicators for FST evaluation. Results indicated that FSTs retrievability performance was of more importance than the interface usability. Participants assigned an average weight of 62 per cent for the system retrievability and 38 per cent for interface usability. In terms of the usability test, there was no significant difference between the two FSTs, while minor differences were found regarding retrieval consistency and precision at 11-point cut-off recall. The overall evaluation showed that the FST based on the XML gateway rated slightly higher than the FST based on the Z39.50 protocol.Research limitations/implications– This empirical study faced several limitations. First, the lack of participants’ familiarity with usability testing created the need for a deep awareness and rigorous supervision. Second, the difficulties of empirically assessing participants’ perspectives and future attitudes called for mixing between a formal task and the think-aloud protocol for participants in a real environment. This has been a challenge that faced the collection of the usability data including user behaviour, expectations and other empirical data. Third, the differences between the two FSTs in terms of number of connectors and advanced search techniques required setting rigorous procedures for testing FSTs retrieval consistency and precision.Practical implications– This paper has practical implications in two dimensions. First, its results could be utilized by FST developers to enhance their product’s performance. Second, the framework could be used by librarians to evaluate FSTs performance and capabilities. The framework enables them to compare between library systems in general and FSTs in particular. In addition to these practical implications, the authors encourage researchers to use and enhance the proposed framework.Social implications– Librarians can use the proposed framework to empirically select an FST, involving users in the selection procedures of these information retrieval systems, so that it accords with users’ perspectives and attitudes and serves the community better.Originality/value– The proposed framework could be considered a benchmark for FST evaluation.

Evaluation of electronic service infrastructures and quality of e-services in Nigerian academic libraries

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the quality of online services in academic libraries in Nigeria. It seeks to assess the functionality of electronic infrastructures, to expose areas where the service needs of users are not adequately provided and to recommend solutions.Design/methodology/approach– The sample population was 210 staff and students who used electronic resources in Nigerian university libraries during the 2012-2013 academic session. A questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. Modified WebQual four performance indicators were designed and used to measure: library equipment, library website, online public access catalogue (OPAC) and e-user education in the university libraries. The five-point service performance scale that ranged from very poor performance to excellent was used in measuring the views of the respondents.Findings– None of the indicators was rated excellent; six were rated good; nine were average; two and five indicators scored poor and very poor, respectively. Poor funding, intermittent power supply and weak telecommunication infrastructures were among the major impediments to online services in Nigerian universities. Through adequate funding and prudent management of library funds, online services in Nigerian university libraries could meet global standards.Practical implications– Results from this paper could guide library management on several concrete remedial actions to sustain e-service performance that could meet the missions and visions of contemporary academic libraries.Originality/value– This paper was the first to apply WebQual model in the evaluation of electronic performance quality of academic libraries in Nigeria.

From Discovery to Delivery: Successful Systems Integration

Demands for information resources are increasing while libraries are facing decreasing budgets and lessening staffing support. Interlibrary loan and consortial services can help libraries expand access to collections. Patron-initiated borrowing systems are a current trend in libraries, but seamlessly integrating them is challenging. This article analyzes problems in patron-initiated consortial resource sharing, introducing a new generation service which combines complex library systems and allows them to work together in real-time availability: the online public access catalog (OPAC), a consortial borrowing system, an interlibrary loan system, an integrated library system, and an authentication system. The service seamlessly integrated a new discovery tool, WorldCat Local, with local, consortial, and worldwide resource sharing systems. Patron requests are automatically transferred from system to system based on the item's availability, maintaining rapid delivery.

Streamlined request services: the integration of ILS, ILL and Consortia borrowing systems

Purpose– This paper aims to study streamlined request services based on discrete systems’ integration in an academic library. The integration of discrete systems allows patrons to use the library’s online public access catalog to send requests and have the requests automatically transferred to the local integrated library system (ILS), the consortia borrowing system, and an interlibrary loan system. The integration of discrete systems also allows adding the consortia service without adding any library staff.Design/methodology/approach– The authors introduce library holdings behind the search interface, the discrete library systems and the authentication system. The paper illustrates how patron requests can be automatically transferred to discrete library systems.Findings– Resource sharing has become a hot topic in the library world where libraries are facing budget cuts, space limits and employee shortage challenges. Systems’ integration will help libraries to add new services without adding staff.Practical implications– The consortia borrowing system can be seamlessly integrated into discrete library systems and a campus authentication system. Pepperdine University’s experience can serve as an example for libraries which have a plan to implement consortia borrowing systems or want to streamline their workflows.Originality/value– This paper takes a fresh look at the traditional request services using cloud-based systems.

Social semiotics as theory and practice in library and information science

Purpose– Information scholars frequently make use of “conceptual imports” – epistemological and methodological models developed in other disciplines – when conducting their own research. The purpose of this paper is to make the case that social semiotics is a worthy candidate to add to the information sciences toolkit.Design/methodology/approach– Both traditional and social semiotics are described in detail, with key texts cited. To demonstrate the benefits social semiotic methods may bring to the information sciences, the digital display screen is then employed as a test case.Findings– By treating the display as a semiotic resource, the author is able to demonstrate that, rather than being a transparent window by which the author may access all of the data, the screen actually distorts and conceals a significant amount of information, and severely restricts the control users have over software packages such as online public access catalogues. A programming paradigm known as language-oriented programming (LOP), however, can help to remedy these issues.Originality/value– The test case is meant to provide a framework by which other information sciences issues may be explores via social semiotic methods. Social semiotics, moreover, is still evolving as a subject matter, so IS scholars could also potentially contribute to its continued development with their work.

An investigation into the perceptions of academic librarians and students towards next-generation OPACs and their features

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether features of next-generation Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) interfaces are useful and intuitive to users who have different levels of searching ability. In addition, it investigates whether there is a difference between librarians’ and students’ preferences for specific features. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on 18 semi-structured interviews conducted in July 2012 with three groups of library users from The University of Sheffield: librarians; Master of Arts Librarianship students; and a group of other post-graduate students. Findings – Overall, this study suggests that while the next-generation catalogue interfaces and features are useful, they are not as “intuitive” as some previous studies have claimed. Interviewees appeared to prefer the searching and browsing options over the Web 2.0 features. Both librarians and students have similar opinions regarding the usefulness of next-generation OPAC features, but preferences are complex. Research limitations/implications – The study is based on one institution, and the disciplinary background of the post-graduate students was limited. Practical implications – Promoting next generation OPACs and explaining their features to users is essential. Originality/value – The paper adds to the understanding of users’ preferences in relation to next-generation OPACs, locating the findings of the current findings firmly in the context of previous literature.

Access and Use of Digital Resources: A Survey of Their Value for Faculty in Three Ghanaian Universities

AbstractThis paper is culled from a doctoral study that investigated the development and management of digital libraries in selected academic libraries in Ghana. In this article, the authors report on the value that faculty members place on access to and use of digital resources and their implications for library services in three Ghanaian universities. The survey method was used to administer a structured questionnaire to 230 faculty members. Using convenience sampling, 10% of faculty were selected from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast. Univariate and bivariate analyses were done to construct frequencies and establish relationships among respondents. Findings showed that less than half of the faculty members were aware of and used digital resources such as the online databases, institutional repositories, the library’s website and the online public access catalogue (OPAC). Nevertheless, the impact of the resources on them was very positive. The study recommended the need for university librarians to interact with faculty during orientation sessions for new faculty as well as new heads of departments. Additionally, subject librarians should work closely with departmental heads to be allocated periods for presentation on available digital resources, their usefulness for their own career enhancement and for their teaching role. The underlying implications of this study show that more advocacies are required from university libraries to enhance the use of digital resources.

MS in prose, poems and drama

Background and objective: Presentations of MS in fictional literature have not been previously researched. This paper surveys and analyses these portrayals of the disease for the first time. Material and methods: Relevant works in English and German were identified by means of keyword searches in online public access catalogues and search engines as well as old-fashioned research. The neurological and literary evaluation of these 7000 pages of text combines qualitative and quantitative methods. Results: Between 1954 and 2012 at least 55 literary works appeared with an MS motif (35 novels, 18 poems, one novella and one drama). The authors were predominantly female and a third of them suffered from the disease. Patients in the novels largely reflect real epidemiology as regards symptoms and disease progression, while diagnostic and therapeutic options play a secondary role. From a literary point of view, ‘entwicklungsromane’, ‘relationship novels’ and ‘young adult books’ can be discerned. MS is often portrayed in metaphoric language as the enemy: a demon, an animalistic being, prison or an abyss. Conclusion: The MS motif evidences a medicalization of the literature as well as a literary portrayal of anthropological experiences. Well-written novels can contribute to the de-stigmatization of MS and impart basic medical knowledge.

The Online Presence of Physical Consumer Health Information Collections in Multisite Toronto Hospitals

This study investigates the online presence of physical (on-site) consumer health information collections (CHICs) on the public Web sites of three multisite hospitals in the City of Toronto. All three are affiliated with the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine. They are located in downtown Toronto, north Toronto, and northwest Toronto, respectively. The Web pages of multisite hospital-based CHICs contain basic information about hours of operation, phone number, e-mail address, and location. Most provide information about collections (print and digital), lending policies, and information services. Although staffing is mentioned in the context of profession, as librarians, patient educators, or volunteers, staff names and qualifications are not mentioned. The CHIC Web pages of two of three multisite hospitals have online public access catalogs (OPACs) to search their collections. As well, both provide multilingual information resources to better serve the linguistic diversity of Toronto residents. Unique features include access to consumer health and medical online databases through the Web page for its consumer health information collections at one multisite hospital, Humber River Hospital, and information about health-related mobile apps, access to e-books, and customized newsletters in PDF file format for individual consumer health information collections at another multisite hospital, University Health Network.

Revisiting the Catalogue Cards in University Libraries in Nigeria

The card catalogues are neglected in the university libraries in Nigeria because of the introduction of OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) which is rarely seen in most of university libraries. After conducting a research on the usefulness of card catalogues, the researcher observes that users of the libraries still appreciate the card catalogues in the libraries because they help them to know the collections of the library.

Manus OnLine and the Text Encoding Initiative Schema

The Italian Central Institute of Cataloguing (ICCU) has developed a web application to export manuscript descriptions from Manus OnLine (MOL), the Italian national catalogue of manuscripts, into TEI XML documents. As of June 2013, single descriptions can be downloaded from the MOL Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) as TEI XML documents by any user. The aim of the first tool is to supply manuscript descriptions to the institutions which produced them using MOL, because libraries and research organizations need to use their own data, outside the MOL project. The aim of the second service – exporting manuscript catalogues of entire collections as TEI XML files - is to promote exchange of data with other national and international projects. For these purposes, the ICCU needs a rich schema, not only a partial set of metadata, in order to be able to export complete structured manuscript descriptions. As bibliographical standards (MARC, Unimarc) cannot represent the entire structure of MOL descriptions adequately, ICCU adopted the TEI schema as an interchange standard. This paper describes solutions adopted by ICCU in encoding MOL contents within the TEI element and problems they encountered in performing this work. The encoding of information about material ( ), number of folios and physical dimensions of manuscripts ( ) are discussed as well as a list of data pertaining to original letter cataloguing.

Attitudes of law university library users towards the use of Web OPAC in Karnataka

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of two law university libraries in the Karnataka state of southern India and their web-based online public access catalogue (web OPAC). Results from a survey of library users’ attitudes towards the use of the web OPAC, methods adopted to learn how to use the web OPAC, guidance sought to use the web OPAC and the extent of use of the web OPAC search facilities in select law school libraries in Karnataka are reported. Design/methodology/approach – To study the users’ attitudes towards the use of the web OPAC in law university libraries in Karnataka, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 300 users, including Bachelor Of Legislative Law students, Master of Laws students, research scholars and teaching staff. The sample population was chosen using the convenience sample method, and the researcher received 256 completed and usable questionnaires. A five-point Likert scale was used in the research questionnaire. Typical statistical tests such as mean and standard deviation were applied for the purpose of accuracy. Findings – The results of the survey indicated that 92.1 per cent of respondents were using the web OPAC. Most of the web OPAC users strongly agreed that they learned to use the web OPAC from a library orientation programme. It was found that there are positive attitudes towards the web OPAC search facility. The survey also found that the web OPAC search page has not given satisfactory guidance to web OPAC users. Practical implications – This research paper produces findings of relevance to any academic library to develop and implement a user-friendly web OPAC service. Originality/value – There have been no previous published research studies of the web OPAC and users’ attitudes in the law university libraries in Karnataka state.

Displaying Content, Media, and Carrier Types in the OPAC: Questions and Considerations

This article examines the new MAchine-Readable Cataloging (MARC) 336, 337 and 338 (Content, Media, and Carrier Type) fields and how libraries are choosing to display the new fields in their Online Public Access Catalogs, with a specific focus on current practices for libraries using Innovative Interfaces, Inc. (III) integrated library systems. Format descriptors in the MARC record under Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, second edition (AACR2) rules are discussed along with the emergence of the Content, Media, and Carrier Type fields under Resource Description and Access. A survey was sent to III libraries inquiring how the libraries were displaying the new fields. The results are discussed with future possibilities presented.

RDA Implementation Issues in the Iranian National Bibliography: An Analysis of Bibliographic Records

The goal of this research is investigating the situation of existing bibliographic records in the online public access catalog of the National Library of Iran in order to use Resource Description and Access (RDA). A sample of 111 bibliographic records was selected for this purpose. These records were analyzed according to the RDA codes. The results reveal that more than 88% of the records show a rather good conformity with RDA, but 47% of the remaining problematic records show direct inconformity with RDA. Based on an in-depth analysis of the fields, most of the discrepancies deal with the assumed rules based on which the data is entered. The results of this study indicate that there is a good level of conformity between contents of current records and RDA, but as for the rest of the records there are some major tasks to be done.