Collection Description Focus, Workshop 5

UKOLN

Collection-Level Description and the Information Landscape
Users evaluate strategies for resource discovery

Thursday 30th January 2003
Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge


Discussion Group 3

What do users want?

The discussion highlighted two main requirements for the user

  • To be comfortable using the resource
  • To have expectations met or exceeded in terms of search results

Overall the experience for the user must be a good one - and this is relevant to all users whatever their level of expertise

In order to meet expectations

  • Quality of the underlying data is important as divorced from the actual user interface
  • Fine line between using developers experience to produce a complex interface and losing sight of the users objectives and search strategy
  • Use of simple assisted searches - not complicated strategies and search screens
  • Important to use "faceted vocabularies" behind the interface so that different types of users can retrieve results using their own search terms
  • Results form must be appropriate for each particular user
  • Need to be able to re-use and re-purpose content if CLDs are to be sustainable

How do we know what users want?

  • Important to include feedback. Ask users if they have found what they wanted, was their search successful?
  • Know your audience

Do users understand CLDs?

  • Users need to understand what searching a CLD service means in order to manage their expectations
  • Users need to know what to do next? E.g. find a collection that is relevant and then details of how to access the collection, contact details - no dead ends
  • Vast majority of information is NOT available in digital form and users need to be aware of the scope of what they are searching
  • Mediation role of Information Professionals in managing expectations
 

Information