Indian Jones Beware....

Information seeking behaviors are essential for users of internet sources. Seeking information in the same format time and time again helps build a greater understanding of searching methods but helps provide a commonality for those users.

In two articles one by Daniel Rose, Reconciling Information-Seeking Behavior With Search User Interfaces for the Web and the other by Scott Nicholson Digital Library Archaeology: a Conceptual Framework for Understanding Library Use Through Artifact-Based Evaluation focus on information seeking behavior of those using internet and digital library resources.

Rose stated there are three areas in which knowledge of user behavior can be addressed for future interface design:

1. Goal of the user when conducting a search
2. Cultural and situational context at the time of the search
3. Iterative nature of the search task itself.

Rose also stated there are specific goals associated with a search they include:

• Getting a specific piece of information
• Getting an answer to an open-ended
• Getting advice
• Exploring a general topic

Searching on the web in the future may allow individuals the ability to just search for one of the specific goals and have a tailored search engine to those specific needs. The interfacing of common search engines will greatly change to help accommodate for those search behaviors. It will be a great day when individuals can go to the Internet go to a specific engine and find what they are looking for without the useless filler sites and dropped links. Having specialized search engines can also help those novice users and help propel them into searching success.

Nicholson has described a very interesting topic, digital archaeology. What an amazing topic? I mean Indian Jones has nothing on a digital archaeologist. The concept of developing a digital archaeology of search patterns, fragmented data, user information, and combining those to form a specialized approach for digital libraries is truly fascinating.

The shift from traditional archaeology to new archaeology is not defining what the items are but how and why they are there. How the items got there, why they were searched and what significance do those items play for the users of information? Those questions are the ground for digital archaeologist.

According to Nicholson there is a cycle of information seeking behavior and these cycle is essential for understanding the seeking behavior of customers:

• collection
• induction
• deduction
• prediction
• testing

Nicholson also states that web-based information resources do not use hypothesis based research when evaluating their services; which can result in the stunted growth of search sciences. By applying these conceptualized methods in searching research, the possibilities are endless and customer satisfaction can only increase.

It's the Real Thing

Ray Bradbury once stated, “Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.”

In these two articles, The Public Library as a Meeting-Place in a Multicultural and Digital Context: The Necessity of Low-Intensive Meeting-Places by Ragnar Audunson and Reading Behavior in the Digital Environment: Changes in Reading Behavior Over the Past Ten Years by Ziming Liu express different theories with an underlining theme: the importance of information (whether a physical building as an information warehouse or reading that information).

Audunson’s article looked at the cultural importance of the role of the public library. This article expressed the purpose of the library as access to cultural expressions and values that are tolerated and appraised. The digital revolution opened up the communication of libraries and increased the development of cultural niches. Audunson addressed an additional library role as meeting-places and arenas for community communication.

As times change and resources evolve, it is only natural the focus of the library changes. It may not change drastically but should shift to reach the populous it represents. For libraries to be successful in the future, they must understand that changing their focus and broadening their horizons are essential for longevity.

In Liu’s article described a study that investigated the reading behaviors of individuals in the current digital environment. Lie analyzed how individual’s reading behavior has changed over the past ten years. The findings listed that online reading mostly consisted of browsing and scanning rather than in-depth reading. Reading from a paper format is still consider to be the best source for high concentrated, more in-depth reading. While additional research is needed, the idea is the same and I’m sure the findings will remain at the same level.

I know from personal experience that I do just that, I do not read as in-depth online as I do with a hardcopy. I do not know if it is a preconceived notion or something that is inherent inside of me.

I believe as times change and new generations come in contact with digital resources the shift will change where the digital reading will become the chief source of in-depth reading and may even become the preferred method. But for me, the hardcopy will always remain as the real thing.

Web 2.0 and Beyond...

Everyone enjoys an opportunity to choose their own homework assignment. This week, I choose two articles that will help me in two different avenues. The first article I chose was: Using a Wiki for Documentation and Collaborative Authoring by Michael Angeles. This article will come in handy specifically at work. I have convinced my boss to allow the training department to use a wiki to update training manuals. The next article I chose was The Habits of Highly Effective Web 2.0 Sites by Dion Hinchcliffe (this article was recommended by classmate Julie Kreft).

The Angeles article went over the basic reasoning for using a wiki and how a wiki can better improve collaboration in library settings. An interesting part of the article was the best practices listed to help ensure the sustainability of your company’s wiki:

• Train your users
• Keep it organized
• Understand use
• Lead by example
• Protect
• Style guides

This article will come in handy when I start the implementation of the wiki at our library. I know that this project will take planning and dedication but I’m thoroughly excited about the possibilities it brings to our system.

In Hinchcliffe’s article gave a definition of Web 2.0 as networked applications that explicitly leverage networks effects. The important thing to remember is that Web 2.0 evolves everyday and has become a “living” website. People no longer go to the web to check their email or conduct business but have developed a community of friends and family within a digital arm’s reach and have created a home within the Web. Hinchcliff outlined the Essentials of Leveraging Web 2.0 as:

• Ease of Use
• Open up your data as much possible
• Aggressively add feedback loops to everything
• Continuous release cycles
• Make your users part of your software
• Turn your applications into platforms
• Don’t create social communities just to have them

These two articles help describe how to make the most out of a social website and what can be done to accomplish its set goals. I know with the information I have gained in these two articles, I will be able to accomplish the goals of our library system and what could be better than that?