Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6992
Title: User perceptions of online public library catalogues
Authors: Kani-Zabihi, E
Ghinea, G
Chen, SY
Keywords: OPAC;Electronic library catalogue;User study;User interfaces;User-centred design;Participatory design;Digital libraries
Issue Date: 2008
Publisher: Elsevier
Citation: International Journal of Information Management, 28(6): 492 - 502, Dec 2008
Abstract: Online Public Library Catalogues (OPACs) are widely used electronic library catalogues giving a wealth of remote access to library information resources. Users should be involved early in the OPAC development cycle process in order to ensure a usable and functional interface, as the integration of user-defined requirements of OPACs, along with the other human–computer interaction considerations, offer a better understanding of userperceptions and expectations in respect of OPACs, ultimately resulting in truly user-centred OPACs. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to establish user suggestions for a typical OPAC application's functionality and features. To this end, an experiment was undertaken to find out the type of interaction features that users prefer to have in an OPAC. The study revealed that regardless of users’ Information Technology (IT) backgrounds, their functionality expectations of OPACs are the same as users are expecting OPACs to facilitate easier ways to achieve their tasks. However, based on users’ previous experiences with OPACs, their requirements with respect to specific features may change.
Description: This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2008 Elsevier
URI: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268401208000042
http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6992
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2008.01.007
ISSN: 0268-4012
Appears in Collections:Publications
Computer Science
Dept of Computer Science Research Papers

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