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User Success in the Library Catalog. Margo. Cal State LA. Fall 2000: 19,593 students (13,808 FTES) 2/3 are 1 st generation to receive a college degree 2/3 do not speak English as their 1 st language or in their homes. Library Exit Survey. Week 6
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Cal State LA • Fall 2000: 19,593 students (13,808 FTES) • 2/3 are 1st generation to receive a college degree • 2/3 do not speak English as their 1st language or in their homes
Library Exit Survey Week 6 Reaction to specific requests is that we have what they are requesting. Users don’t know how to use the catalog.
Learning Outcomes Define the research topic. • Formulating a research question. • Selecting, refining/narrowing, a topic. • Selecting search terms (keywords). Determine the information requirements for the research question. • Controlled vocabulary Locate and retrieve relevant information. • Ask for assistance at the Reference Desk. • Refine vocabulary terms used. • How to use the library catalog (author/title/keyword/subject restrictions).
INNOPAC Logging • Weeks 6-10 of • Summer 2000 Quarter • Fall 2000 Quarter • Winter 2001 Quarter
Typical User Problems with OPAC • Tend to search subjects with low success • Reluctant to browse too many records • (>30 or 100?) • Inappropriate vocabulary • Spelling and typographical errors • Bibliographic rules • Boolean logic
Abbreviations Spelling Typographical errors Plural Stopwords Number/date Subject concept Cataloging rules Title search in keyword Subject heading syntax Database search Author search Reserves ISSN Types of Problems with No Hits
Unsuccessful Keyword Searches • 15% 30% had 100 or more hits • 4% 0% had no hits
(The reactions of young adult women) abusive child (Los Angeles) american japanesse women Bascketball Mexican education Causes of ectasy (drug) Child development (government document) City map monterey park Critical thinking() Popocatepetl viagra Csla thesis physical education dimorphisms Frankenstein and Dis(re)membered identity Government assistance in the united states and w… History museum in los angeles Improve public education Indians of north america – laguna J.F.K. Introduction to the Primates (Book Review) Sample Keyword Problems
Keyword Problems • Abbreviations (AIDS) • No space between words • Alternate word endings (mexican education) • Journal titles, journal abbreviations & ISSNs
Typical problems • Misspellings and typos 20% (CSULA 48%) • Items not held 39% • Native speakers more likely to • use plural word forms • Experiment with synonyms and alternative words
Unsuccessful Subject Searching • Approx. 50% retrieve no hits • 18-20% retrieve more than 100
adult attachment and effect on parenting Adhd Affirmative action Conflict theory Emotions and film Pasadena history Prop 21 Racism in the media Ritual masks Stereotypes fairy tales Why people use drugs Theories of rape Shelter of battled women Victorian literature and culture Women stereotypes in media Woody woodpecker Writing a thesis Wrongful termination Youth social promotion Sample Subject Searches with no Hits
Subject Searching • Frequent use of subject search (at least since 1983) • Some decrease in SU to KW • Controlled vocabulary consistently a problem (1993) • Too broad • Too narrow • Users typically relate to what they know • Multiple strategies/alternatives a problem
1993 Recommendations (Wallace) • Spell checker • Natural language • Natural language linked to LCSH • Tutorial when no hits
1997 Recommendations (Hildreth) • Natural language input • Relevance ranked output • Hypertext
Technical Issues for Consideration • Spell checker • No hits dictionary/thesaurus/encyclopedia • No hits in SU KW search automatically • PubMed type searching that automatically checks words for subject heading and uses both keyword and subject • Automatic help or message to ask for help with no hits?
Collaborative instruction with content instructors for vocabulary and concept development Subject vs. keyword Synonyms Spelling, plurals, abbreviations Selecting, refining/ narrowing, a topic. Selecting search terms (keywords). Controlled vocabulary Refine vocabulary terms used. How to use the library catalog (author/title/ keyword/subject restrictions). Instructional Issues for Consideration