optimizing resource discovery service interfaces in statewide virtual libraries: the library of...
TRANSCRIPT
Optimizing Resource Discovery Service Interfaces in
Statewide Virtual Libraries:The Library of Texas Challenge
William E. Moen, Ph.D.<[email protected]>
Texas Center for Digital Knowledge
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
Presented at Libraries Without Walls 5: The Distributed Delivery of Library and Information ServicesSeptember 19-23, 2003 Lesvos, Greece
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Presentation Overview
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Library of Texas
A Virtual LibraryReaching Across Boundaries to
Extend Access to Information Resources
• Collection Boundaries
• Organizational Boundaries
• Format Boundaries
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ZLOT project
• Z Implementation Component of the Library of Texas (ZLOT)– Develop standards-based approach for the virtual library
• Project Focus– Identify requirements for resource discovery service– Demonstrate feasibility and utility of resource discovery
tools– Assist in implementation and testing
• Phase 1 – 2002: Design and specifications• Phase 2 – 2003: Implementation
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Characterizing the virtual library
• An environment for provision of – Services– Resources
• Not a digital library– Not all resources available are in
digital/electronic form
• An evolving product that responds to– Users’ needs– Available resources– Current and emerging technologies
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Service-centric virtual library
Virtual Library Services
UserGroup
UserGroup
UserGroup
UserGroup
LibraryResources
LibraryTechnology
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Virtual library services
Standard Information Interchange Among Services
Financial
Authorization
ResourceSharing
PatronAccount
LibraryInformation
EducationResourceDiscovery
Reference Personalization
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Resource discovery
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Resource discovery: Supporting user tasks
Browse
SelectCollection
Evaluate
Search
Common User Interface
Personalize
Save
Acquire
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Content
Content
Content
Content
Content
OAIRepository
Standards-basedSearch & RetrievalProtocols
Proprietary or Non-standard
Search & Retrieval Protocols
Content
Content
Content
CommonSearch
Interface
Resource discovery:Operational view
UserInterface
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Resource discovery:LOT RDS functional view
1. Library catalogs
2. Licensed databases
3. Archive of government information
4. Other collections
Search Targets/CollectionsMiddlewar
e
LOT RDS Interface
1. Broadcast searching
a. Similar resources
b.Dissimilar resources
2. Common retrieval display
1. Translates searches
2. Formats retrievals
3. Interacts with multiple IR systems
Information Retrieval Systems
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LOT RDS:Summary of key requirements
• Customizable interface– For local library presence– For personalization
• Common interface for search and retrieval – Simple and advanced searching– Single database searching– Broadcast searching across similar/dissimilar databases
• Tools to help users select search targets• Common display for results• Indications of availability and “how to get”
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Optimizing the RDS
• Assumptions– Multiple user groups – Diversity of information needs, behaviors, and
expectations– Users may not understand distributed search
applications– User interface presents complex functionality
• Strategy to optimize– Usability assessment– Helping users develop new mental model
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Usability considerations
• Users– Categorization of users based on demographics,
skills, needs, behaviors– Current library users vs. new users
• Interface is really about functionality– Presents application and its components– Components support various user tasks
• Usability criteria, measures, and procedures
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Usability criteria
• Jakob Nielsen – Learnability– Efficiency– Memorability– Errors– Satisfaction
– Other quality attributes (e.g., utility)
• Whitney Quesenbery– Effective– Efficient– Engaging– Error tolerant– Easy to learn
Nielson, J. (2003). Usability 101.http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
Quesenbery, W. (2002). Getting Started: Using the 5Es to understand users. http://www.wqusability.com/articles/getting-started.html
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Application & components
• Technical components
• Interoperability components
• User interface components
• Task components – Collection selection components– Searching components– Retrieval components– Personalization components
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Usability framework
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Priority usability issues
• Do user understand the service?• Are user tasks supported?
– Tasks represented by application functionality– Selection of search targets– Searching
• Simple• Advanced• Refining searches
– Reviewing results– Navigating– Accessing/acquiring
• Is system performance adequate?
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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RDS example
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Informing the RDS product
• Heuristic evaluation by usability expert
• Acceptance testing by ZLOT staff– Use of original technical specifications– Identified usability issues
• User testing
• Ongoing testing by developers, ZLOT and TSLAC staff
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5 Es of usability revisited
ResourceDiscovery
Service
Effective
Efficient
Easy to Learn
Engaging
Error Tolerant
Adapted from Quesenbery, W. (2002). Getting Started: Using the 5Es to understand users.
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Next steps
• Prepare a formal usability assessment • Develop measures based on 5 Es to assess RDS
components• Develop scenarios for users to exercise all
functionality• Conduct user testing• Inform enhancements to the product
• Generalize usability assessment methodology other for metasearch applications, resource discovery services, and virtual libraries
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William E. Moen
Library of Texas<http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/lot>
ZLOT Project<http://www.unt.edu/zlot/>
Texas Center for Digital Knowledge<http://www.txcdk.org/>