Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Tag as an Access Point in a Public Library OPAC (original) (raw)
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EXPLORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE IN ENHANCING INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
Global Review of Library and Information Science , 2024
The study explored the effectiveness of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) in enhancing information retrieval in Nnamdi Azikiwe Library (NAL), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). It ascertained whether OPAC in NAL is meeting the expectations of users in terms of facilitating effective information retrieval and access to the library resources. Three research questions guided the study. The study uses a descriptive survey research design. A total of seven hundred and seventy-four (774) users formed the population of the study. This population cut across all levels and modes of study in the university. The data for the research was gathered using questionnaire which was generated in line with the research objectives and distributed among the students. The collected data were analysed using frequency and percentage. From the analysis, the findings revealed that good number of users believe that there is lack of awareness of the advantages of OPAC over traditional catalogue system, and there is lack of information search skills that affect the ability to use OPAC. The users were also challenged by limited access to internet network of which without it, OPAC use will not be efficiently utilized. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the library should increase the awareness of OPAC services among the university community. It also recommended that the librarians should always be available to assist user on how to use the library OPAC.
Tagging for Libraries: A Review of the Effectiveness of Tagging Systems for Library Catalogs
Journal of Library Metadata, 2013
Early literature on tagging has been enthusiastic about the potential that it holds for libraries. Theorists have thoroughly analyzed the nature of tags, as well as the benefits and the problems for libraries: the positives and the negatives of tags compared to subject headings, how tagging can help libraries increase the findability of documents, what the benefits from user-created vocabulary are and so on. However, there is a gap in the knowledge of how tags actually work within the professional context of libraries. More evidence is needed if the library community is to understand whether tags present an exciting opportunity for libraries. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature regarding the implementation of the tagging process in libraries. The aim is to document evidence regarding this particular service within the range of library services provided to users.
Online Public Access Catalogue Usage at Panjab University Library
DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology
This paper examines Online Public Access Catalogue usage by the students and faculty of Panjab University Library, Chandigarh. OPAC, an information retrieval system, has revolutionised access to bibliographic information through search capabilities such as keyword searching, Boolean searching, truncation, proximity searching, and item identity number searching. A questionnaire-based survey on use of OPAC was conducted forA.C. Joshi Library on various categories of users such as faculty members, research scholars and postgraduate students, covering different disciplines such as basic sciences, applied sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The paper discusses various aspects of OPAC such as frequency of use, purpose, ease of use, satisfaction level, etc. An attempt is also made to explore the reasons for the least used search options of OPAC. The results of the study reveal that a significant number of users search information regarding the library material through OPAC despite encountering problems. Lack of basic skills among users was found to be the major reason for not utilising full features of OPAC. It is suggested that University library should organise quality instruction programmes to improve knowledge and skills of the users.
The Use of Search Strategies in OPAC: A Comparative Study of Central Library, IIT Delhi; P
International Research: Journal of Library & Information Science, 2012
Automated cataloguing has greatly enhanced the search and retrieval operations of libraries. The online computerized catalogue popularly known as OPAC lets to search the terms of user's choice throughout the database of the holdings of a particular library. Users can make choice from a menu of different options through simple, advance, phrase searching, etc. in OPAC. In order to find out the use of search strategies in OPAC, the investigators have adopted survey method for present study. Under survey method, questionnaire and interview tools were used for collecting the necessary data. The present study reveals that a large number of users are using simple search and lesser number use advance searching. It is worthwhile to note that advance search facilities in OPAC enhance user's satisfaction by providing filtered, high recall and high precision results. Although, the results of present study reveal that there is no significant difference in using simple search in OPAC among the users of select libraries. Nevertheless, the users of select IITs have taken a clear cut lead in using the advance search facilities in OPAC than the users of Kashmir University. The findings of this study will help the select libraries to take appropriate steps in providing effective short term training course for the maximum utilization of advance search facilities in OPAC. In addition, it will also render a helping hand to other libraries to enhance the usage of OPAC.
Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 2004
Boolean systems still constitute most of the installed base of online public access catalogues (OPACs) in the French universities even if many studies have shown that Boolean operators are not frequently used by 'non-librarian' users (by contrast with professional librarians). The first study examined the use of Boolean operators by French university students; In the second study, elaborated to evaluate the impact of information search expertise on this use, Boolean operators are explicitly presented and participants were explicitly invited to use them. We assumed that university students would not frequently use the operators in searching, and that even if they were explicitly invited to make use of them. Results obtained with the first study based on transaction logs analyses confirmed that French university students did not frequently use Boolean operators. The impact of information search expertise, analysed in the second study, compared three levels of expertise: Novice (university students), intermediate (future professional librarians), and expert (professional librarians). Results showed that, even if the three groups were invited to use Boolean operators, this use increased significantly with the level of information search expertise. University students, if they manage procedural functions of connectives in natural language, do not always manage the whole set of procedural functions carried by such connectives when used in the documentary language. So, the relevance of presenting explicit Boolean operators in the OPACs when users are 'non-librarians' is questioned.
The use of OPAC in a large academic library: a transactional log analysis study of subject searching
The Journal of Academic …, 2007
The analysis of user searches in catalogs has been the topic of research for over four decades, involving numerous studies and diverse methodologies. The present study looks at how different types of users effect queries in the catalog of a university library. For this purpose, we analyzed log files to determine which was the most frequent type of search conducted among different user types. Results show that searches by browsing are similar in frequency to the analytical queries, and that only 14 percent of queries actually specify the subject heading.
International Conference on Empowering Minds Collaborative Learning Platform for Teachers, Librarians and Researchers (AGNESLIBCONF 2024), 2024
This study aimed to identify effective methods of using the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) among library users, ultimately contributing to enhancing the existing OPAC system. The study was conducted through Google Forms distributed to various Teacher Training Colleges in Goa, India. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using quantitative methods, predominantly employing percentage analysis. Results revealed that the majority of the respondents are aware of the OPAC i.e. 63.7% and 36.3% opined that they are not aware of it. The most common sources of awareness about OPAC included library orientations (28.4%), learning from library staff (26.6%), self-learning (6.5%), and learning from friends and colleagues (5.9%). Majority of patrons found desired results through OPAC search (52.7%), while a notable portion did not use OPAC (44.4%) or did not find desired results (2.9%) through book placement. The findings highlight a substantial awareness of OPAC but reveal a disparity between awareness and actual utilization. Improving user education, enhancing technical infrastructure, simplifying OPAC design, and ensuring accurate book placement are critical for enhancing OPAC utilization and user satisfaction. Personalized training programs and user-friendly enhancements to OPAC systems can bridge the knowledge gap and improve overall user experiences in accessing library resources.
A Tangle of Tags: The Impact of User-generated Tagging in Public Library Catalogs
With the increased adoption of catalog packages such as Bibliocommons and Aquabrowser comes a need to investigate the ways in which folksonomic tools impact the amount and quality of user tagging in public library catalogs. This pilot study compares two public library catalogs from library systems in the Midwestern United States. The underlying goals of the investigation were to compare the two catalogs to see whether 1) pronounced differences between the folksonomies of user tags existed in both library catalogs, in number of tags for selected titles and scope/coverage of tags; and 2) how the tags from MPLS compare to the tags presented in Aquabrowser's supplemental tag cloud and RPL and the implications inherent in these comparisons. Using the Book Industry Standard and Communications (BISAC) subject headings, user tags from the two library catalogs were coded and compared for scope and frequency. Results indicate that RPL, which uses Aquabrowser, has significantly more user tags that cover a broader scope than those of MPLS. Findings demonstrate the need for further consideration of user tagging in Web 2.0 catalogs.