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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Carey, Kevin
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 1986
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED273281
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author Carey, Kevin
author_facet Carey, Kevin
Carey, Kevin
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents Librarian Satisfaction with Computer Bibliographic Searching. Carey, Kevin Academic Libraries Communication (Thought Transfer) Higher Education Interviews Online Searching Online Systems Questionnaires Reference Services Search Strategies Surveys User Needs (Information) Twelve online searchers in several reference departments in a major urban university library were interviewed to identify the criteria that are present in successful searches from the searcher's perspective. The study was designed to show that successful searching requires active participation by both the searcher and the patron throughout the search process. More than anything else, the interviews revealed that successful searching and librarian satisfaction mean matching the patron's expectations with those of the librarian. For the librarian, these expectations are that the patron will: be articulate and able to explain the topic in simple statements; be flexible with regard to the fee; accept some interpretations of the topic; and accept the searcher's expertise and familiarity with the computer system. The searchers feel that the patron's expectations of them are that the searcher will: understand the topic statement; know how to use the system and have the necessary technical expertise; do the search as efficiently and inexpensively as possible; explain the search results; and follow through with suggestions on other appropriate reference sources. It is suggested that it would be useful in future studies to ask both searchers and patrons parallel questions about the validity of a given search. A copy of the interview questions used and three references complete the paper. (KM)
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_ED273281
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 1986
record_format eric
spellingShingle Librarian Satisfaction with Computer Bibliographic Searching.
Carey, Kevin
Academic Libraries
Communication (Thought Transfer)
Higher Education
Interviews
Online Searching
Online Systems
Questionnaires
Reference Services
Search Strategies
Surveys
User Needs (Information)
Librarian Satisfaction with Computer Bibliographic Searching. Carey, Kevin Academic Libraries Communication (Thought Transfer) Higher Education Interviews Online Searching Online Systems Questionnaires Reference Services Search Strategies Surveys User Needs (Information) Twelve online searchers in several reference departments in a major urban university library were interviewed to identify the criteria that are present in successful searches from the searcher's perspective. The study was designed to show that successful searching requires active participation by both the searcher and the patron throughout the search process. More than anything else, the interviews revealed that successful searching and librarian satisfaction mean matching the patron's expectations with those of the librarian. For the librarian, these expectations are that the patron will: be articulate and able to explain the topic in simple statements; be flexible with regard to the fee; accept some interpretations of the topic; and accept the searcher's expertise and familiarity with the computer system. The searchers feel that the patron's expectations of them are that the searcher will: understand the topic statement; know how to use the system and have the necessary technical expertise; do the search as efficiently and inexpensively as possible; explain the search results; and follow through with suggestions on other appropriate reference sources. It is suggested that it would be useful in future studies to ask both searchers and patrons parallel questions about the validity of a given search. A copy of the interview questions used and three references complete the paper. (KM)
title Librarian Satisfaction with Computer Bibliographic Searching.
topic Academic Libraries
Communication (Thought Transfer)
Higher Education
Interviews
Online Searching
Online Systems
Questionnaires
Reference Services
Search Strategies
Surveys
User Needs (Information)
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED273281