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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Edmonds, Leslie, And Others
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 1989
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED311921
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author Edmonds, Leslie
And Others
author_facet Edmonds, Leslie
And Others
Edmonds, Leslie
And Others
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents An Investigation of the Effectiveness of an Online Catalog in Providing Bibliographic Access to Children in a Public Library Setting. Research Report. Edmonds, Leslie And Others Age Differences Card Catalogs Comparative Analysis Elementary Education Library Instruction Library Skills Online Catalogs Online Searching Public Libraries Sex Differences Tables (Data) Users (Information) This study evaluated the use of an online catalog by 33 children in the fourth, sixth, and eighth grades. As a basis of comparison, the children's ability to use the card catalog was also evaluated. Touch screen terminals were used to access a CLSI catalog. A specific set of tests was developed to determine if children have the necessary developmental skills to effectively locate and interpret bibliographic information as presented by both forms of library catalogs. The children studied did not have a broad knowledge of alphabetizing or filing conventions. They were moderately successful in using the card catalog (65% of the searches were successful), whereas only about 18% of the children were successful in the online searches. The students in the study preferred to use the card catalog over the online catalog. There were few differences between males and females. In general, fourth graders were the least skilled, eighth graders the most skilled, and sixth graders moderately skilled. It is recommended that software be designed that uses natural language, fewer screens, and clearer help messages. Library instruction needs to be more effective, and librarians need to be aware that children's skills are limited in using either type of catalog. Five references and a 12-item bibliography of library skills manuals are included. (Author/MES)
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_ED311921
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 1989
record_format eric
spellingShingle An Investigation of the Effectiveness of an Online Catalog in Providing Bibliographic Access to Children in a Public Library Setting. Research Report.
Edmonds, Leslie
And Others
Age Differences
Card Catalogs
Comparative Analysis
Elementary Education
Library Instruction
Library Skills
Online Catalogs
Online Searching
Public Libraries
Sex Differences
Tables (Data)
Users (Information)
An Investigation of the Effectiveness of an Online Catalog in Providing Bibliographic Access to Children in a Public Library Setting. Research Report. Edmonds, Leslie And Others Age Differences Card Catalogs Comparative Analysis Elementary Education Library Instruction Library Skills Online Catalogs Online Searching Public Libraries Sex Differences Tables (Data) Users (Information) This study evaluated the use of an online catalog by 33 children in the fourth, sixth, and eighth grades. As a basis of comparison, the children's ability to use the card catalog was also evaluated. Touch screen terminals were used to access a CLSI catalog. A specific set of tests was developed to determine if children have the necessary developmental skills to effectively locate and interpret bibliographic information as presented by both forms of library catalogs. The children studied did not have a broad knowledge of alphabetizing or filing conventions. They were moderately successful in using the card catalog (65% of the searches were successful), whereas only about 18% of the children were successful in the online searches. The students in the study preferred to use the card catalog over the online catalog. There were few differences between males and females. In general, fourth graders were the least skilled, eighth graders the most skilled, and sixth graders moderately skilled. It is recommended that software be designed that uses natural language, fewer screens, and clearer help messages. Library instruction needs to be more effective, and librarians need to be aware that children's skills are limited in using either type of catalog. Five references and a 12-item bibliography of library skills manuals are included. (Author/MES)
title An Investigation of the Effectiveness of an Online Catalog in Providing Bibliographic Access to Children in a Public Library Setting. Research Report.
topic Age Differences
Card Catalogs
Comparative Analysis
Elementary Education
Library Instruction
Library Skills
Online Catalogs
Online Searching
Public Libraries
Sex Differences
Tables (Data)
Users (Information)
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED311921