Roger,
The PURL server provides this type of functionality: http://purl.org/. It's not a silver bullet, but it can help.
Jeff
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
> [mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Roger Fenton
> Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 10:46 AM
> To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] who is the primary user?
>
> I'm no internet expert, but I wonder whether it would be psosible to
> creade an automatic redirect system like the ones used by some (not
> enough!) websites that change their URLs? It might not work for a 'new'
> 'wrong' string, but once you have established that string "......" is
> not giving results, could you link that automatically via the CR to the
> code for the 'correct' string, without the user having to see the
> intermediary message?
> Roger Fenton
>
> Holly Ledvina wrote:
>
> > I agree that we need to examine /how /patrons use the catalog to
> > determine if they are /finding/ vs /searching/. I have been using the
> > search transaction logs in our system to determine which subject
> > searches retrieve no hits. After examining the results the patron sees
> > - i.e. where does the "no results" search take them in the index, I
> > add the term used as a 4xx see reference in our authority files. The
> > 4xx see reference will then take the patron to a catalog message that
> > the term is not used in this catalog but to search using the "subject
> > heading" listed which links directly to the subject term.
> >
> > While this referral directs the patron to the "term used" it is
> > nonetheless an intermediary step and click. What I would really like
> > is a natural language interpretation within the catalog software that
> > authomatically directs the patron to the correct term of the
> > controlled vocabulary, seamlessly. Maintain the controlled vocabulary
> > but make it invisible to patron. And yes, there are a gazillion
> > problems with this thought but its patron friendly and merits
> > exploration. It may even be working somewhere in a library - anyone?
> >
> > Holly Ledvina
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > K.G. Schneider wrote:
> >
> >>I'm less interested in defining who users are than examining what they
> do
> >>and working backwards from that premise.
> >>
> >>I have a hypothesis: search logs (not transaction logs; but special logs
> >>that generate information about search behavior) for a wide variety of
> >>libraries would yield highly similar data on the types of queries
> performed
> >>by users-right down to top queries, lowest queries, top successes, top
> no
> >>hits, and patterns such as number of terms and complexity of queries.
> >>
> >>I have a bet: most libraries don't generate search logs or any similar
> >>search analytics for their user behavior. Much, much discussion; little,
> >>little data.
> >>
> >>I have an observation: companies such as Google aren't spending a lot of
> >>time worrying about their various "communities." That's not to say that
> >>it's necessarily bad to do so... but as an initial preoccupation, we may
> be
> >>barking up the wrong tree.
> >>
> >>Why don't we start from the user data and work backwards? Re search
> logs,
> >>I'll show you mine if you show me yours...and we aren't even an OPAC
> (though
> >>due to our name a lot of users think we are, as our logs show-something
> we'd
> >>like to address by building better no-results pages).
> >>
> >>Karen G. Schneider
> >>kgs_at_bluehighways.com
> >>
> >>
> >
> >--
> >Holly Ledvina
> >Catalog Librarian
> >Outagamie Waupaca Library System
> >225 N. Oneida Street, Appleton, WI 54911
> >hledvina_at_mail.owls.lib.wi.us
> >920-832-6386
> >
> >"If we are to have an educated and informed population we need a strong
> and open library system supported by a committed administration. We
> cannot call for a revival of quality education in America and close our
> libraries. We cannot ask our children to learn to read and take away
> their books." Jimmy Carter.
> >
> >
>
> --
> Roger Fenton
>
> Swyddog Prosiect
> Adran Gwasanaethau Casgliadau
> Is-adran Systemau
> Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru
> Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3BU
> Cymru
>
> http://www.llgc.org.uk/
> Ffôn: +44 (0) 1970 632800 est. 368
> e-bost: roger.fenton_at_llgc.org.uk
>
> Dydy'r uchod ddim o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli polisi'r LlGC
>
> Project Officer
> Department of Collection Services
> Systems Section
> National Library of Wales
> Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3BU
> Wales
>
> http://www.llgc.org.uk/
> Tel.: +44 (0) 1970 632800 ext. 368
> Fax: +44 (0) 1970 632882
> e-mail: roger.fenton_at_llgc.org.uk
>
> The above does not necessarily represent NLW policy
Received on Thu Jun 08 2006 - 11:24:04 EDT