Thanks to all who set this confused user right about Amazon's advanced
search. I thought I remembered using it at one time but couldn't find
it from the main page, so I thought it had disappeared!
Does this say something about interface design, or about the difficulty
of making complex choices simple for the user, or... ?
When we analyze user searches in our catalogs, and find that most of
them use the "Google box" general keyword search, is it because users
like that search better? Or because the advanced search is tucked away
in a relatively obscure place? Or because it isn't obvious how to use
the advanced search and after a failure or two, they give up? Or
because there are so many advanced searches out there, each one is
different, and they don't have time to figure out another one?
Laura
P.S. Advanced music search still leaves a lot to be desired (boolean
keyword search finds lots of records with e.g. something else by
Prokofiev and somebody else's 2nd piano concerto).
Rick Mason wrote:
> If you go to the particular category on Amazon's site (Music, DVD, etc.)
> the Advanced Search page changes to fit the format.
>
> DVD:
> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/static/-/dvd/search/ref=d_hp_sn_ser/103-9110438-1549444
>
> (or) http://tinyurl.com/g2aw2
>
> Music:
> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/static/-/music/search/ref=m_mh_mn_s/103-9110438-1549444
>
> (or) http://tinyurl.com/eh8up
>
> As an additional plug for a useful site, try http://www.isbn.nu/ for an
> excellent online retail meta-search based on ISBN numbers.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> Rick Mason
>
> Jane Myers wrote:
>
>> Agreed. But I have a link that works better than the usual search
>> screen at amazon.com. This won't work for videos or music recordings,
>> but when I want to find a book, I use this link:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ats-query-page/ref%3Db%5Ftn%5Fbo/102-9015118-7176136
>>
>>
>> You can limit it by a few formats, farther down on the page, and there
>> are some sorting options. I tried your Prokofiev in the author slot
>> with concerto 2 in the title slot and game up with a score. Far from
>> perfect, but better than nothing.
>>
>> You can also scan in an ISBN, if you like. If anyone has a link that
>> looks like this for videos or music, I'd love to know aboutit.
>>
>> Jane Myers, Cataloger
>> Westlake Porter Public Library
>> Westlake, Ohio
>
--
*Laura Akerman
Technology and Metadata Librarian
Robert W. Woodruff Library, Room 128
Emory University
Atlanta, Ga. 30322
phone (404) 727-6888
fax 404-727-0053*
Received on Mon Jun 12 2006 - 11:42:05 EDT