----- Original Message -----
From: Bernd T. Wunsch Bernd.T.Wunsch_at_NIAS.KU.DK
> Hi, I would say that one of our major problems (which we also >have recognized) is how alot of how WE would like our user >experience to be, has been centered around OUR own workflow. To >give you a few examples:
Here's an example I live with daily. Check out the default search at http://catalog.boisestate.edu/ For those not bothering to check, it is a title search. One of the reasons I've been told is that this is so that the student assistants who do preorder searching can do their work easily. It is also a convenience for some other staff in technical services, although most of them use client software to do their work instead of a web interface. There could be other reasons I'm not aware of. That's nice, but for the vast majority of users, college students who are used to Google and similar tools, it is dysfunctional.
For example, if you're a student searching for information about the history of Idaho, and if you put in "history of idaho" (without the quotes) you will get 14 hits, a small percentage of the works on the subject in the library. But if you put in "history idaho" (without the quotes), as you might in google or other search tools, the search fails, since there are no titles with that sequence of two words. Other examples abound.
If the user figures out that s/he should try a Basic Search instead of a Quick Search, they'll get a default of the google-like, and probably most used default in other library catalogs, of Keyword Anywhere. Naturally that produces useful results, regardless of which of the above examples is entered.
Those working at the reference desk generally immediately show the user to go to a Basic Search. Fine, it "only takes an extra click" (if you know to do it). But that's a lot more extra clicks than if some staff had to change to a Known Title search.
Anyway, this rant has been heard by all of my colleagues before, and maybe a change will be made some day. Or not. And my rant here isn't any negative reflection on any of my colleagues, since differences of opinion are healthy and valuable. This is just a continuing irritant to me, particularly when working with users. After many years of life in general and libraries in particular, I'm certainly familiar with not always getting what I want or what I think is right. That's life.
dan
Received on Fri May 04 2007 - 09:10:05 EDT