Review article

Subject searching behaviour at the library catalogue

Siniša Petković ; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Gradska i sveučilišna knjižnica Osijek
Inge Majlinger-Tanocki ; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Gradska i sveučilišna knjižnica Osijek

Abstract

The topic of this paper is the subject catalog and user access in subject catalog seeking. For a quality search of all kinds of information, except for a formal, alphabetical catalog, the key role lies in creating a good subject catalog that allows users to find the information they want in the easiest way. The subject catalog is accessible for comprehensive searches of publications and documents, where users may encounter various difficulties while searching, but also extenuating circumstances. While browsing the catalog, users exhibit different behaviors, which indicates the importance of building and creating information systems based on users’ needs and behavior. Furthermore, the paper will show how patrons use the subject headings search and what are the problems and expectations they encounter throughout their query. Users have different knowledge of the particular system they are using, and therefore different needs, so it is important to design, base and adapt the user interface for exactly different user needs and requirements. The characteristics of each user greatly influence his/her behavior while searching for and retrieving desired information, and this, of course, is determined by the design of the search interface and systems by the information professionals and the institutions involved in providing information services.

Keywords

user behaviour, subject catalogue, subject headings searching, user information needs, academic libraries, information systems

Hrčak ID:

239613

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/239613

Publication date:

30.12.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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