The Faceted Catalog as a Tool for Searching Monographic Series: Usability Study of Lens

This study explored the functionality of the University of Chicago's faceted catalog, Lens, in respect to monographic series. A user study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of Lens in searching for monographic series and also to determine whether controlled series access in the catalog record improves the search results. The results of the study indicate that while Lens could be considered an adequate tool for searching series that are known to be published under the same title, some changes would make it a better search engine for a series that changes series statements from one volume to another.     

How Google Uses Metadata to Improve Search Results

This article critically examines four Google search products (Google Advanced Search, Google News Advanced Search, Google Books Advanced Search, and Google Advanced Scholar Search) and shows how each uses metadata to enhance or improve search results. In addition, the article shows how metadata can increase search precision and recall in information discovery systems. From a library perspective, this article analyzes some of the metadata-enabled features of Google's advanced search pages and compares these features to those found in a typical online library catalog. From a serials perspective, Google News Advanced Search demonstrates how Google indexes news websites, sites that are essentially continuing resources. As Google incorporates more and more metadata functionality into its advanced search pages, they increasingly begin to function more like online library catalogs and less like search pages found in a traditional Internet search engine. The simple search box has many limitations, and like libraries, Google is increasingly creating and offering metadata-enabled search features that improve search precision and recall in its products.     

The Serials Catalog:

The serials catalog is a key link in the search process for current information in a library. Decades of evolution in the ways of entering serials in the catalog have compromised the usability of this important research tool. This article examines (1) the results of studies on serials catalog use; (2) the reasons for serial search failures; (3 the cataloging rules and practices researchers need to understand in order to effectively use a serials catalog; and (4) the local in-house modifications which often complicate the search process. It also offers searching hints which will help reference personnel improve their ability to successfully locate serial entries for library patrons.     

Abbreviations,Full Spellings,and Searchers’ Preferences

This study examined ten, selected word pairs, each containing a word's full spelling and its abbreviation, to determine which form search engine users preferred in searching. Using seven search logs gathered from several Internet search engines with approximately 608 MB of data, the study measured the occurrences of the twenty terms. The selected words are important in library cataloging, for some are prescribed abbreviations in metadata content standards. The study found that in eight of the ten word pairs users preferred to search words’ full spellings over the abbreviations, often by a high margin.     

The Relationship of Metadata to Item Circulation

This study analyzes the relationship between online public access catalog (OPAC) searches entered in a small academic library's catalog and the circulation of items during the same time period. Rather than identifying all searches resulting in a reasonable number of retrievals as successful, searches in this study were determined most useful if items on the results list were subsequently borrowed from the library. This comparison of search results with subsequent material checkouts indicates which metadata elements seem most useful to searchers, and suggests ways libraries might use this knowledge to enhance their users’ search experiences.     

The Effectiveness of Librarian Searching of Google,WorldCat, and a Library Online Catalog

As studies show, undergraduates needing information frequently begin their research in a search engine such as Google rather than a library online catalog. To test the efficacy of that research approach, a local usability study of fifty topics in ten disciplines of study was performed. In a comparison of WorldCat.org and Google Books to the library catalog, it was found that more than double the number of hits to library-held material was found by searching WorldCat.org than the library online catalog alone. It was also learned that twice as many hits to articles and material within a thirty-mile radius were found in WorldCat.org and Google Books as compared to searching the online catalog alone. These results suggest the need to improve the native interface of catalogs and for continued placement of resources outside the library catalog.     

Online library catalog search performance by older adult users

Previous information retrieval research has neglected examination of older adults' search behavior. The present study examined the online search performance and associated errors of 54 older adult users of a representative online library catalog system. Participants' error data were examined in the framework of Borgman's three layers of knowledge needed to perform online library catalog searching: (1) conceptual knowledge, (2) semantic knowledge, and (3) technical skills in executing the query. The results of older adults were consistent with findings of previous online library catalog studies with younger adults. Older adults experienced serious problems at all three knowledge layers but experienced their most severe difficulties with conceptual knowledge of how to search the online library catalog system (e.g., formulating queries, understanding and using keyword and Boolean searching, and understanding the contents of databases). The significance of these findings for older adults' use of online library catalogs will be discussed.     

面向开放关联数据的知识地图研究

指出知识地图作为知识定位、组织和可视化展现的一种方法,是开放关联数据的高效利用和深度挖掘的重要途径。目前,关联数据知识地图的研究仍很薄弱。以研发面向开放关联数据的跨域共享与按需服务为目的,依次研究关联数据知识地图的基本原则、主要特征、体系结构和关键技术。在此基础上,采用语义Web编程技术实现面向DBpedia、Yago、FOAF、Freebase等不同关联数据集的知识地图系统,进一步论证本文的研究工作。     

多媒体搜索引擎创新比较研究

文章介绍基于文本描述和基于内容的多媒体搜索的工作原理和特点,实证分析不同多媒体搜索引擎的查准率、查全率并分析其特点和原因,创新地提出自动构建多媒体资源的目录层级检索的方法,将目录检索与关键词检索结合起来提高检索效率。     

一种基于RDF的科技论文搜索引擎的设计与实现

Internet的发展使互联网成为一个巨大的信息库,但是信息的获取质量却停滞不前。传统的搜索引擎大都基于关键字机械匹配,因而不具备理解文档内容的能力,导致查询效率普遍不高。由于计算机可以理解RDF描述和携带的元数据的含义,因此可以做到基于内容的精确检索。为此,本文提出一种基于RDF的科技论文搜索引擎的设计与实现方案。该方案包括含词汇集设计、RDF描述生成工具、运行于服务器端的RDF描述信息收集和解析程序、基于词汇集的查询四个模块。查询结果为搜索网页的元数据显示,从而使用户对查询结果有准确的了解,可大大提高用户的搜索效率。     

知识地图的构建方法论研究

认为知识地图作为一种知识管理工具正在得到越来越广泛的应用,其中最为关键的一点即如何构建出面向用户需求的知识地图,以方便用户对知识的检索、获取。深入分析各类知识地图的基础上,提炼出构建知识地图的基本方法论,即要素识别、关联分析和结构化展示,其支撑着知识的分类、链接和多结构化显示的要求,贯穿于知识地图构建、评价和优化的动态化全程。     

Retrospective Cataloging of Maps in a Small Liberal Arts College

Abstract

In February 2002, members of Saint Anselm College Geisel Library's Cataloging Unit started a project to retrospectively catalog the Library's small, but diverse, collection of cartographic materials. The Cataloging Unit of Geisel's Technical Services Department is comprised of two full-time catalogers plus one half-time cataloger. The Library's Government Documents Department (Geisel is a selective, 15% depository), where much of these materials are housed, does not have a dedicated cataloging staff. The collection of approximately 950 titles included topographic series maps, topographic/bathymetric maps (367), CIA country study maps (480), remote sensing image maps (20), hanging wall maps (6), globes (3), political ward maps (40), atlases (21), and monographic maps from the late 19th and early 20th centuries (10).

This article describes the planning, requirements and challenges faced by a Baccalaureate College Liberal Arts library performing an inhouse retrospective cataloging project of cartographic materials.     

Metadata for Geographic Information

Abstract

Users of geographic data may not be able to afford to purchase and implement a dataset that does not finally meet their needs. Therefore, metadata has a very important role in the information supply environment of geographic data. The development of national/local spatial data infrastructures recognizes the importance of metadata, as do the digital libraries providing spatial data.

The new ISO 19115:2003 standard of metadata for geographic information is introduced briefly. In particular, geographic information can be made available as digital maps (or images) that are meant for visual use, or as datasets meant for computational use. Metadata for digital maps is closely related to the metadata elements for conventional maps and can be enhanced by providing a sample map with the data. The case of computational use of geographic data is more complex. There are several details that may appear crucial when determining the fitness of data for an intended use. Understanding the importance of the crucial factors in each use case requires professional skills from the users of metadata.     

Searching and Browsing the Dewey Decimal Classification in an Online Catalog

In the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Online Project, subject searching and browsing of DDC Schedules and Relative Index were featured in an experimental online catalog. The effectiveness of this DDC in an online catalog was tested in online retrieval experiments at four participating libraries. These experiments provided data for analyses of subject searchers' use of a library classification in the information retrieval environment of an online catalog. Recommendations were provided for the enhancement of bibliographic records, online catalogs, and online cataloging systems with a library classification. In this paper, subject searchers' use of the subject outline search capability of the experimental online catalog is described. This capability was unique to the experimental online catalog and all other online catalogs, because it referred searchers to online displays of the classification schedules based on their entry of subject terms. Failure analyses of subject outline searches demonstrated its specific strengths and weaknesses. Users' postsearch interview comments highlighted their experiences and their satisfaction with this search. Based on the failure analyses and users' interview comments, recommendations are provided for the improvement of the subject outline search in online catalogs.     

Implementing an Image Database for Complex Russian Architectural Objects: The William Brumfield Collection

SUMMARY

With support from a National Endowment for the Humanities Reference Materials Program grant for 2006–2008, faculty and librarians at the University of Washington (UW) are collaborating with William Brumfield (Tulane University) to preserve and catalog the latter's unmatched collection of Russian architectural photographs, create metadata describing the photographs, and make images and text widely accessible as part of an innovative web-based educational and research resource. Building on experience gained through the creation of an experimental pilot database, project staff are adapting emerging standards (METS and CCO) to a custom design that presents images from the Brumfield Collection within their architectural, geographic, and chronological contexts, both as interrelated views of individual structures, and as buildings that share certain structural and stylistic features with other buildings within and beyond the Russian cultural continuum.     

Drawing Subway Maps: A?Survey

This paper deals with automating the drawing of subway maps. There are two features of schematic subway maps that make them different from drawings of other networks such as flow charts or organigrams. First, most schematic subway maps use not only horizontal and vertical lines, but also diagonals. This gives more flexibility in the layout process, but it also makes the problem provably hard. Second, a subway map represents a network whose components have geographic locations that are roughly known to the users of such a map. This knowledge must be respected during the search for a clear layout of the network. For the sake of visual clarity the underlying geography may be distorted, but it must not be given up, otherwise map users will be hopelessly confused. In this paper we first give a rather generally accepted list of rules that should be adhered to by a good subway map. Next we survey three recent methods for drawing subway maps, analyze their performance with respect to the above rules, and compare the resulting maps among each other and to official subway maps drawn by graphic designers. We then focus on one of the methods, which is based on mixed-integer linear programming, a widely-used global optimization technique. This method guarantees to find a drawing that fulfills a subset of the above-mentioned rules (if such a drawing exists) and optimizes a weighted sum of costs that correspond to the remaining rules. The method can draw even large subway networks such as the London Underground in an aesthetically pleasing manner, similar to maps made by professional graphic designers. If station labels are included in the optimization process, so far only medium-size networks can be drawn. Finally we give evidence why drawing good subway maps is difficult (even without labels).     

中美韩三国八大搜索引擎多媒体检索比较分析

文章采用网络调查及文献调研法,从图片检索、音乐检索和视频检索三方面对中国的百度、Sogou和Soso,韩国的Naver、Nate和Daum,美国的Google和Yahoo!八大搜索引擎提供的多媒体检索服务进行分析与测评。调查结果显示,Yahoo!不提供音乐检索,其余调查对象都提供图片检索、视频检索和音乐检索三项服务。大多数搜索引擎公司的图片检索和视频检索都支持高级检索功能,Daum导入了语义检索,Google和Yahoo!引入了安全检索服务过滤有害信息。     

Drawing Subway Maps: A?Survey

This paper deals with automating the drawing of subway maps. There are two features of schematic subway maps that make them different from drawings of other networks such as flow charts or organigrams. First, most schematic subway maps use not only horizontal and vertical lines, but also diagonals. This gives more flexibility in the layout process, but it also makes the problem provably hard. Second, a subway map represents a network whose components have geographic locations that are roughly known to the users of such a map. This knowledge must be respected during the search for a clear layout of the network. For the sake of visual clarity the underlying geography may be distorted, but it must not be given up, otherwise map users will be hopelessly confused. In this paper we first give a rather generally accepted list of rules that should be adhered to by a good subway map. Next we survey three recent methods for drawing subway maps, analyze their performance with respect to the above rules, and compare the resulting maps among each other and to official subway maps drawn by graphic designers. We then focus on one of the methods, which is based on mixed-integer linear programming, a widely-used global optimization technique. This method guarantees to find a drawing that fulfills a subset of the above-mentioned rules (if such a drawing exists) and optimizes a weighted sum of costs that correspond to the remaining rules. The method can draw even large subway networks such as the London Underground in an aesthetically pleasing manner, similar to maps made by professional graphic designers. If station labels are included in the optimization process, so far only medium-size networks can be drawn. Finally we give evidence why drawing good subway maps is difficult (even without labels).     

Making Search Engines Notice: An Exploratory Study on Discoverability of DSpace Metadata and PDF Files

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed the search results of four main Internet search engines on three newly created digital collections at Texas Tech University Libraries, in order to assess the search engine indexing on metadata and PDF files of digital items that are published in the institutional repository. The exploratory study found that only one search engine discovered PDF files, while the others only discovered metadata. The results of the study also suggested that metadata and PDF files can supplement each other to facilitate discoverability of the digital collections on search engines, and revealed some findings that are contradictory to conclusions in previous research.