Definition, purposes/functions, elements of IR systems Lesson 1

Information storage and retrieval  A branch of computer or library science relating to the storage, locating, searching, and selecting upon demand relevant data on a given subject (National Centre for Biotechnology Information ).  The systematic process of collecting and cataloguing data so that they can be located and displayed on request Information retrieval  The technique & process of searching, recovering, & interpreting information from large amounts of stored data (MScience & Technology Dictionary)  It relates to “the organization of, processing of, and access to information of all forms and formats” (Chowdhury, 2004, p. 1)

 Structured data (e.g., students database): ◦ Data elements are related ◦ Designed to retrieve specific facts or records, based on a common attribute of the data elements (e.g., student no.).  IR deals with unstructured data: ◦ No clearly defined data elements ◦ All types of documents; e.g., abstracts or full text documents such as newspapers, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, handbooks, audio, video, images etc.

 To organize documents/records in a way that facilitates easy access or retrieval of relevant information by its users.  IR systems retrieve bibliographic items or exact match of texts of queries from full text databases or multimedia information.

 Documents in an IRS are processed into an index (Indexing process)  A user formulates his problem/information need in a query (Query formulation)  The IR software compares/matches the query to the index (Matching process)  The user is presented with a set of retrieved documents which he judges for relevance or appropriateness in meeting his need (Feedback)  The query can be modified if the retrieved documents are irrelevant

Must be equipped for:  Prompt information dissemination  Information filtering ( exclude unwanted information )  Active switching of information ( Such as switching from web search to access )  Receiving information in a desired format  Browsing  Getting information in an economical way  Current literature  Accessing other information systems  Interpersonal communication  Personalized help, and must be  User friendly

1. OPAC  Searching library catalogues online  checking availability of library resource. 2. Online database  Provide access to peer reviewed scholarly information resources  Are subscription or fee-based services 3. Digital libraries and web information service  Information is stored in digital formats  Often free and accessed via the web 4. Web search engines  Free search tools for web information retrieval

 Search for information from library OPACs  Access information from bibliographic or full text databases e.g. Web of Science, LISA  Access to e-books & e-journals ( World public library at Emerald at )  Access information from services and mobile phones  Search information on company or institutional intranets  Access web information via URLs, search engines, and subject gateways ( provide links to more academic, reliable information ).  Access information from social networking sites.