Subject Access and Users: Insights & Inspirations from Marcia J. Bates Presented at the Historical Perspective SIG session, 2005 ALISE, Boston, Mass. By Ingrid Hsieh-Yee Professor SLIS, Catholic University of America Jan. 12, 2005 (rev. 1/14/05)

Marcia as a researcher “Wholistic librarian” “Wholistic librarian” Full agenda for linking users and information Full agenda for linking users and information Commitment to advancing knowledge Commitment to advancing knowledge Rigor in research Rigor in research Generous in sharing ideas and guiding others Generous in sharing ideas and guiding others Life-long learner Life-long learner

Information seeking behavior Principle of least effort: ease of use and accessibility are the keys (Coleman, Katz, & Menzel, 1967; Bates, 2003) Principle of least effort: ease of use and accessibility are the keys (Coleman, Katz, & Menzel, 1967; Bates, 2003) Types of info. seekers & their circumstances: general, intense searchers, & gatekeepers (Bates, 2003) Types of info. seekers & their circumstances: general, intense searchers, & gatekeepers (Bates, 2003) Earlier experience and role models affect information seeking behavior (Bates, 2003) Earlier experience and role models affect information seeking behavior (Bates, 2003) Berrypicking model (1989) Berrypicking model (1989) –Searchers revise a query in response to search output –Searchers use many techniques –Searches explore various resource domains

Subject access Expertise and subject searches in catalogs (Bates, 1977, 1994, 1996) Expertise and subject searches in catalogs (Bates, 1977, 1994, 1996) Subject searches and browsing in the stacks (Bates, 1977) Subject searches and browsing in the stacks (Bates, 1977) One-term subject searches, lack of persistence/knowledge, about 50% success rate (Bates, 1977) One-term subject searches, lack of persistence/knowledge, about 50% success rate (Bates, 1977) Matching user terms and subject headings is challenging (21-35% exact match) (Bates, 1977) Matching user terms and subject headings is challenging (21-35% exact match) (Bates, 1977)

Findings on searches from later studies Simple searches with little revision of search statements (Borgman, 1986; Fenichel, 1981; NPD, 1999; Jansen & Pooch, 2001) Simple searches with little revision of search statements (Borgman, 1986; Fenichel, 1981; NPD, 1999; Jansen & Pooch, 2001) Importance of subject searches, reliance on keyword, and high failure rate (Cochrane, 1983; Matthews et al, 1983; Hildreth, 1997) Importance of subject searches, reliance on keyword, and high failure rate (Cochrane, 1983; Matthews et al, 1983; Hildreth, 1997) Low use of LCSH and difficulty of LCSH (Drabenstott, 1991) Low use of LCSH and difficulty of LCSH (Drabenstott, 1991) Confusion over LCSH and keywords (Hsieh-Yee, 1995; Lombardo & Condic, 2000) Confusion over LCSH and keywords (Hsieh-Yee, 1995; Lombardo & Condic, 2000) User problems with Boolean logic (Borgman, 1986; Bates et al. 1993) User problems with Boolean logic (Borgman, 1986; Bates et al. 1993) Wide range of different search terms (Bates, 1989, 1998) Wide range of different search terms (Bates, 1989, 1998)

User-centered system design Bates 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2002 Support user behavior vs. forcing user adjustment Support user behavior vs. forcing user adjustment Support for subject searching, footnote chasing, citation searching, area scanning, author searching, journal contents lists Support for subject searching, footnote chasing, citation searching, area scanning, author searching, journal contents lists Strong support for browsing Strong support for browsing “Side of the Barn Principle” (lead-in terms) “Side of the Barn Principle” (lead-in terms) Cluster vocabulary (LADWP) Cluster vocabulary (LADWP) Expanding entry vocabulary for LCSH Expanding entry vocabulary for LCSH

Bibliographic relationships Bates 2003 Importance of bibliographic family Importance of bibliographic family Types of bibliographic relationship Types of bibliographic relationship Promise of FRBR Promise of FRBR Need for agreement on what constitute “bibliographic family” Need for agreement on what constitute “bibliographic family” Need for agreement on which relationships to provide links for (where to begin) Need for agreement on which relationships to provide links for (where to begin)

Staging access to resources in user interface Amazon.com: staging and linking examples Amazon.com: staging and linking examples Staging access to resources in a 1:30 ratio Staging access to resources in a 1:30 ratio Extending cooperation with publishers to enhance access to resources and support searching Extending cooperation with publishers to enhance access to resources and support searching

Areas for further research: Inspirations from MJB Cluster vocabulary: display design and testing Cluster vocabulary: display design and testing Cluster vocabulary vs. other techniques such as concept mapping now provided by search engines Cluster vocabulary vs. other techniques such as concept mapping now provided by search engines Bibliographic families and users: the “so what” question Bibliographic families and users: the “so what” question Staged access: Amazon’s strengths and limitations Staged access: Amazon’s strengths and limitations Understanding users problems, catalogs and personal information space Understanding users problems, catalogs and personal information space

Areas for further research (cont’) Other approaches for exploiting existing metadata description. Other approaches for exploiting existing metadata description. Technologies for exploiting existing metadata description (OCLC example) Technologies for exploiting existing metadata description (OCLC example) Other methods for supporting subject access. Implications for user training, metadata description (ideal level of description, indexing policies, indexing lang. design) Other methods for supporting subject access. Implications for user training, metadata description (ideal level of description, indexing policies, indexing lang. design) What information to provide during search process, how to stage it, what technologies can be used What information to provide during search process, how to stage it, what technologies can be used