1. digital libraries and human information behavior
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
digital libraries and human information behavior
Tefko Saracevic, Ph.D.
School of Communication, Information and Library Studies
Rutgers University
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

2. digital libraries global phenomenon
many institutions & fields involved
many research efforts & programs
many practical developments in and beyond libraries
large expenditures in research & practice
applications & use growing exponentially
huge effects, some unpredictable
but study of human aspects relatively neglected
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

3. what are digital libraries?
a number of conceptions with varying emphasis on:
technical aspects
content
organization
access
use
institutions
research & practice differ in emphasis
technological imperative predominates
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

4. A digital library service model
adapted from Donald Waters, Digital Library Federation
Task, Context
Institution, Context
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

5. where do humans fit? in all of these processes
but when looking at information behavior in the context of digital libraries, we tend to restrict it to user and use end – left side of the model
as yet, we are not sure
what processes & variables to observe
what context & effects to include
what models, measures, methodologies to use
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

6. dl research most done on right side of the model
technical aspects, content handling, organization, operations, access tools …
in comparison human information behavior was investigated much less
still there are a number of studies in a variety of countries
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

7. context of studies
some studies indeed concentrated on human information behavior in d-libraries
but, most were a part of d-lib evaluation
users used various features/processes
i.e. evaluation was goal and findings on human information behavior were a byproduct
d-library evaluation & studies of human information behavior are mixed together
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

8. methods used surveys interviews observations think aloud focus groups
ethnographic analysis
log analysis
record analysis
experiments
given task accomplishments
economic preferences
you named it!
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

9. classes of variables studied
users – who uses a d-library?
features – what features are used?
access – how is it used?
use – what content is used? for what?
usability – ease? effectiveness?
outcomes – with what results?
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

10. users population, reasons tasks, queries knowledge, understanding
who uses a given d-library and why?
tasks, queries
what is their nature?
knowledge, understanding
what knowledge & learning needed?
preferences, expectations
what is preferred? expected?
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

11. features features frequency & amount patterns individual differences
what available features in a d-library are being used?
frequency & amount
how much are they used? distribution?
patterns
what may be patterns in use of any feature?
individual differences
how do individuals differ in use of features?
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

12. access access discovery time, effort
how? from where? how often? repeated?
discovery
how searched, navigated, browsed, retrieved?
time, effort
what does it take to use & find?
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

13. use distribution application social how many items in collection used?
for what were the items actually used?
social
what are social practices associated with digital library use?
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

14. usability ease of use effectiveness barriers learning effort
how easy are interfaces & features to use?
effectiveness
how effectively are they used?
barriers
what hindrances? frustrations?
learning effort
how much needs to be learned? how?
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

15. outcomes downloads assessments effects what & how much is downloaded?
what value? relevance? usefulness? satisfaction?
effects
what impact on activities?
e.g. education, scholarly communication
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

16. some interesting results
users
half are repeated users
features
many not used
access
varies by nature of desired materials
users vary in skills & understanding
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

17. results … use usability
80 – 20 rule seems valid – a small proportion of collection is used
downloads are significant
usability
many barriers to use
effectiveness varies greatly
frustration is easily triggered
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

18. results … outcomes many queries do not lead to viewing
text materials not appealing
valuing varies with age
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

19. studying inf behavior in d-library context
impossible? not really
hard? very
mostly subsumed under d-library evaluation
could not generalize yet
no theories
no general models emerged yet, although some proposed
here is one
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

20. model for studying human inf behavior in digital libraries
users, tasks, contexts
seeking inf
features
d-library
access
use
usability
outcomes
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

21. technological imperative
human information behavior in d-libraries quite different then in traditional libraries
behavior related more to technology side then library side
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

22. conclusions
research on human information behavior in d-libraries still in infancy
not funded much, if at all
but necessary for understanding how to build better d-libraries and services
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

23. How to do it? inf behavior digital library
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

24. sources
URLs for the mentioned & many other sites dealing with studies on d-library
evaluation
human information behavior
usability
can be found on:
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

25. Happy inf behavior!
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University

26. ďakujem vám thank you hvala danke merci gracias grazie
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University