Leveraging resources in a library gateway
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830510636391 |
| Pages | 142-152 |
| Published date | 01 January 2006 |
| Date | 01 January 2006 |
| Author | Jerry V. Caswell |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
OTHER ARTICLE
Leveraging resources in a library
gateway
Jerry V. Caswell
Library Information Technologies, University of Northern Iowa Library,
Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this article is to describe a new use of technology to improve users’ access
to electronic resources.
Design/methodology/approach – Describes the use of guided searches in a library gateway to
shorten the pathway to information for library users.
Findings – Guided search forms can be constructed for both databases and catalogs using HTML
and JavaScript. They are a useful alternative to vendor-provided search interfaces, especially for
inexperienced users.
Research limitations/implications – This paper focuses on the technical issues involved in
creating guided searches. It does not address usability testing and a detailed comparison of
effectiveness with vendor-provided interfaces.
Practical implications – Working with tools already in hand libraries can improve the accessibility
of electronic resources by crafting simpler user interfaces.
Originality/value – The paper shows libraries how they can leverage their investment in databases
and the catalog not only to make them more useful to their user communities, but to bring them more
in tune with the expectations of users who have grown up with the web.
Keywords Portals, Information searches, User interfaces
Paper type Technical Paper
Librarians should not assume that college students welcome their help in doing research
online. The typical freshman assumes that she is already an expert user of the Internet, and
her daily experience leads her to believe that she can get what she wants online without
having to undergo a training program. Indeed, if she were to use her library’s Web site, with
its dozens of user interfaces, search protocols, and limitations, she might with some
justification conclude that it is the library, not her, that needs help understanding the nature
of electronic information retrieval (Wilder, 2005).
Introduction
Many decisions must be made about the organization and integration of resources
when building a library gateway. Since one of its primary purposes is to make it easier
for users to access the materials they need, questions of gateway architecture often
revolve around trying to match user needs and expectations with the tools provided by
vendors of catalogs and databases. Rod Library, which serves a largely undergraduate
population at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), has developed its gateway to
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
24,1
142
Received 20 October 2004
Revised 3 March 2005
Accepted 27 May 2005
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 24 No. 1, 2006
pp. 142-152
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830510636391
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