School library web site terminology
| Date | 11 September 2007 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830710820961 |
| Published date | 11 September 2007 |
| Pages | 387-395 |
| Author | Odin L. Jurkowski |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
OTHER ARTICLE
School library web site
terminology
Odin L. Jurkowski
College of Education, University of Central Missouri,
Warrensburg, Missouri, USA
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to look at how varying terminology is used on school library web sites
and how that compares to student preferences.
Design/methodology/approach – Provides research conduced by surveying practicing school
librarians and k-12 students.
Findings – Terminology varies greatly on school library web sites. Further, students prefer common
language use.
Practical implications – Practicing librarians may consider revising their web sites in order to
make them more accessible for their students.
Originality/value – This paper provides original research into school library web sites, an area that
is lacking.
Keywords School libraries,Worldwide web, Design
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
School librarians, like most professionals, utilize terminology that makes it difficult for
an outsider to follow in a conversation. Ranging from unique words that are discipline
specific, to synonyms and other alternative words that provide the individual with finer
and more specific meanings, or abbreviations and acronyms for faster communication,
an abundance of evolving and growing word choice is evident. This is a natural
byproduct of advanced knowledge in a subfield, and a way to protect one’s ownership of
a discipline via a language barrier. However, in an educational and service related field
like librarianship, terminology must be taught or explained in some manner to students
with the goal of reducing confusion and differentiation between word choice and
meaning. Library web sites are one of the main areas in which this goal is evident. If the
user does not recognize the word choice, or even has to spend extra time clicking back
and forth in an attempt to find what they really want, then the student becomes
frustrated and detached. In this case, the web interface becomes a failure.
This paper addresses the use of terminology on school library web pages in order to
better understand how different areas of web sites are labeled. This will provide two
types of insight: consistency or the lack thereof across the nation, and a picture of
current practice. This in turn may guide redesign of existing library web sites.
The study consisted of two parts. The first part was a survey of existing school
librarians and terms on their school library web sites. The second part was a survey
completed by students and their preferences and understanding of what terminology
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
School library
web site
terminology
387
Received 10 February 2007
Revised 14 March 2007
Accepted 3 May 2007
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 25 No. 3, 2007
pp. 387-395
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830710820961
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