Digital Library Poster
- 1. How Library Science Students use Digital Libraries Nicholas C. Jackson How do Pratt SILS students use digital libraries The objective of our study is to investigate the use of digital libraries by Pratt SILS students, including their opinions on how they feel about digital libraries, and their definition of what digital libraries are. Research Methodology PRATT Literature Saracevic (2000) determined that not unlike traditional libraries, the evaluation process for digital libraries must consider relevance, purpose, design, and reliability among other factors. According to Kibirge and DePalo (2001), the literature of information and library science has categorized the concept of a digital library in a myriad of ways. Toms, Dufour, and Hesemier (2004) found that digital library users opinions of successful digital libraries included values such as visual appeal, entertainment, escapism, intrinsic enjoyment, excellence, site preference, novelty, and future patronage. According to Xie (2006), there is little in regards to user studies and “digital libraries.” Tsakonas and Papatheodorou (2008) found what dissatisfied DL users (difficult navigation, too many clicks, zero- hit results, etc.) We know what users like and dislike about DL’s, and what criteria should be used to evaluate DL’s, but there is a lack of literature concerning how and why users, specifically students, are turning to digital libraries. PRATT Bryan-Kinns, N and Blandford, A. (2000). “A survey of users studies for digital libraries.” RIDL working paper, London pp. 1-12. Kibirge, H. M. and Depalo L. (2001). “The education functions in a digital library environment: a challenge for college and research libraries.” The Electronic Library. Vol. 19, No. 5. pp. 283-295. Matusiak, K. K. (2006). “Information Seeking Behavior in Digital Image Collections: A Cognitive Approach.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship. Vol 32. N. 5 pp. 479-488. Schwartz, C. (2000) “Digital libraries: an overview.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship Vol. 26, No. 6 , (November), pp. 385-393. Xie, H. I. (2006) “Evaluation of digital libraries: Criteria and problems from users' perspectives.” Library & Information Science Research . Vol. 28, No. 3 , (Autumn), pp. 433-452. Xie, H. I. (2007) “Users’ evaluation of digital libraries (DLs): Their uses, their criteria, and their assessment.” Information Processing & Management . Vol. 44, No. 3 , (May), pp. 1346-1373. 10 question online survey (8 multiple choice, 2 open ended) All questions required an answer Conducted through Survey Monkey Emailed an invitation on Pratt SILS Listserv and posted to the SISSA Facebook Group page Survey was open for one week (Monday, 4/13- Monday, 4/20/2009), with a reminder message sent out 48 hours before survey was closed Results 57 students responded, and offered highly valuable data both through their multiple choice answers, and short answer questions… Below are samples of the questions and results. Conclusions Participants typically used DL’s less than twice week (44%), and usually for academic purposes (79%) About half (49%) of the participants felt DL’s were of great use, and felt satisfied (42%) with what they found while using DL’s More direct questions, and possibly a definition of digital libraries may have been helpful in designing the survey… but may have biased the answers. We did not find user studies specifically on the topics of LIS students and their thoughts on/ definitions of digital libraries, but our findings were consistent with the notion that DLs are favorable for their convenience. A universal definition of a digital library has not yet truly been written, and people have many different ideas of what a digital library is. Future studies could focus on the issue of what content LIS students are using DLs for. Our study suggests that perhaps the Pratt SLIS program needs to focus more on digital library training, so that students can learn to be more successful, confident patrons and eventually instructors in digital library use Results of Question 9 What areas of library and information science are you interested in? Results of Question 6 What sites or portal do you use to access digital libraries? Results of Question 2 For what purposes do you use digital libraries ?