Synthesizing visual digital library research to formulate a user-centered evaluation framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 116 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 122-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Albertson
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Digital Collections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Generalized Framework ◽  
Library Evaluation ◽  
User Centered

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to synthesize prior user-centered research to develop and present a generalized framework for evaluating visual, i.e. both image and video digital libraries. The primary objectives include comprehensively examining the current state of visual digital library research to: develop a generalized framework applicable for designing user-centered evaluations of visual digital libraries; identify influential experimental factors warranting assessment evaluation as part of specific contexts; and provide examples of applied methods that have been used in research, demonstrating notable findings. Design/methodology/approach – The framework presented in the present study depicts a set of user-centered methodological considerations and examples, synthesized from a review of prior research that provides significant understanding of users and uses of visual information. Findings – Primary components for digital library evaluation, pertaining to user, interaction, system and domain and topic, and their implications for interactive research are presented. Methods, examples and discussion are presented for each primary evaluation component of the framework. Practical implications – Previously applied evaluations and their significance are described and presented as part of the developed framework, providing the importance of each component for practical application in future research and development of interactive visual digital libraries. Originality/value – Visual digital libraries warrant individual assessment, apart from other types of digital collections, as they offer users more ways to retrieve and interact with collection items. The present study complements prior digital library evaluation research by demonstrating the need for a separate framework due to variations influenced by visual information and reporting on evaluations from different perspectives.

Building digital collections in a public university library in Ghana: priority-setting and user needs assessment

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nesba Yaa Anima Adzobu
Keyword(s):  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Priority Setting ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
User Needs ◽  
Digital Collections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
User Communities ◽  
Library User

Purpose – Although user needs assessment is an intrinsic element of service quality delivery in digital libraries (DLs), not much has been written on this topic in the context of African universities. This is understandable as academic digital libraries in Africa are rather nascent. Even so, the most frequently-used needs assessment methods do not directly involve the users. This study aims to assess priority setting by academic library administrators and the needs of patrons of digital collections of a public university library in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – Analysis of official university documents and interviews with digital library patrons at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana were carried out between September, 2011 and January, 2012. Five research questions were asked: what are the current conditions of the UCC digital library project, the user communities and their needs, what are the priorities set by the university administrators and library leaders at the UCC and the state of technological readiness in place and what are needed by the UCCDL. Also, what is the extent of collaboration by interested parties in the UCCDL? Findings – Three general digital library user communities were identified, that is, UCCDL staff- this community was composed of experts in both digital library systems and content, characterized as heavy users of the existing systems, as knowledgeable about articulated (formalized) user needs, and able to devote short (usually less than two hours) amounts of time to individual's needs. Next, are scholars and other visitors to the UCCDL – this community was characterized as having high levels of domain expertise and knowledge of library systems. They are also able to devote large but specific amounts of time (days or weeks) to their individual information needs. Visitors/Prospective users- this community was characterized as having varied levels of domain expertise and low levels of library systems knowledge. They are able to devote only short periods of time to their information needs or explorations. These user communities are influenced by diverse preferences, experiences, and knowledge structures. Practical implications – Academic libraries are increasingly advocating local user studies as a way to provide the digital library services that are relevant to the culture and user population of the academic institution. Replicating digital library user studies at the local level can provide information for improving existing services or developing new ones. Originality/value – In African public universities, there is little earlier research on digital library user needs assessments or DL priority-setting by academic library administrators.

Exploring digital library usage for getting information from the ELM perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianjin Zha ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Yalan Yan ◽  
Qian Wang ◽  
Gang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Source Credibility ◽  
Information Need ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Likelihood Model ◽  
Route Information

Purpose – The elaboration likelihood model (ELM) provides a general framework for understanding the basic processes underlying the effectiveness of persuasion. The purpose of this paper is to utilize the ELM to understand the basic processes underlying the effectiveness of persuasion to use digital libraries for getting information. Design/methodology/approach – The survey data collection was conducted in one comprehensive university. The partial least squares structured equation modelling was employed to verify the research model. Findings – Source credibility and reputation have positive effects on information usefulness which further significantly impacts digital library usage for getting information. The effect of information quality on information usefulness is overpowered by reputation. Information need positively moderates the effect of information quality on information usefulness and negatively moderates the effect of reputation on information usefulness. Practical implications – Digital libraries enormously influence the way how individuals gather information over the world. However, the important status of digital libraries as conventional information sources in practice invites appreciation by more and more people. The authors believe the findings of this study provide useful insights for facilitating digital libraries to be fully accessed and utilized. Originality/value – This study explores the effects of the central route (information quality) and the peripheral route (source credibility and reputation) on digital library usage for getting information by extending the ELM with information need as a motivation variable, presenting a new lens for digital library research and practice alike.

scholarly journals Methodological Diversity in the Evaluation of Cultural Heritage Digital Libraries and Archives: Approaches, Frameworks, and Methods

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Shiri ◽  
Emily Villanueva
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Library Evaluation ◽  
Future Evaluation ◽  
Guidelines And Recommendations ◽  
Patrimoine Culturel

Digital library evaluation has become increasingly important in information science, yet there has been minimal evaluative work focusing on digital cultural heritage. This article reports on a comprehensive review of methodologies, frameworks and techniques used in the evaluation of cultural heritage digital libraries and archives. Empirical studies are examined using Saracevic’s digital library evaluation framework to identify models, frameworks, and methodologies in the literature and to categorize these past evaluative approaches. Through the classification of evaluative types and trends, we aim to develop a set of guidelines and recommendations for the future evaluation of cultural heritage digital libraries and archives. L'évaluation des bibliothèques numériques est devenue de plus en plus importante en sciences de l'information, mais très peu de travaux d'évaluation ont été axés sur le patrmoine culturel numérique jusqu'à présent. Cet article rend compte d'une revue complet des méthodologies, cadres de références et des techniques utilisés dans l'évaluation des bibliothèques et archives numériques du patrimoine culturel. Les études empiriques sont examinées à l'aide du cadre d'évaluation des bibliothèques numériques de Saracevic pour identifier les modèles, cadres et méthodologie dans la littérature et pour catégoriser ces anciennes approches évaluatives. À travers la classification des types d'évaluation et des tendances, nous visons à développer un ensemble de lignes directrices et de recommandation pour l'évaluation future des bibliothèques et archivers numériques du patrimoine culturel.

Application of linked data technologies in digital libraries: a review of literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 9-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahid Raza ◽  
Khalid Mahmood ◽  
Nosheen Fatima Warraich
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Web ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Linked Data ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
National Library ◽  
Digital Collections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Web

Purpose This paper aims to describe how linked data technologies can change the digital library collections, what are the benefits of linked data applications in digital libraries and what are the challenges of digital libraries in linked data environment. Design/methodology/approach The present study is based on substantial literature review on the applications of linked data technologies in digital libraries. The search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Google Scholar were used to find the relevant literature for the study. Online databases such as Pro Quest, Science Direct, Emerald and JSTORE were also used to find the relevant literature of the study. Databases of Library Sciences Library and Information Science and Technology Abstracts and Library Information Science Abstracts were also used to find the relevant literature of the study. Library, linked data technologies, Semantic Web, digital library and digital collections were the main keywords which were used to find the relevant literature for the study. Findings The evolution of linked data technologies and Semantic Web has changed the traditional role of the libraries. Traditional libraries are converting into digital libraries and digital libraries are in a struggle to publish their resources on the Web using XML-based metadata standards. It has made capable the digital collections to be viewed by machines on the Web just like human. On the emergence of linked data applications in digital libraries, Web visibility of the libraries has been enhanced to provide the opportunities for the users to find their required quality information of libraries round-the-clock on the Web. National Library of France, National Library of Spain, Europeana, Digital Public Library of Americana, Library of Congress and The British Library have taken the initiatives to publish their resources on the Web using linked data technologies. Originality/value This study present several key issues for policy makers, software developers, decision makers and library administrators about linked data technologies and its implementations in digital libraries. The present study may play its role to facilitate the users of the Web who are enthusiastically interested to exploit the quality and authentic library resources on the Web round-the-clock. Search engines will also achieve their longstanding goal to exploit the quality resources of the libraries for their Web users to make their Web appearance more credible and trustworthy.

Comparing flow experience in using digital libraries

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianjin Zha ◽  
Jinchao Zhang ◽  
Yalan Yan ◽  
Wentao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Flow Experience ◽  
Exact Nature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Library Development

Purpose – Flow experience is conceptualized as an optimal experience about an activity, characterized by a match between perceived challenges and perceived skills. The purpose of this paper is to explore mobile libraries by comparing users’ perceptions of web digital libraries and mobile libraries in terms of flow experience so as to obtain insights regarding the healthy development of mobile libraries. Design/methodology/approach – Data collected from university digital library users were used for analysis. One figure was used to present the exact nature of users’ perceptions of flow experience in terms of data distribution. The paired samples t-test was used to present the exact mean difference between flow experience in using web digital libraries and mobile libraries. Findings – Fewer users can experience flow and more users cannot experience flow in using mobile libraries than in using web digital libraries. The mean of flow experience in using mobile libraries is significantly smaller than that in using web digital libraries. Practical implications – Digital libraries have faced severe competition in the modern information society. In China university libraries as a whole are undergoing the transition from web digital libraries to mobile libraries. It is critical to examine user experience in the initial or early stage of mobile library development. The authors believe the findings of this study regarding flow experience provide useful insights for facilitating the healthy development of mobile libraries. Originality/value – This study explores and compares users’ perceptions of web digital libraries and mobile libraries in terms of flow experience, which the authors think provides a new view for university digital library research and practice alike.

IDL framework to integrate disparate digital library systems: a case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Alipour-Hafezi
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Conceptual Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Integration Architecture

Purpose – The main purpose of this article is to provide a focal framework with the aim of making integrated digital libraries in technical and content level of syntactic interoperability between digital libraries. Design/methodology/approach – Literature review, library research method and analytical approach were used in the first step of this research in order to design IDL framework. Then a survey of 11 Iranian digital library applications was conducted for testing the proposed framework. Finally, based on the findings, conceptual integration architecture was proposed based on the framework. Findings – Based on the literature a framework for integration of digital library applications in syntax level is proposed which includes four core layers: models, protocols, metadata formats, and context-based layer. Based on the findings of the survey, integration architecture is proposed which includes all the mentioned layers in the IDL framework. So as to decrease cost of installing the architecture, cloud base technology architecture introduced to be used inverse. Originality/value – A gap exists between research and practice in the field of integrated digital libraries. In fact this article is an attempt to cover this gap by proposing a framework that can be implemented.

A study on next‐generation digital library using context‐awareness technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Younghee Noh
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Context Awareness ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Context Aware ◽  
Semantic Retrieval ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Climate Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reference Services

PurposeThis study seeks to examine the concepts of context, context‐awareness, and context‐awareness technology needed for applying context‐awareness technology to the next‐generation of digital libraries, and proposed context‐aware services that can be applied to any situation by illustrating some library contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe paper investigated both theoretical research and case analysis studies before suggesting a service model for context‐awareness‐based libraries by examining the context, context‐awareness, and context‐awareness technology in depth.FindingsThis paper derived possible library services which could be provided if context‐awareness services are implemented by examining and analyzing case studies and systems constructed in other fields. A library‐applied context‐aware system could recognize users entering the library and provide optimal services tailored to each situation for both new and existing users. In addition, the context‐awareness‐based library could provide context‐awareness‐based reference services, context‐awareness‐based loan services, and cater to other user needs in the stacks, research space, and a variety of other information spaces. The context‐awareness‐based library could also recognize users in need of emergency assistance by detecting the user's behavior, movement path, and temperature, etc. Comfort or climate‐control services could provide the user with control of the temperature, humidity, illumination and other environmental elements to fit the circumstances of users, books, and instruments through context‐aware technology.Practical implicationsNext‐generation digital libraries apply new concepts such as semantic retrieval, real‐time web, cloud computing, mobile web, linked data, and context‐awareness. Context‐awareness‐based libraries can provide applied context‐awareness access service, reactive space according to the user's access, applied context‐awareness lobbies, applied context‐awareness reference services, and applied context‐awareness safety services, context‐awareness‐based comfort services and so on.Originality/valueReal instances of libraries applying context‐aware technology are few, according to the investigative results of this study. The study finds that the next‐generation digital library using context‐awareness technology can provide the best possible service for the convenience of its users.

scholarly journals Learning from Digital Library Evaluations: The Europeana Case

ABI-Technik ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Stiller ◽  
Vivien Petras
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Library Evaluation

AbstractIn this paper we analyse evaluation studies of the Europeana digital library from its launch in 2009 until today. Using Saracevic’s digital library evaluation framework, the studies are categorised by their constructs, contexts, criteria, and methodologies. Concentrating on studies that evaluate Europeana services or single components, we show gaps in the evaluation of certain Europeana aspects. Finally, we derive strategies for building an evaluation archive that serves as memory and supports comparisons.

Mastering Digital Libraries in the Digital Age

2018 ◽  
pp. 52-82
Author(s):  
Kijpokin Kasemsap
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Digital Age ◽  
Educational Goals ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Electronic Learning ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Library Evaluation

This chapter gives an overview of digital library topics: digital libraries and information architecture; digital libraries and electronic learning (e-learning); digital libraries and the Semantic Web; digital library evaluation; digital libraries and service quality; and the significance of digital libraries in the digital age. The Internet and the World Wide Web provide the impetus and technological environment for the development and operation of digital libraries in the digital age. Digital libraries comprise digital collections, services, and infrastructure to educationally support the lifelong learning, research, and conservation of the recorded knowledge. Whereas traditional libraries are limited by storage space, digital libraries have the potential to effectively store much more information and documents, because digital information requires very little physical space to contain them. Encouraging digital libraries has the potential to improve academic library performance and gain educational goals in the digital age.

Cross-Lingual Information Retrieval

2005 ◽  
pp. 153-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Yang ◽  
Kar W. Li
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Semantic Interoperability ◽  
Library Research ◽  
The World ◽  
Cross Lingual ◽  
Multiple Languages

Structural and semantic interoperability have been the focus of digital library research in the early 1990s. Many research works have been done on searching and retrieving objects across variations in protocols, formats, and disciplines. As the World Wide Web has become more popular in the last ten years, information is available in multiple languages in global digital libraries. Users are searching across the language boundary to identify the relevant information that may not be available in their own language. Cross-lingual semantic interoperability has become one of the focuses in digital library research in the late 1990s. In particular, research in cross-lingual information retrieval (CLIR) has been very active in recent conferences on information retrieval, digital libraries, knowledge management, and information systems. The major problem in CLIR is how to build the bridge between the representations of user queries and documents if they are of different languages.

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