© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University1 digital libraries and human information behavior Tefko Saracevic, Ph.D. School of Communication, Information and Library Studies Rutgers University

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University2 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 University3 what are digital libraries? no neat answer - a number of conceptions with varying emphasis on: –digital content, objects creation, management, representation, organization, preservation –access availability, services, interfaces –use, users, communities –technical infrastructure, networks, –institutional context, policies, cooperation

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University4 where do humans fit? digital libraries support users in informational tasks and needs –what are people doing? –how are people engaging with d-library as yet, we are not sure what processes & variables to observe what context & effects to include what models, criteria, measures, methodologies to use

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University5 dl research most done on –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 here we surveyed some 50 studies

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University6 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 University7 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 University8 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 University9 users population, reasons –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 University10 features – 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 University11 access –how? from where? how often? repeated? discovery –how searched, navigated, browsed, retrieved? time, effort –what does it take to use & find?

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University12 use distribution –how many items in collection used? application –for what were the items actually used? social –what are social practices associated with digital library use?

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University13 usability effectiveness –how well are given user tasks accomplished? efficiency –at what cost, effort, time? ease –how easy are interfaces & features to use? barriers –what hindrances? frustrations? lost? learning effort –how much needs to be learned? how? errors?

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University14 outcomes downloads –what & how much is downloaded? assessments –what value? relevance? usefulness? satisfaction? effects –what impact on activities? e.g. education, scholarly communication

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University15 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 University16 results … use –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 University17 results … outcomes –many queries do not lead to viewing –text materials not appealing –valuing varies with age

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University18 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 University19 d - library model for studying human inf behavior in digital libraries users, tasks, contexts outcomes features access use usability seeking inf

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University20 but is it: why VERSUS? –users and d libraries see each other differently user AND digital library or user VERSUS digital library

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University21 user vs digital library model context user cognitive task affective competence context digital library content representation organization services user model of digital library digital library model of user

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University22 how close are they? what user assumes about digital library: how it works? what to expect ? what digital library assumes about user: - behavior? - needs? digital library model of user user model of digital library

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University23 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 University24 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 University25 inf behavior digital library How to do it?

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University26 sources URLs for the mentioned and other literature dealing with studies on: –evaluation of digital libraries –human information behavior in DL – evaluation of metadata – usability tests can be found on:

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University27

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University28