What in the World Geographical Representation of Library

What in the World? Geographical Representation of Library Collections in World. Cat: A Prototype Lynn Silipigni Connaway connawal@oclc. org Clifton Snyder snyderc@oclc. org Larry Olszewski ASIST Conference November 1, 2005

OCLC World. Map. TM: Objectives § Research prototype • Test geographical representation of World. Cat • Titles and holdings by country of publication • Support data mining research area • Visually display mined data to ease review and analysis • Internal use • Sales and marketing • External use • Library collection assessment and comparison • Complement the AAU/ARL Global Resources Network project • Currently a project of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR)

OCLC World. Map. TM: Objectives § Geographically represent library data from UNESCO, ARL, and NCES • Number of libraries • Amount of library expenditures • Number of volumes and titles • Number of librarians • Number of users

Geographic Information Systems: Background § Geographic information systems (GIS) applied to library and information science (Gluck, 1994) § Identified how GIS software facilitates library market analysis (Koontz, 1996) § Studied users to determine relevance or potential value of geospatial objects from metadata (Fraser & Gluck, 1999) § Developed Public Library Geographic Database (Koontz & Jue, 2004 a) • Geographically represents United States public library census data

User Interface Design: Background § Identified how to communicate information through the simultaneous presentation of words, numbers and pictures (Tufte, 2001) § Five factors for benchmarking the usability of an interface (Shneiderman & Plaisant, 2004) • Time to learn • Speed of performance • Rate of errors • Retention over time • Subjective satisfaction

Usability Testing: Definition § Degree to which a user can successfully learn and use a product to achieve a goal § Research methodology • Evaluation • Experimental design § Observation and analysis of user behavior to achieve a goal (Dumas & Reddish, 1993, p. 22) § “User-centered design” process involving user from initial design to product upgrade (Norlin & Winters, 2002) § Approach is to be a servant to the users of a system NOT to be subservient to technology (Gluck, 1998) § Identify usability problems and make recommendations for fixing and improving the design (Rubin, 1994)

Usability Testing: Web Design Criteria § Ten Usability Heuristics (Nielsen) • Visibility of system status • Match between system and the real world • User control and freedom • Consistency and standards • Error prevention • Recognition rather than recall • Flexibility and efficiency of use • Aesthetic and minimalist design • Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors • Help and documentation

Usability Testing: Methodology § Artificial environment (laboratory) • Maintain more control • May provide more specific data on a particular feature § Natural environment • Better holistic representation of real people doing real work

Usability Testing: OCLC World. Map. TM § Artificial environment (laboratory) • OCLC usability lab § Developed documentation • Screening questionnaire • Task list • Posttest questionnaire • Executive summary

Usability Testing: OCLC World. Map. TM § First set of tests, September 2004 • Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) • 3 usability test participants • Developer, marketing, production manager • High learning curve • Difficult to navigate and use § Conducted informal usability tests § Redesigned the interface

Usability Testing: OCLC World. Map. TM § Second set of tests, September 2005 • Flash • 3 usability test participants • Library services consultant (2), sales • Much lower learning curve • Improved task time § Revised the interface

Technology: OCLC World. Map. TM § First implemented SVG • Open standard maintained by W 3 C • Simple XML file • Young technology • Browser support limited • Requires plug-in § Converted to Flash • Browser compatibility • Plug-in compatibility (if a plug-in was installed!) § For a detailed comparison of SVG and Flash, see: http: //www. carto. net/papers/svg/comparison_flash_svg/

France [source]:

Available for demonstration at: http: //alcme. oclc. org/worldmap/index. html Replace URL with Research Works URL, if available by time of presentation