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Evaluating Public Access On-Line Catalogs. Phase I: Development and Testing of Data Collection and Analysis Tools. Final Report.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluating Public Access On-Line Catalogs. Phase I: Development and Testing of Data Collection and Analysis Tools. Final Report.
Language: English
Authors: Larson, Ray R., California Univ., Berkeley.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 104
Publication Date: 1981
Sponsoring Agency: Council on Library Resources, Inc., Washington, DC.
Intended Audience: Researchers
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: College Libraries, Computer Programs, Data Collection, Data Processing, Evaluation Methods, Formative Evaluation, Library Catalogs, Man Machine Systems, Online Systems, Records (Forms), Statistical Data, Use Studies
Abstract: This report outlines specifications for the online transaction monitoring and questionnaire administration features of the University of California's (UC) Prototype On-Line Catalog, known as MELVYL. The development and testing of these features by the UC Division of Library Automation (DLA) is also described. This document is the final report during Phase I of a 2-year Council on Library Resources (CLR) evaluation project covering 14 online public access catalog systems in the United States and 1 in Canada. Sections of the report describe (1) MELVYL system configuration and user transaction monitoring; (2) monitor data normalization and analysis using online statistical file processing (SABS) and batch processing with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS); (3) online questionnaire administration; and (4) user activity during a 1981 MELVYL pretest. Preliminary comparisons of searching patterns in the online and card catalogs are included. Appendices provide an overview of the MELVYL patron interface, detailed descriptions of monitor records from the user transaction log, descriptions of the files generated by SABS and the SPSS programs, and examples of the statistical reports produced by SABS and SPSS processing. (ESR)
Entry Date: 1984
Accession Number: ED234814
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This report outlines specifications for the online transaction monitoring and questionnaire administration features of the University of California's (UC) Prototype On-Line Catalog, known as MELVYL. The development and testing of these features by the UC Division of Library Automation (DLA) is also described. This document is the final report during Phase I of a 2-year Council on Library Resources (CLR) evaluation project covering 14 online public access catalog systems in the United States and 1 in Canada. Sections of the report describe (1) MELVYL system configuration and user transaction monitoring; (2) monitor data normalization and analysis using online statistical file processing (SABS) and batch processing with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS); (3) online questionnaire administration; and (4) user activity during a 1981 MELVYL pretest. Preliminary comparisons of searching patterns in the online and card catalogs are included. Appendices provide an overview of the MELVYL patron interface, detailed descriptions of monitor records from the user transaction log, descriptions of the files generated by SABS and the SPSS programs, and examples of the statistical reports produced by SABS and SPSS processing. (ESR)