The Decline of Subject Searching: Long-Term Trends and Patterns of Index Use in an Online Catalog.

Larson, Ray R.

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Peer reviewed

ERIC Number: EJ426099

Record Type: Journal

Publication Date: 1991

Pages: N/A

Abstractor: N/A

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ISSN: ISSN-0002-8231

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The Decline of Subject Searching: Long-Term Trends and Patterns of Index Use in an Online Catalog.

Larson, Ray R.

Journal of the American Society for Information Science, v42 n3 p197-215 Apr 1991

Describes a study that used transaction log analysis to investigate the use of subject searching in the University of California's Online Union Catalog, MELVYL. Mathematical models of trends and patterns in the data are presented, problems with subject searching are explained, and remedies to subject searching problems are suggested. (62 references) (LRW)

Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Data Analysis, Higher Education, Library Catalogs, Mathematical Models, Online Catalogs, Problems, Search Strategies, Subject Index Terms, Use Studies, User Needs (Information), User Satisfaction (Information)

Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers; Reports - Research

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

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