EconBiz — Meeting User Needs with New Technology

Abstract

Virtual libraries try to combine traditional library services with new document types and services. 1 The first generation of virtual libraries mostly tried to offer services based on a library-centric view of information retrieval systems.2 New virtual libraries try to concentrate on user's needs, but this is often easier said than done. Restrictions like copyright laws, technical limitations and the like often make it difficult to meet user requirements. A number of studies documented these needs: easy-to-use, comprehensive yet focussed search, and easy access to print and online documents, subject specific, yet not too restricted to specific areas.The new EconBiz-portal, relaunched in August 2010, has a disciplinary focus on business and economics and related subjects. It includes about 6 million records from different databases. Based on search-engine technology Lucene/Solr, combined with a metadata framework developed by the ZBW, it allows fast, convenient and complex searches. The integration of the Standard-Thesaurus-for Economics supports researchers by suggesting key words and related terms. Information on the availability of the documents is also included. Documents can either be accessed online or ways are shown to material that is available in print only. Journals Online & Print, a service developed by the German Electronic Journals Library (EZB) and the German Union Catalogue of Serials (ZDB) is included to provide easy access to all forms of journals. 3In addition, services like an event calendar, a tutorial on how to find information and an online-reference desk help to cater to the user's complex needs.The new EconBiz-portal was developed by the ZBW in close cooperation with the USB Cologne. Major parts of the search engine framework were developed by a company specialized in information technology. Tamara Pianos Liber Quarterly Volume 20 Issue 1 2010This paper elaborates on the extraction of users' requirements from different studies, the deduction of functional requirements, and, finally, the implementation of the portal with all its ups and downs.Key Words: user requirements; user needs; subject portal; virtual libraryThe User -the Unknown/Well-known/Erratic Being What does the user want? And who is the user? Or rather who are our users? Virtual libraries address a number of different users: from digital native students who think they know how to use the internet, but often show a remarkable lack of information competency, to middle-aged researchers who started research when card catalogues and librarians where your best way to find what you wanted. One expects the latter group to be familiar with terms like 'key word' or 'thesaurus' etc., and to know about Boolean searches. According to a ZBW study, there are also quite a number of 'older' researchers who display a lack of sophisticated search skills, and therefore the groups cannot easily be divided into those who know how to do an expert search and those who do not. In addition, according to a new JISC study the Google generation is...

Altmetrics for Digital Libraries. Concepts, Applications, Evaluation and Recommendations

“…Although most of the searches are done based on the article's title, Pianos and Klemenz (2017) observed that since the number of articles and journals indexed in EconBiz increases, the use of quality indicators for filtering scientific articles would be an essential plan for EconBiz future advances. Pianos (2010), who analyzed the extraction of users' requirements of the EconBiz portal, found that users of EconBiz want to find the literature relevant for them. Pianos (2010) also suggested that complex searches and different search filters can improve the service and support users optimize their searches, which will lead to better information retrieval and better search results of user significance.…”

“…Pianos (2010), who analyzed the extraction of users' requirements of the EconBiz portal, found that users of EconBiz want to find the literature relevant for them. Pianos (2010) also suggested that complex searches and different search filters can improve the service and support users optimize their searches, which will lead to better information retrieval and better search results of user significance. According to ZBW's annual reports, from 2012 until 2016, the number of unique EconBiz users increased from 900,000 to roughly 2,500,000 users per year (ZBW, 2012(ZBW, , 2016.…”

User Centric Design of Library Systems and Services in the Changing IT Era: An Overview

“…They conclude that the technology can be used to provide more effective user centric services including induction to users, training with multimedia applications and also provide teaching and learning support to users, self-ordering documents, electronic publication, remote log in, FAQ services, etc. Pianos (2010), states that virtual libraries try to combine traditional library services with new document types and services. The first generation of virtual libraries mostly tried to offer services based on a library-centric view of information retrieval systems.…”