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Towards an Integrated Digital Library; Exploration of User Responses to a `Joined-Up' Service

Ken Eason ¹, Susan Harker², Ann Apps³ and Ross MacIntyre³

¹The Bayswater Insitute, London, UK
²Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, UK
³Mimas, Manchester Computing, University of Manchester, UK

Paper presented by Ken Eason at:
ECDL2004 - Eighth European Conference on Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries, University of Bath, UK, 13 - 15 September 2004. PowerPoint presentation

Published in: Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Springer-Verlag) 3232 pp 452-463. ISBN 3-540-23013-0.

View paper in SpringerLink (subscription to Lecture Notes in Computer Science required). © Springer-Verlag.

View a pre-print of the paper (or in PDF format for printing). © Springer-Verlag.

Abstract
Digital library users have to deal with many separate services. This paper describes efforts in the United Kingdom to use OpenURL technology to provide `joined-up' services. The focus is on zetoc, a national electronic service, which enables users to find references in a British Library bibliographic database. zetoc now uses OpenURL technology to provide routes to services, which might give users access to electronic full text versions of references they have found. Data is provided from two questionnaire surveys and an interview programme conducted to explore user responses to these services. These evaluation studies show that users want these integrated services and are extremely positive about them when they work. However, `joined-up' services depend for their success on the access rights that each user has to full text sources in their institution. As a result, the success level in obtaining full text varies considerably between institutions. Users in disadvantageous positions have expressed disappointment and frustration; the service may be regarded as a promise not fulfilled. The paper describes the development of `joined-up services' as a partnership at national and local levels.

17 January 2005

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