LISTSERV mailing list manager LISTSERV 16.5

Help for CODE4LIB Archives


CODE4LIB Archives

CODE4LIB Archives


CODE4LIB@LISTS.CLIR.ORG


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Proportional Font

LISTSERV Archives

LISTSERV Archives

CODE4LIB Home

CODE4LIB Home

CODE4LIB  March 2015

CODE4LIB March 2015

Subject:

Re: talking about "digital collections" vs "electronic resources"

From:

"Eiseman, Jason" <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:46:56 +0000

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (177 lines)

We have basically found the same thing as Michael.

We just recently ran some user research on separate groups of librarians
and students with significant portions dedicated to just this question. We
did a card-sort activity and I also had them write Œbest guess¹
definitions or Œwhat they would expect to find if they clicked on' for
terms like 'digital collections', 'electronic resources', Œdatabases', etc.

The students and the librarians both had different conceptions of the
terms. We might go back with some different exercises to see if we can't
try to tease out some different ideas, though I don¹t know that we¹ll get
better results than what Michael or others have suggested.

‹Jason

-- 
Jason Eiseman
Head of Technology Services
Lillian Goldman Law Library
Yale Law School
PO Box 208215
New Haven, CT 06520-8215
[log in to unmask]




On 3/18/15, 2:19 PM, "Michael Schofield" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Hiya. I've performed a handful of jargon card sorts in several libraries.
>"Digital Collections" has never been one that's on the table, but IMHO,
>good labels should be future friendly - and complicating "our collection"
>with "electronic," "digital," or "online" is an uphill battle. Rather,
>present "Collections" as a whole if you have to - in which some of the
>items happen to be digital.
>
>It's like this "audiobook" versus "e-audiobook" nightmare. We have found
>that in these cases, an audiobook is an audiobook - sometimes it's on CD,
>other times it's accessible through Overdrive.
>
>"Electronic resources" are pretty meaningless to folks who are accustomed
>to resources that are predominately electronic anyway. "Resources" should
>suffice. 
>
>My two cents!
>:) Michael
>
>@schoeyfield
>#libux.co
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
>Laura Krier
>Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 12:52 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] talking about "digital collections" vs
>"electronic resources"
>
>I agree that "articles" is incomplete, but I also think sometimes we
>shoot ourselves in the feet trying to be totally comprehensive in how we
>describe things, and end up confusing people. What students think they
>want are "articles" so we should use that term as a pointer to our
>databases. Good instruction can help them understand all the different
>kinds of resources available to them.
>
>As far as digital collections go (and whatever print special collections
>we
>have) the key is helping students understand what primary source
>materials are and why they might use them. The format isn't as relevant,
>in my opinion. I personally prefer to call all our primary source
>collections Special Collections or primary source collections without
>immediately differentiating between digital and print.
>
>I think too often we present our collections to students through the
>framework of our own workflows and functional handling of materials and
>less in terms of what they might be used for by students. It would be
>interesting to wipe out our current categorizations and really re-think
>how we present resources in terms of their functions for research and
>teaching.
>
>Just my $0.02. :-)
>
>Laura
>
>
>
>On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 9:42 AM McCanna, Terran <
>[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Agreed - most patrons are usually confused by all of those terms
>> (including "databases") and aren't going to care about the differences
>> between them, they just want the content. "Articles" is
>> understandable, but incomplete - "Articles and Other Online Resources"
>> is inclusive and easier to understand, but too long. I usually go with
>> something like "Online Resources" to try to balance the
>>understandability with the intent.
>>
>>
>> Terran McCanna
>> PINES Program Manager
>> Georgia Public Library Service
>> 1800 Century Place, Suite 150
>> Atlanta, GA 30345
>> 404-235-7138
>> [log in to unmask]
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Erik Sandall" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 12:34:03 PM
>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] talking about "digital collections" vs
>> "electronic resources"
>>
>> Most patrons won't understand the meanings of "digital collections"
>> and "electronic resources". We should use terminology that they would
>>use.
>> My brain is a fog this morning so I don't have any brilliant
>> suggestions at the moment. There is likely to be UX-type research
>> about this in the current literature. "Databases" is probably better,
>>for example.
>> "Articles" is probably even better than "databases".
>>
>> For what it's worth...
>>
>> /Erik
>>
>> --
>> Erik Sandall, MLIS
>> Electronic Services Librarian & Webmaster Mechanics' Institute
>> 57 Post Street
>> San Francisco, CA 94104
>> 415-393-0111
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>> On 3/18/2015 9:25 AM, Matt Sherman wrote:
>> > I haven't done any testing on that, but your understanding it the
>> > conventional on in the field.
>> >
>> > On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 12:22 PM, Derek Merleaux <
>> [log in to unmask]>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >> I've always been inclined to use "digital collections" to talk about
>>a
>> >> collection of things that have been digitized or perhaps including
>>born
>> >> digital things that are part of a "collection" in an archival sort of
>> way.
>> >> I prefer the term "electronic resources" for the databases and other
>> >> things...
>> >> -Derek
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 12:04 PM, Jenn C <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Hi-
>> >>>
>> >>> We're having a discussion about some web site labeling and
>>navigation.
>> We
>> >>> have a list of "digital collections" which are collections that
>>contain
>> >>> items we've digitized. There was concern expressed that we have
>> something
>> >>> labeled "digital collections" patrons might think that includes
>> databases
>> >>> and other items.
>> >>>
>> >>> Has anyone done user testing around this or have any
>>experience/ideas
>> >> about
>> >>> how to handle the difference between these?
>> >>>
>> >>> Thanks!
>> >>> jenn
>> >>>
>> >>
>>

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

Advanced Options


Options

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password


Search Archives

Search Archives


Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe


Archives

March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003

ATOM RSS1 RSS2



LISTS.CLIR.ORG

CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager