Very interesting conversation as we are currently in the process of conducting usability testing on our website, and teens were tasked with finding an article on a current event. Almost unanimously, they had no idea where to go. Those who did navigate to the current events section under "Research" only clicked on the one database that used the word "articles" in the description, even though Opposing Viewpoints is front and center on the page and (to a librarian) the best database for the job. So whatever terminology we use, we will make sure it is obvious that articles can be found there.

Lennis B. Sullivan
Digital Services Librarian
Virginia Beach Public Library
[log in to unmask] 
(757)385-0145

-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Erik Sandall
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 12:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
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
>>>
>>