Topic Areas
Retrieval tools and information retrieval systems are examined, including catalogs, indexes, finding aids, bibliographies, museum registers, bibliographic networks, and search engines.
Learning Objectives
- Identify how online public access catalogs respond to search queries based on differences in individual search techniques and the capabilities of various systems.
- Describe how systems for information organization impact information retrieval tools and vice versa.
Guiding Questions
- Why do we need retrieval tools?
- What are the basic retrieval tools?
- What are the functions of the retrieval tools?
- How does system design relate to organizing information?
Required Readings
Recommended Readings
- Bates (Ed.), Understanding Information Retrieval Systems (link to e-book. There are lots of good articles about retrieval tools and their various components in this e-book!)
- Bilal, Library Automation,
Chapter 1
- Borgman, "Why are Online Catalogs Still Hard to Use?"
- Breeding, "Library Technology Guides"
- Cleveland & Cleveland, Introduction to Indexing
- Cutter, Rules for a Dictionary Catalog
- Flood, "Extraordinary 500-year-old library catalogue reveals books lost to time" [also in Moodle]
- Kumar, "From Clay Tablets to Web: Journey of Library Catalogue"
- Markey, "Online Library Catalog: Paradise Lost "
- Millar, Archives: Principles and Practices, Chapter 11
- Reibel, Registration Methods for the Small Museum, Chapters 5 & 6
- Salo, "The Humble Index"
- Svrluga "4 million cards. 4,000 drawers..." [also in Moodle]
Relevant Articles from The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science
- Butterfield, "Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs)"
- Chung and Irwin, "Archival Finding Aids"
- German, "Bibliographic Utilities"
- Hanson and Daily, "Catalogs and Cataloging: History [ELIS Classic]"
- Hock, "Search Engines"
- Jordan, "OCLC"
- Moen, "Information Retrieval Protocols: Z39.50 and Search & Retrieve via URL"
- Toms, "User-Centered Design"