How researchers are using the OPAC of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research Library Network

• Published in: Electronic library 2006-01, Vol.24 (2), p.190-211
• Main Authors: Ortiz-Repiso, Virginia, Bazán, Virginia, Ponsati, Agnès, Cottereau, Mario
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bibliographic Databases; Case studies; Exact sciences and technology; Indexing; Information and communication sciences; Information Needs; Information Networks; Information Retrieval; Information science. Documentation; Information seeking behaviour; Information Services; Information systems; Library Administration; Library and information science. General aspects; Library cataloging; Library Networks; Management Systems; Online catalogues; Online information services; Periodicals; Public access; Resource Materials; Sciences and techniques of general use; Scientific Research; Selective Dissemination of Information; Spain; Spanish Council for Scientific Research Library Network; Transaction log analysis; Use and user studies. Information needs; User groups; User surveys
• ISSN: 0264-0473; 1758-616X
• DOI: 10.1108/02640470610660378

Purpose - The importance of online public access catalogues (OPACs) has changed in recent years, mainly due to the large number of electronic resources now available. The aim of this study is to learn about and evaluate the use made by researchers of the OPAC of the library network of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research, the largest research institution in Spain.Design methodology approach - To this end a questionnaire was drafted with questions pertaining both to the system and to the users themselves. The information gathered was supplemented by data obtained from the transaction logs.Findings - The results have revealed the use made of the OPAC and the characteristics of the searches performed. Users are still confronted by classic problems of information seeking: information overload, errors in subject searching, and the predominant use of the system's simpler options. The results show that the OPAC is broadly used by end-users not only for obtaining printed material, but also for connecting to the electronic resources subscribed to by the library.Originality value - The OPAC should continue to occupy an important position in the library's overall information environment, interacting with other information systems.