Encore and next generation searching@ UQ.
Keith Webster - University of Queensland.
Physical space = learning space
They use some 'librarything' type product (free) from Amazon. This means that when a student searches their catalogue the record contains a link to Amazon to buy the book.
They also use “Encore” a search engine with the library catalogue, databases, news items, tags, student tags, reviews, ratings (student interaction) etc. This allows students to get to the licensed products which Google doesn’t allow.
In Semesters 1 & 2 , 2007 they surveyed students and found that Myspace was way more popular than Facebook, and that there was little interst in Secondlife. (interesting)
The survey also asked where the students go for information
1. Teacher/Tutor
2. Google
3. Friends, Librarians, Wikipedia
72% of students use search engines first,
2% use library website
UQ are now using a simple search box (similar to google) that searches both the library catalogue and the external databases in the same search.
Results of the search are displayed with tag clouds (the tags are from LCSH but displayed in tag cloud form)
IMHO: they are realising that the new gen of students are comfortable with a search engine type front end (did you mean -alternative) rather than a traditional opac front end (with its precise requirements - spelling etc.)
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