[Research] UCD Library Catalogue

I have done a study on UCD Library Catalogue for research, an enormous digital system and an interesting one. I would like to further explore it, to be able to use it to the best, it being a new experience for me to have come across an intricately designed library catalogue, which also gives access to various databases, journals, ebooks along with an online catalogue.

The IDEO methods are a collection of various methods in which a system can be designed. We will use the same for research here in order to evaluate the system. I have taken up the below 2 methods to study the UCD library catalogue: 1. Draw the Experience

2. Activity Analysis

Procedure 1: Draw the Experience

From the home page of online library tools at:

http://www.ucd.ie/library/finding_information/onlinetools/,

A user can search under the below 3 categories: a- Database

b- e-Journal/ e-book

c- catalogue books

Let us represent how each of the search takes place with the help of a set of brief diagrams.

From the home page of Online Collection, we navigate as below:

a- Database search:

b- e-Journal/e-book search:

c- Catalogue books:

Procedure 2: Activity Analysis

This procedure needs all the tasks, actions, objects, performers, and interactions involved in the process, to be represented in a list or in detail.

We will take the below as task to be perfomed:

- A student wants to search for a book titled “Critical Thinking Skills” by Stella Cottrell and get it issued as a 'long loan'.

Objects and performers involved in the above task are: - User (a student who wants to get the book issued)

- Librarian

- Computer (to search for the shelf marks on the book)

- self-service kiosk (to self-issue the book)

Process:

1. So here the student first needs to search for the availability of the book, and if available note the loan type, and the shelf-mark in order to find the book on the exact shelf/location at the library.

2. The student now finds a long loan type of book available under the required title, at one of the libraries, and notes down the shelf mark.

3. Once at the appropriate library location, the student has to get to the shelf as indicated in the online catalogue search results.

4. On picking the book, he can either get it issued by the librarian or at the intuitive and easy to use self-help kiosks.

5. The kiosk looks as below.

At the screen, click on 'borrow'.

6. Scan in the student Ucard barcode as indicated in the picture.

7. The system now has accessed the student details and library account details specifically, regarding all the borrowed books and if any dues.

8. Student then next scans in the barcode of the book by placing it on the kiosk and then the system issues the book into his account and updates the online catalogue with respect to the status of the book (Available/ Not available)

That ends the borrowing process of a book from the UCD library, using the library catalogue.

If a student borrows on 'long loan' and the demand for the book goes up, other students who wish to refer the book have the access to 'Request' for it at the page where details of availability and location are given.

- In which case, for the student who borrows, the loan period is reduced to 2 weeks from borrowal.

- The request process triggers a mail to student intimating of the new due date and the account details for the student and the book are updated online.

Interactions involved:

1. student - computer

2. student - kiosk

3. student - librarian (in case of any discrepancies/queries)

Findings & Analysis:

- First being, the system is extremely user friendly, including the self-help kiosks

- The large collection of books/journals/databases can be searched by their respective Title/Author/Subject or field

- From the above process of activity analysis, no loopholes have been found. The system meets all expectations and efficiently as well with minimal interactions.

References:

http://www.ucd.ie/library/

http://www.ucd.ie/library/finding_information/onlinetools/

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