Patterns of Use in an Online Catalog and a Card Catalog

Abstract

Patterns of Use in an OnlineCatalog and a Card Catalog Will using an online catalog institute a change in patrons' catalog use patterns?In a study at the Ohio State University, success of patrons in finding titles in two department library card catalogs was compared with success in finding the same titles in the online catalog of three and one-half million records.During the study, information on patron use patterns was also obtained.In a later study, the success rate in searching titles of their own choosing in the online and card catalogs was measured.Results show that 90 percent of online users preferred the online to the card catalog; 64 percent of those who tried the online catalog switched to its use; patrons used the online catalog more often than the card catalog; and patrons' use of the card catalog decreased, but did not end.

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