Do library users know what theUDC number is used for? Theusage of UDC numbers in onlinecatalogues

Kristina BerketaNikolina Peša PavlovićDrahomira CuparDepartment of Information Sciences

University of Zadar

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Contents

• Introduction

• About UDC

• Library catalogues and UDC

• CROLIST

• Research

• Methodology

• Results

• Conclusion

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Introduction

• The usage of Universal Decimal Classification in libraries:

– Organization of library collection

– Shelving – simplified numbers

– Library catalogue – complex notations

– A tool for information retrieval (IR)

– Etc.

• Used in Croatian libraries

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About UDC

• Originally designed as a tool for sorting comprehensive information in large card catalogues

• Clear and well defined structure

• Hierarchy and synthesis

• Does not depend on the language

(McIlwaine, 2004)

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Library catalogues and UDC (1)

• IR in OPAC catalogues:

– Understandable and concise instructions are needed

– Subject searching is similar to learning process

– User friendly catalogue interface

(Slavić, 2006)

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Library catalogues and UDC (2)

• Better IR with UDC numbers:

– UDC numbers should be split with spaces

– The replacement of punctuation mark with letters

– Better consistency in creating similar numbers

– UDC schemes enables clear content description

(Buxton, 1990)

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CROLIST

• Integrated library system in Croatia

• In use since 1996 (UNIBIS)

• FRBRized catalogue VERO – not implementedin all libraries

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CROLIST catalogue search (1)Simple search option

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CROLIST catalogue search (2)Advanced search option

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Searching by UDC numbers

• The user must know the exact notation markof his area of interest

• Making an error in search query catalogueoffers the UDC scheme

• Catalogue offers a possibility of navigating andbrowsing by captions not UDC numbers (onlysubgroups)

• Complex notation can not be searched

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Research (1)

• The goal of this research is to question to what extent are students, as users of University library familiar with UDC and the possibilities of the library catalogue during searching

• Does the knowledge of the classification of science andUDC numbers facilitate finding the needed librarymaterial in the catalogues?

• Literature review (theory)• Method: online survey

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Research (2)

• Online survey

• Sample: students

• The survey was conducted in the period from 20th November to 2nd December 2014

• The survey consists of 10 questions

• The survey was completed by 79 respondents(76 respondents filled out the survey properly)

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The results of the survey

• Q1: 89% of 76 respondents are users of theUniversity library

• Q2: 67% of 76 respondents use the library catalogue

• Q2: Most library users search the catalogue bykey words, title and by author

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The results of the survey

• Q5: Do you know what is UDC?– 51% respondents answered positively

• Q6: Have you ever searched online catalogueby UDC?– 25% of users answered positively

• Q7: Are you aware that through catalogue in one place you can get a list of books that belong to the same field / science subject?– 67% users answered positively

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Q5: Do you know what is UDC?

51%49%

Yes No

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Q6: Have you ever searched the online catalogue by UDC?

25%

75%

Yes No

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Q7: Are you aware that through catalogue in one place you can get a list of books that belong

to the same field / science subject?

67%

33%

Yes No

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Q8: UDC scheme in CROLIST catalogue

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Q9: Would you search the catalogue by UDC numbers if you knew their

exact meaning?

75%

25%

Yes No

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Conclusion (1)

• This short research showed that some users who search the catalogue are not aware of the possibilities of searching by UDC numbers

• It gives the librarians the idea that they should highlight the meanings of UDC numbers in its catalogues and on the shelves

• There are examples in literature that show that UDC can be used as a tool for searching OPAC catalogue

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Conclusion (2)

• Using UDC in catalogue searching the user can discover new information – a learning process

• The research showed that a large number of users are familiar with the possibility of CROLIST catalogue in which UDC scheme is displayed

• Further research is possible

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References

• Buxton, A. (2011). Duplication of concepts in UDC. Extension and correction to the UDC, 33 (pp.13-17)

• Buxton, A.B.(1990). Computer searching of UDC numbers. Journal of Documentation, 46 (pp.193-217)

• McIlwaine, I.C. (2004) Univerzalna decimalna klasifikacija: upute za uporabu. Lokve: Benja; Zagreb: Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica; Osijek: Filozofski fakultet.

• Svenonius, E. (2000). The intellectual foundation of information organization. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

• Schallier, W. (2005). Subject retrieval in OPAC's: a study of three interfaces. Departament de Biblioteconomia i Documentació de la Universitat de Barcelona 2005, (pp. 557-567)

• Slavić, A.(2006). The level of use of UDC in library Opacs: pilot study 2004.- 2005. Vjesnik bibliotekara Hrvatske, 49 (pp.149-165)

• UDC (2014). Retrived December 8, 2014 from: http://www.udcc.org/index.php/site/page?view=about

• Unibis (2014). Retrived December 11, 2014 form: http://www.unibis.hr/info.htm

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Thank you for your time

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• Contact:

Kristina Berketa

kberketa@student.unizd.hr

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