Naslov
European digital repositories crosscheck: reducing ambiguities about user interface functions

Autori
Vrana, Radovan

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
INFuture 2019

Mjesto i datum
Zagreb, Hrvatska, 21.11.2019. - 22.11.2019

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
e-science, digital repositories

Sažetak
Aim: Aim of the presentation is to present results from the research about current state of the art of digital repositories in their structural part, which includes user-oriented functions (in contrast to functions intended for use only by administrators of digital repositories). Digital repositories exist from the early 1990s (approximately at the same time as digital libraries with which they share many common elements) and since then they developed new and different functions for their users, especially as part of their user interfaces - the most prominent part of the digital repositories with which user are in direct interaction. User functions can be divided into two basic groups: basic and advanced. “Basic functions should be immediately apparent, while advanced functions may be less obvious to new users. A well-organized interface that supports user tasks fades into the background and allows users to work efficiently“ (Hanumat and Lukanatha, 2009, 87). This research aims to find out whether digital repositories offer a “common package” of functions across multiple digital repository software solutions currently present on the internet. Design/methodology: The sample will be formed by selecting digital repositories from the Registry of Open Access Repositories at http://roar.eprints.org/. Digital repositories will be selected from 28 countries members of the EU. Each selected digital repository must be active i.e. data about it in the Registry of Open Access Repositories must be accessible and must demonstrate undoubtable activity of the repository (ingest and/or user activity recorded at the Registry of Open Access Repositories). After the process of selection of digital repositories, the selected digital repositories will be visited online and compared against the list of functions intended for use by repository users (but not by administrators). The result will be the list of functions common to selected European digital repositories as a basis for forming a minimal functional requirements for future Croatian repositories or harmonization of the existing digital repositories. Findings: The results indicated similarities in types / categories and number of functions intended for use by users of digital repositories but also differences in subject repositories or disciplinary repositories offering functions Conclusion: Design of an user interface in a digital repository is a never-ending story as requests of users for different repository functions are constants as well as conceptual changes in organization of user-cantered parts of digital repositories in accordance with requests based on research results of user needs and recommendations of librarians and other information specialists. Based on the insight into the current state of the art of digital repositories in EU, it is possible to conclude that there are user interface functions that could be called common to digital repositories that could help users to master user of digital repositories. As there are not many researches of this kind in Croatia, the results of the research would contribute to better understanding what user functions constitute user interface of a modern digital repository.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Informacijske i komunikacijske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA