User requirements can break or make any project. The gathering of user requirements is a key avenue for gaining a deeper understanding of the needs evolving from the user's operational context and from the use of the system. User requirements are pivotal in guiding the development (and evaluation) process of any system. This is no less true in the arena of digital libraries. The gathering of di...

In February 2006, Thomas Jefferson University went live with a new instant messaging (IM) service. This paper reviews the first 102 transcripts to examine question types and usage patterns. In addition, the paper highlights lessons learned in instituting the service. IM reference represents a small proportion of reference questions, but based on user feedback and technological improvements, the...

In this paper we investigate the effect of the default interface language setting on a bilingual website. Log file analysis is undertaken to determine usage patterns of the Niupepa digital library (a collection of historic Māori language newspapers) when the default interface language is switched between Māori and English in alternate weeks. Activity is grouped into active user sessions, which ...

A data model for library material usage in city libraries is proposed. The data model was designed with the aim of supporting all evidenced information requirements for the library material usage. The proposed data model is used in the development of the fourth version of the BISIS library software system. AMS Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 68U35

When my co-founders and I began BookSurge in 2000, it was an excellent time to dive into the publishing world, especially if you knew nothing about it. We had no previous publishing industry experience that would inform our view of how the company would operate. In this mindset, we asked ourselves: Why not be a publisher, printer, and retailer all at once? The slate was totally clean. I view Bi...