Corvallis, OR : Oregon State University, Dept. of Computer Science
Abstract
Can collaborative filtering be successfully applied to digital
libraries in a manner that improves the effectiveness of the
library? Collaborative filtering systems remove the limitation of
traditional content-based search interfaces by using individuals to
evaluate and recommend information. We introduce an approach
where a digital library user specifies their need in the form of a
question, and is provided with recommendations of documents
based on ratings by other users with similar questions. Using a
testbed of the Tsunami Digital Library, we found evidence that
suggests that collaborative filtering may decrease the number of
search queries while improving users' overall perception of the
system. We discuss the challenges of designing a collaborative
filtering system for digital libraries and then present our
preliminary experimental results.Keywords: user studies, digital libraries, tsunamis, natural hazards, Collaborative filterin
