Theoretical-historical approach to the interpretation of the library catalogue user aspect

Abstract

Ako uzmemo u obzir temeljni razlog i ciljanu publiku knjižničnog kataloga, potrebno je kontinuirano raditi na istraživanjima načina na koji mu korisnici pristupaju (neovisno o tome radi li se o katalogu na listićima ili online), razumiju li ga (elemente zapisa), znaju li se služiti njime te, u konačnici, uspijevaju li u katalogu pronaći ono što traže. S obzirom na tvrdnje da u današnje vrijeme knjižnični katalog gubi svoju važnost i korisnike, primjerenost kataloga korisničkim zahtjevima od ključne je važnosti za njegov opstanak. Rad daje kratki povijesni pregled najvažnijih spoznaja vezanih uz ponašanje korisnika u odnosu na knjižnični katalog te se, između ostalog, problematiziraju brojne teme vezane uz načine na koji ljudi dolaze i traže informacije, poput načela najmanjeg napora, pristupni vokabular, odnosno razlike u pristupu pretraživanju kataloga s obzirom na to radi li se o katalogu na listićima ili online katalogu. S pojavom novog konceptualnog modela za organizaciju informacija pod nazivom Uvjeti za funkcionalnost bibliografskih zapisa (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records – FRBR), koji počiva na odnosu entitet-odnos, krajem devedesetih godina 20. stoljeća te, najnovijeg, njemu srodnog objektno usmjerenog modela (FRBROO), kao i pojavom RDA-a, najnovijeg anglo-američkog kataložnog pravilnika (ali i šire) početkom 21. stoljeća, korisnički je aspekt dodatno naglašen, no, kako brojni autori zaključuju, nedovoljno istražen. U zaključku, rad donosi promišljanja autorice o novom hrvatskom pravilniku za katalogizaciju koji je u pripremi te važnosti uvažavanja svih dosadašnjih spoznaja vezanih uz korisničku problematiku traženja i pronalaženja informacija.If we consider the main reason for creation of the library catalogue as well as its main audience, it is necessary to continuously research how people interact with the catalogue (regardless whether we talk about the card or online catalogues), how they understand it (bibliographic elements), do they know how to use it, and finally, whether they manage to find what they are looking for. Taking into account the claims that today’s library catalogue has been losing its significance for the users, it is of the utmost importance that the modern library catalogue is made in such a way that it fully meets user requirements. The paper gives a short historical overview of the most important findings related to the human information behaviour in relation to the library catalogue, and, among other things, discusses various topics concerning the ways humans look for and retrieve information, such as the principle of the least effort, access vocabulary, i.e. the differences in catalogue search between card and online catalogues. With the creation of the new conceptual entity-relationship model for organization of information entitled Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), which was first introduced at the end of the 20th century, together with the newest object-oriented FRBR model (FRBROO), as well as the RDA, the new cataloguing code for the Anglo-American (but also wider) library community at the beginning of the 21st century, the user aspect has become more emphasized, but also, as many authors conclude, has still remained insufficiently researched. In conclusion, the paper offers the author’s ideas about a new Croatian cataloguing code (in preparation) and the importance of implementing all the previous knowledge regarding the user aspect of information seeking and searching into it