Case study: the health SmartLibrary experiences in web personalization and customization at the Galter health sciences library, Northwestern University

James Shedlock; Michelle Frisque; Steve Hunt; Linda Walton; Jonathan Handler; Michael Gillam

doi:10.3163/1536-5050.98.2.003

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Case study: the health SmartLibrary experiences in web personalization and customization at the Galter health sciences library, Northwestern University

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Case study: the health SmartLibrary experiences in web personalization and customization at the Galter health sciences library, Northwestern University

James Shedlock, Michelle Frisque, Steve Hunt, Linda Walton, Jonathan Handler and Michael Gillam

Journal of the Medical Library Association, Vol.98(2), pp.98-104

04/2010

DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.98.2.003

PMCID: PMC2859266

PMID: 20428276

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https://doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.98.2.003View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

How can the user's access to health information, especially full-text articles, be improved? The solution is building and evaluating the Health SmartLibrary (HSL). The setting is the Galter Health Sciences Library, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. The HSL was built on web-based personalization and customization tools: My E-Resources, Stay Current, Quick Search, and File Cabinet. Personalization and customization data were tracked to show user activity with these value-added, online services. Registration data indicated that users were receptive to personalized resource selection and that the automated application of specialty-based, personalized HSLs was more frequently adopted than manual customization by users. Those who did customize customized My E-Resources and Stay Current more often than Quick Search and File Cabinet. Most of those who customized did so only once. Users did not always take advantage of the services designed to aid their library research experiences. When personalization is available at registration, users readily accepted it. Customization tools were used less frequently; however, more research is needed to determine why this was the case.

User-Computer Interface

Consumer Behavior

Humans

Illinois

Search Engine

Data Collection

Software

Internet

Libraries, Medical - organization & administration

Databases, Factual

Feasibility Studies

Information Dissemination

Details

Title: Subtitle: Case study: the health SmartLibrary experiences in web personalization and customization at the Galter health sciences library, Northwestern University
Creators: James Shedlock - Galter Health Sciences Library, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. j-shedlock@northwestern.edu
Michelle Frisque
Steve Hunt
Linda Walton
Jonathan Handler
Michael Gillam
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of the Medical Library Association, Vol.98(2), pp.98-104
DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.98.2.003
PMID: 20428276
PMCID: PMC2859266
NLM abbreviation: J Med Libr Assoc
ISSN: 1536-5050
eISSN: 1558-9439
Publisher: United States
Grant note: 1 G08 LM07051-01A1 / NLM NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 04/2010
Academic Unit: Library Administration; Medicine Administration
Record Identifier: 9983992020302771

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