Date Approved
5-15-2008
Embargo Period
3-21-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in School and Public Librarianship
Department
Special Educational Services/Instruction
College
College of Education
Advisor
Shontz, Marilyn
Subject(s)
Library use studies; Subject headings--Use studies
Disciplines
Library and Information Science
Abstract
The current research examined library users and their use of subject headings in library catalog searches. It also examined how effective library catalog searches were for users. A survey was designed to give the researcher an idea of what search terms the public used to search library catalogs. Those survey results were then compared to the actual subject headings found in the library catalog.
The overall results indicated that very few public search terms matched the vocabulary used in the catalog. This showed a disconnection between what was being offered to the public as a search tool and how the public actually searched.
Recommended Citation
Campbell, Elizabeth, "By any other name: a study of library user comprehension of subject headings" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 694.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/694
