User Education in Computer Based Libraries / R. L. Sehgal

The mental and physical make-up of a user affects the way in which he reacts to the world around him. In terms of an automated library system, the surrounding environment will contain several factors which impinge on a user's private world. For example, a change of system will generate stress to a greater or lesser degree depending on the attitude of the user towards the change; the need to learn and remember new procedures will make demands on the memory process, and the need for concentration or attention may alter. User's psychological make-up is complex and no attempt is made to outline it here. Concentration is placed on aspects of his information processing system, its importance in the automation process, and factors which affect it. User Education in computer Based Libraries provides a new direction to the subject by identifying the likely problems and areas of need and outlining computer-based methods of meeting them. There are chapters on library user, library user interface requirements, the software interface for users, a support system for user knowledge, a computer system for user education, input and output devices, file processing and secondary storage, the processing unit.

Contents 1. Library User Education: What Why and How? 2. User Characteristics 3.The Systems Situation and User Education 4. Library Users Interface Requirements 5. The Software Interface for Users Knowledge Work 6. Support System for User Knowledge Work 7. Computer System for User Education 8. Input and Output Devices 9. File Processing and Secondary Storage 10. The Processor Unit 11. The Management of Technological Change and User Education 12. Library User and Training