The Present Status of Web-OPAC for Children in Public Library in U.S.A. and the Comparison with School Library Web-OPAC

Abstract

This study proposed the present status of Web-OPAC for children in public library in U.S.A., based on evaluation standard FRED, from the viewpoints of search functions and response and explanation to users. Moreover, we compared the present study with the previous one of school library Web-OPAC in U.S.A. Also, we considered the difference between each status in public and school libraries. As the results of consideration, it was evident that Web-OPAC for children in public library was superior to school library Web-OPAC concerning ‘Response’ (response from retrieval system to children). On the other hands, it was obvious that Web-OPAC for children in public library was inferior to school library Web-OPAC in ‘Diversity’ (diversity of functions in retrieval system). That is to say, it was made clear that diverse retrieval functions were not provided sufficiently with the Web-OPAC for children in public library, according to the developmental stage of children. Furthermore, concerning keyword search and subject search of Web-OPAC, both the Web-OPAC for children in public library and the school library Web-OPAC did not prepare adequate functions in order to support inexperienced children in Web-OPAC. In the near future, the improvement in search functions of Web-OPAC will be required, from the viewpoint of information literacy instruction for children.