%0 Journal Article
%T Understanding user
%A Faraja Ndumbaro
%J Information Development
%@ 1741-6469
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/0266666917693885
%X This paper presents findings of a study that examines how the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) of the University of Dar es Salaam library is used; the extent to which users succeed in locating information; and the reasons behind search failure. OPAC transaction logs were collected unobtrusively between January and December 2015, which were then subjected to transaction log analysis. The results indicate a relatively low use of OPAC, with default keyword search, author, title and subject terms being the most preferred access points. Only 102,037 (19.2%) of the search queries received zero hits. Reasons for search failure were multiple. They included spelling mistakes, use of wrong syntax, searching in inappropriate search fields, users¡¯ lack of knowledge of Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and materials unavailability. Thus, the paper suggests redesigning OPAC interface to include features of the ¡®next generation¡¯ catalogue and exposing users to evidence-based information literacy
%K OPAC use
%K search behaviour
%K search logs
%K transaction log analysis
%K University of Dar es Salaam
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0266666917693885