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Download filee-Browsing: Serendipity and questions of access and discovery
journal contribution
posted on 2013-01-01, 00:00 authored by Kate Joranson, Nina Clements, Steven I Van TuylBrowsing is an essential component to discovery. Understanding the foundations of browsing
patterns and preferences is crucial in developing effective ebrowsing
environments. It’s
important to understand how researchers in diverse disciplines have described their discoveries
in terms of browsing, searching, and serendipitous encounters. Examining the works of
scientists, social scientists, and humanists through the lens of discovery will reveal essential
components to be aware of in developing ebrowsing
environments. In turning to a wide range of
sources, often outside traditional library literature, we deepen our understanding of what it means
to browse in an electronic environment. As librarians, we have an obligation to create physical
and virtual spaces that cultivate wonder and curiosity and acknowledge varied paths to
discovery. Electronic browsing options must become more robust if libraries are to be vital to
scholarly communication. In this presentation we focus on the language and experience of
browsing, with particular attention to serendipitous discovery, in order to encourage librarians,
particularly those in public service, to more effectively articulate concerns and opportunities to
developers.