[WEB4LIB] Search log usage was: RE: library jargon (was "Our usability test...")

[Lydia C Bauer]

Have you considered mapping the terms you uncover in your search logs directly
into your thesaurus?  I've been doing that for a database of the most commonly
searched for websites on our intranet and its been very successful.  We use the
thesaurus tree for browsing (broad, generic terms), and add in see references
for searching (terms taken from the search logs).
Is anyone else mining their search logs for index terms?
Lydia Bauer
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Knowledge Integration Resources
lydia.bauer at bms.com

Karen Harker wrote:

>
> Our current thesaurus for our resources is rather haphazard.  Based on our =
> search logs, it does not adequately represent what our clients use.  But =
> we've had to balance precision and specificity with time to make the =
> resources available.  We will be examining the terms in the near future as =
> we implement Encompass.  Given that we tend to use terms that are broader =
> than the topic of most of our selected sites, I would like to also create =
> a system that will map the user's query to the most appropriate term that =
> we use (i.e. user enters "diabetes mellitus", sites with the subject =
> "Endocrinologic disorders" are pulled).  While not very precise, I think =
> it would be better for the user than zero hits.
>
> Some ideas for the future :)
>
> Karen R. Harker, MLS
> UT Southwestern Medical Library
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Dallas, TX  75390-9049
> 214-648-1698
> http://www.swmed.edu/library/



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