A Hypertext Reader's Guide to Fiction Authors: the Potential and Reality
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A Hypertext Reader's Guide To Fiction Authors: The Potential and Reality by Robert E. Clayton B.A. A Master's Dissertation, submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Master of Arts degree of the Loughborough University of Technology September 1993 Supervisors: Anne Morris, BSc, MSc, PGCE Loughborough and John Sumsion, OBE, MA Cambridge, MA Yale, Hon FLA Department of Information and Library Studies (C) R. E. Clayton, 1993 Abstract This dissertation consists of three broad sections: the demonstration of the need for, and the feasibility of creating, a Hypertext Reader's Guide to Fiction Authors; a description of the actual process of making a prototype Hypertext Guide and the factors involved therein; and a summary of the results from the field-testing of the Guide. From the outset, the Hypertext Guide was conceived as a utility to aid the compiler of the second edition of "A Reader's Guide To Fiction Authors", Roy Huse, the guide originally being compiled by Peter Mann. Research into the background of fiction borrowing by library users, and of the concept of Hypertext, suggested that such a computerized utility would not only aid the compiler, but could also be designed for use directly by library users. With these factors in mind a prototype guide structure was created on Hypercard software for Apple Macintosh computers. This Hypercard structure was successfully used to manipulate and enhance the raw data that would form the second edition of the Reader's Guide, and an independent computerized Guide was created. This Hypercard Guide was then taken in to three public libraries in Leicestershire (Loughborough Library, Mel ton Mowbray Library and Leicester Central Library) for one day each, where library users were asked to use the Guide, and to answer a questionnaire about fiction borrowing and their evaluation of the Guide. Very favourable responses were recorded for all aspects of the Guide, with over 90% of users that responded to the questionnaire stating that they would use a book version of the Guide, and 93% of those that actually used the Guide stating that they would use it again, if available. The dissertation concludes by suggesting that these responses seem to indicate that a Hypercard version of the Guide could be published in its own right, and that the Hypercard Guide would be a valuable tool for updating future book editions of the Guide. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors, Anne Morris and John Sumsion, for their constant time, attention and encouragement throughout the making of this dissertation. I was extremely fortunate to be granted the loan of an Apple Macintosh computer by the Leicester Computer Centre, to whom I am most grateful, whilst the staff at Loughborough Library, Melton Mowbray Library and Leicester Central Library gave me invaluable time, space and advice. This dissertation could not have been created without the support and practical assistance of my family and Zoe. iii Dedication For ZOil, Avis, Chris and Louisa iv Contents lBft Title Page i Abstract ii Acknowledgements iii Dedication iv contents v List of Tables ix List of Figures x Chapter 1 Public Libraries And Fiction 1 . 1 Fiction In Public Libraries 1 1. 2.1 Selection Of Fiction By Borrowers 1 1 .2.2 Success And Failure At The Shelves 2 1.3 Guidance And Stock Arrangement 3 1.4 A Digital Reader's Guide To Fiction Authors 4 1.5 Aims Of This Dissertation 5 Chapter 2 A Reader's Guide To Fiction Authors - On Paper 2.1 The First Edition 7 2.2 The Case For A New Edition 9 2.3 Compiling The New Edition - Theory 10 2.4 Additions To The New Guide (Including Genre) 11 2.5 Aims Of The Revised Reader's Guide To Fiction Authors 13 2.6 Compiling The New Edition - Practice 13 v Chapter 3 Hypertext - A Brief Conceptual History 3 • 1 Vannevar Bush And The Memex 1 6 3.2 Mechanics To Electronics 17 3.3 Graphics And The Mouse 18 3.4 Levels Of Use 19 3.5 Text Vs. Hypertext - General 19 3.6 From Concept To Reality 21 3.7 What Is Hypercard? 21 Chapter 4 The User And The Hypercard Guide 4.1 Why Use Hypercard? 24 4.2 Organization Of The Guide 24 4.3 Text Vs. Hypertext - Specifics 26 4.4 Extensions To The Guide In Hypercard 28 4.5 Navigating Through The Links 33 4 .• 6 Hardcopy From Softcopy? 33 4.7 Natural Language Order 34 Chapter 5 The Compiler And The Hypercard Guide 5.1 Hypercard As An Information Handler 36 5.2 Navigation And Correction For The Compiler 36 5.3 Creation Of A Hypercard Document 38 5.4.1 Compiling The Guide - Theory 38 5.4.2 Compiling The Guide - Reality 39 5.5 Conclusion And Brief Recommendations For Compilation 41 vi Chapter 6 Design And Scripts Of The Hypercard Guide 6.1 Format And Presentation Of Data 45 6.2 The Buttons - Theory 46 6.3 The Background 51 6.4.1 The Scripts 51 6.4.2 Button Scripts 52 6.4.3 Field Scripts 56 6.5 Final Notes 59 Chapter 7 Creation Of A Hypercard Guide 7.1 From Raw Data To The Guide 60 7.2 Importing The Data 60 7.3 Cross-Linking Authors 63 7.4 Natural Language Order 63 7.5 Creating The Indexes 64 7.6 The Help Section 65 7.7 Advantages Of Hypercard Links 65 Chapter 8 Field Testing The Bypercard Guide 8.1 Background 72 8.2 Methodology 73 8.3 Choosing Fiction Books 74 8.4 Using The Hypercard Guide 81 8.5 Improvements And Extensions To The Guide - Users' Perspectives 87 8.6 Brief Summary 89 vii Chapter 9 Conclusion 9.1 Aims Of The Dissertation 90 9.2 Process Of Creating The Guide 90 9.3 Commercial Potential 91 9.4 Further Extensions And Developments 92 9.5.1 Evaluation Of The Guide As A Data Processor 93 9.5.2 Evaluation Of The Guide As A Guide 93 9.6 Conclusion 94 Biblioqraphy 95 Appendix 1 Hypercard Scripts AL1 Button Scripts 97 A1.2 Field Scripts 99 A1.3 Background Scripts 102 AL4 Creation Scripts 103 Appendix 2 Questionnaire 113 Appendix 3 Data From Field Testinq Of Hypercard Guide A3.1 Responses to Question 3 (Favourite authors) 116 A3.2 Responses to Question 20 (Anything disagreed with) 117 A3.3 Responses to Question 21 (Other useful additions) 117 A3.4 Responses to Question 22 (Final comments) 118 A3.5 Collected comments of librarians who used the system 118 viii List Of Tables ~ 'Table 1: The Core Authors For The First Edition 8 Table 2: Breakdown Of Library Users Surveyed 73 Table 3: Use Of Public Libraries For Self Or Others 74 Table 4: Methods Of Looking For Fiction Books 75 Table 5: Genres Looked For By Library Users 76 Table 6: Arrangement Of Fiction Stock, Users' Preferences 77 Table 7: Methods Used To Find New Authors 78 Table 8: Use Of Library Staff When Looking For Fiction 79 Table 9: Familiarity Of Library Users With IT 80 Table 10: Library Users willing To Use Hypercard Guide 81 Table 11: Potential For Use Of Hypercard Guide In Public Libraries 82 Table 12: Usefulness Of Guide 82 Table 13: Ease Of Understanding Information 83 Table 14: Ease Of Reading Information 83 Table 15: Differentiation Of Sections Of The Guide 84 Table 16: Ease Of Movement Between Screens 84 Table 17: Clarity Of Screen Layout 85 Table 18: Clarity Of Instructions 85 Table 19: Evaluation Of On-Screen Help 86 Table 20: Potential For Use Of Hardcopy Reader's Guide 86 ix List Of Figures Figure 1: Pages From The First Edition Of The Reader's Guide 25 Figure 2: Primitive Screen Design For Hypercard Guide 27 Figure 3: Primitive Screen Design With Search Button And Thumb Index 29 Figure 4: Primitive Screen Design For Author Index 30 Figure 5: Primitive Screen Design For Genre Index 32 Figure 6: Process Of Compiling Second Edition Of Reader's Guide 43 Figure 7: Proposed Process Of Compiling Future Editions Of Reader's Guide 44 Figure 8: Final Screen Layout Of Hypercard Guide, Main Section 48 Figure 9: Final Screen Layout Of Hypercard Guide, Author Index 49 Figure 10: Final Screen Layout Of Hypercard Guide, Genre Index 50 Figure 11: The Menu Screen 54 Figure 12: The "Author Search" Display For Multiple Authors 57 Figure 13: The Creation Card 61 Figure 14: The First Help Screen - "Previous" And "Next" Navigation 67 Figure 15: The Second Help Screen - The "Author Search" Button 68 Figure 16: The Third Help Screen - The Alternatives List 69 Figure 17 : The Fourth Help Screen - The Genre Lists 70 Figure 18 : The Last Help Screen - The Thumb Index, "Back" and "Print" Buttons 71 x Chapter 1 Public Libraries And Fiction 1.1 Fiction Borrowing In Public Libraries This dissertation is concerned with aiding adult library users in their selection of fiction books from the huge choice on offer in the average public library. It has been estimated that two-thirds of library borrowers enter libraries looking for a novel for pleasure [1], and this is borne out by the Public Lending Right statistics, which suggest that around 50% of all actual loans are of adult fiction, with a further 17.5% covered by junior fiction (for the year 1989)[2]. However, it is clear that the issue figures quoted cannot be directly equated with reader satisfaction, as any library assistant will confirm, since novels may be returned unfinished or unenjoyed by readers.