Interactive Information Seeking, Behaviour and Retrieval

Citation

Dobreva, M. (2012), "Interactive Information Seeking, Behaviour and Retrieval", Library Review, Vol. 61 No. 7, pp. 538-539. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531211288272

Information retrieval has been one of the most rapidly developing areas over the last few decades. Significant and fast‐paced advances have taken place to build tools that better serve users as they tackle increasingly large collections of digital resources and the ever‐increasing phenomenon of information overload. One domain of particular interest is interactive information behaviour which cuts across user‐centred and system‐centred approaches to information retrieval.

How these two approaches can work together is addressed in this collection edited by Ian Ruthven and Diane Kelly, recently published by Facet. While the term “information retrieval” was introduced by Mooers in 1950, the work on interactive information behaviour started in the 1970s and has been particularly strong in the last two decades. It is definitely a domain which will develop further because it reflects work in progress and aspires to improve the experiences in information seeking and retrieval. We are still far from achieving widespread use of systems offering personalised experiences and the information environment is one in constant change, resembling the Zeno paradox of Achilles and the tortoise which states that Achilles can never reach the tortoise if it is given a head start. Further successful development work in this area therefore requires flexible and adaptable approaches and this text's summaries of previous experience and the “hot” topics of today's research is of great help to readers seeking to understand the context and the current state of play within the domain of interactive information behaviour.

This is a very carefully designed and masterly put together collection introduced by one of the emblematic figures in the area of digital libraries and information retrieval, Tefko Saracevic from Rutgers University. The collection follows a very neat logic in its presentation of complex and multifaceted domains and brings together a group of authors with substantial experience and excellent reputations in this challenging interdisciplinary area.

Chapter 1, “Interactive information retrieval: history and background” by Colleen Cool and Nicholas J. Belkin presents the historical roots of research and models in interactive information retrieval. There are 12 further chapters which explore the various dimensions of interactive information retrieval. The book balances chapters dedicated to understanding the users – information behaviour and seeking by Peiling Wang; task‐based information searching and retrieval by Elaine Toms; approaches to investigate information interaction and behaviour by Raya Fidel; evaluation by Kalervo Järvelin – and chapters with more weight on the system‐centred approach side – information representation by Smucker; access models by Rasmussen; multimedia: information representation and access by Little, Brown and Rüger. There are also chapters looking at interfaces for information retrieval (Max Wilson), interactive techniques (Ryen White), web retrieval, ranking and personalization (Jaime Teevan and Susan Dumais) and recommendation, collaboration and social search (Nichols and Twidale).

The book offers a really detailed picture of what is currently happening in this domain. It is clearly written and well‐illustrated and would be extremely useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students; I expect it will be a popular recommended text to supplement information retrieval courses.

Preparing an edited collection is always a challenge in terms of producing a coherent and well‐linked text. The editors have done an excellent job in coordinating the content and cross‐referencing between the chapters. The book offers a detailed index which further helps the reader to navigate the text.

It is impossible to address all relevant issues in one book and, for example, the chapter on various approaches to investigating information interaction and behaviour does not mention techniques such as eye tracking or persona creation to present typical users. Neither is users' information literacy skills discussed but, nevertheless, the content is very well‐focused and relevant.

This is not the first example of collaboration between the editors of the book who consistently produce excellent outputs. Coming from two different academic environments (Professor Ian Ruthven is the Head of the Computer and Information Science Department of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and Diane Kelly is Associate Professor at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina) they have succeeded in producing a balanced view of the interactive information behaviour domain and in mobilising an excellent international team of contributors.