{"id":{"repo_id":"unt","oai_identifier":"info:ark/67531/metadc4470"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/unt/info:ark/67531/metadc4470","repository":{"repo_id":"unt","name":"University of North Texas","base_url":"https://digital.library.unt.edu/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Wayfinding tools in public library buildings: A multiple case study.","abstract":"Wayfinding is the process of using one or more tools to move from one location to another in order to accomplish a task or to achieve a goal. This qualitative study explores the process of wayfinding as it applies to locating information in a public library. A group of volunteers were asked to find a selection of items in three types of libraries-traditional, contemporary, and modern. The retrieval process was timed and the reactions of the volunteers were recorded, documented, and analyzed. The impact of various wayfinding tools-architecture, layout, color, signage, computer support, collection organization-on the retrieval process was also identified. The study revealed that many of the wayfinding tools currently available in libraries do not facilitate item retrieval. Inconsistencies, ambiguities, obstructions, disparities, and operational deficiencies all contributed to end-user frustration and retrieval failure. The study suggests that failing to address these issues may prompt library patrons-end users who are increasingly interested in finding information with minimal expenditures of time and effort-may turn to other information-retrieval strategies and abandon a system that they find confusing and frustrating.","abstract_html":"Wayfinding is the process of using one or more tools to move from one location to another in order to accomplish a task or to achieve a goal. This qualitative study explores the process of wayfinding as it applies to locating information in a public library. A group of volunteers were asked to find a selection of items in three types of libraries-traditional, contemporary, and modern. The retrieval process was timed and the reactions of the volunteers were recorded, documented, and analyzed. The impact of various wayfinding tools-architecture, layout, color, signage, computer support, collection organization-on the retrieval process was also identified. The study revealed that many of the wayfinding tools currently available in libraries do not facilitate item retrieval. Inconsistencies, ambiguities, obstructions, disparities, and operational deficiencies all contributed to end-user frustration and retrieval failure. The study suggests that failing to address these issues may prompt library patrons-end users who are increasingly interested in finding information with minimal expenditures of time and effort-may turn to other information-retrieval strategies and abandon a system that they find confusing and frustrating.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Beecher, Ann B."],"institution":"University of North Texas","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["O'Connor, Brian Clark","Figa, Elizabeth","Kozak, Michael R.","Mason, Florence"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2004,"date_issued":"2004-05","date_published":"2004-05","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:09Z","subjects":["Public libraries.","Architecture -- Human factors.","Signs and signboards.","wayfinding","public library","architecture","signage","users"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["Use restricted to UNT Community","Copyright","Beecher, Ann B.","Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oclc: 55874152","https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4470/","ark: ark:/67531/metadc4470"],"render_values":[{"text":"oclc: 55874152","href":null,"code":true},{"text":"https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4470/","href":"https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4470/","code":true},{"text":"ark: ark:/67531/metadc4470","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.12794/metadc4470","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["O'Connor, Brian Clark","Figa, Elizabeth","Kozak, Michael R.","Mason, Florence"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Beecher, Ann B."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2004-05"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["University of North Texas"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis or Dissertation"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Public libraries.","Architecture -- Human factors.","Signs and signboards.","wayfinding","public library","architecture","signage","users"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Use restricted to UNT Community","Copyright","Beecher, Ann B.","Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oclc: 55874152","doi: 10.12794/metadc4470","https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4470/","ark: ark:/67531/metadc4470"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Wayfinding is the process of using one or more tools to move from one location to another in order to accomplish a task or to achieve a goal. This qualitative study explores the process of wayfinding as it applies to locating information in a public library. A group of volunteers were asked to find a selection of items in three types of libraries-traditional, contemporary, and modern. The retrieval process was timed and the reactions of the volunteers were recorded, documented, and analyzed. The impact of various wayfinding tools-architecture, layout, color, signage, computer support, collection organization-on the retrieval process was also identified. The study revealed that many of the wayfinding tools currently available in libraries do not facilitate item retrieval. Inconsistencies, ambiguities, obstructions, disparities, and operational deficiencies all contributed to end-user frustration and retrieval failure. The study suggests that failing to address these issues may prompt library patrons-end users who are increasingly interested in finding information with minimal expenditures of time and effort-may turn to other information-retrieval strategies and abandon a system that they find confusing and frustrating."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["Text"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Wayfinding tools in public library buildings: A multiple case study."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["O'Connor, Brian Clark","Figa, Elizabeth","Kozak, Michael R.","Mason, Florence"],"dc:creator":["Beecher, Ann B."],"dc:date":["2004-05"],"dc:description":["Wayfinding is the process of using one or more tools to move from one location to another in order to accomplish a task or to achieve a goal. This qualitative study explores the process of wayfinding as it applies to locating information in a public library. A group of volunteers were asked to find a selection of items in three types of libraries-traditional, contemporary, and modern. The retrieval process was timed and the reactions of the volunteers were recorded, documented, and analyzed. The impact of various wayfinding tools-architecture, layout, color, signage, computer support, collection organization-on the retrieval process was also identified. The study revealed that many of the wayfinding tools currently available in libraries do not facilitate item retrieval. Inconsistencies, ambiguities, obstructions, disparities, and operational deficiencies all contributed to end-user frustration and retrieval failure. The study suggests that failing to address these issues may prompt library patrons-end users who are increasingly interested in finding information with minimal expenditures of time and effort-may turn to other information-retrieval strategies and abandon a system that they find confusing and frustrating."],"dc:format":["Text"],"dc:identifier":["oclc: 55874152","doi: 10.12794/metadc4470","https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4470/","ark: ark:/67531/metadc4470"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:publisher":["University of North Texas"],"dc:rights":["Use restricted to UNT Community","Copyright","Beecher, Ann B.","Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved."],"dc:subject":["Public libraries.","Architecture -- Human factors.","Signs and signboards.","wayfinding","public library","architecture","signage","users"],"dc:title":["Wayfinding tools in public library buildings: A multiple case study."],"dc:type":["Thesis or Dissertation"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:09Z"}