Using Handhelds to Search in Physical and Digital Information Spaces

In recent years a wealth of information is becoming available thanks to computer and networking technology. Modern libraries incorporate in their collections information content in both physical and digital form. Meanwhile, mobile computing enables the library patrons to access that content anytime, anywhere. In this paper we present the design procedure of a new library service that supports users in seeking information in hybrid collections while being in the stacks, thus enabling content retrieval from a unified information space. Moreover an evaluation model and methodology and the results of an experimental procedure are presented aiming to assess the user satisfaction for the new service.