PACE - A BROWSABLE GRAPHICAL INTERFACE

PACE (Public Access Catalogue Extension) is an alternative interface d esigned to enhance online catalogs. PACE simulates images of books and library shelves to help users browse through the catalog. PACE was te sted in a college library against a text-based, online public access c atalog (Best-Seller) in a real operational environment. The results sh ow that a simple browsable retrieval interface performed as well as a second-generation OPAC in terms of retrieval speed and search success. The overwhelming majority of students, however, preferred the browsin g capability of PACE through the familiar metaphor of books and librar y shelves to a text-based OPAC.