Powering Search: The Role of Thesauri in New Information Environments

Citation

du Preez, M. (2013), "Powering Search: The Role of Thesauri in New Information Environments", Online Information Review, Vol. 37 No. 4, pp. 665-666. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-05-2013-0120

Thesauri, taxonomies and folksonomies are useful tools when organising and retrieving information in an online environment. Lately, due to continued efforts to enhance search engines' searching capabilities, many users believe that thesauri and other traditional information organisation tools such as classification systems and subject headings are becoming redundant. A factor that might contribute to this belief is that most information system users neither understand the value of these tools nor know how to use them. Further, most publications on classification systems, subject headings and information retrieval thesauri are intended for library and information professionals, indexers and cataloguers. Also, the publications on thesauri focus on the construction of thesauri rather than on how to use them in an online information retrieval system.

Contrary to publications on thesauri aimed at information professionals, Ali Shiri's new book, Power Search, refocuses on the value of thesauri and other controlled vocabularies in retrieving information in the web environment. In this book Shiri examines, analyses and synthesises perspectives, projects, practices and services from a variety of communities that share an interest in thesauri and their functions. The author draws on research focused on search behaviour, usability studies, search user interface, information architecture and interactive information retrieval to propose the design and development of thesaurus‐enhanced search user interfaces.

The overarching argument of the book is that many information systems do not exploit thesauri to their full potential to support users in their information searches. Shiri is especially concerned about the ways in which thesauri and their semantic assets are presented to users in search user interfaces.

In 10 chapters Powering Search comprehensively treats information retrieval thesauri as search and browsing tools for user interfaces with a broad range of information retrieval systems that vary from bibliographic and full‐text databases to digital libraries. It particularly focuses on user interface features and functionalities that can be used on the knowledge structures that are inherent in thesauri. Furthermore, the book examines ways in which information retrieval thesauri, with sophisticated semantic networks, have been and are currently being used in a wide variety of web‐based search and browsing user interfaces.

Apart from introducing and contextualising information retrieval thesauri as sources of search terms, Shiri also provides examples of new web‐based information environments that make use of thesauri. The work also addresses the treatment of thesaurus interfaces. Various evaluative approaches and strategies adopted to assess users' impressions and understanding of thesaurus interface features and functionalities also receive attention. A set of guidelines and best practices for the design of thesaurus‐enhanced search user interfaces is provided. In concluding this work Shiri discusses current trends and developments in powering search in new information environments.

I find Power Search a beautifully written book and an invaluable resource in teaching students the value of thesauri in an online information retrieval system. Information retrieval teachers and information specialists interested in best information retrieval practice should not be without a copy of this book.