The evolution of the international children's digital library searching and browsing interface

Elementary-age children (ages 6--11) are among the largest user groups of computers and the Internet, so it is important to design searching and browsing tools to support them. However, many such tools do not consider their skills and preferences. In this paper, we present the design rationale and process for creating the searching and browsing tool for the International Children's Digital Library (ICDL), the results from a user study evaluating it, and the challenges and possibilities it presents for other children's interfaces.

[1]  Kori Inkpen,et al.  Drag-and-drop versus point-and-click mouse interaction styles for children , 2001 .

[2]  Barbara Tversky,et al.  Development of taxonomic organization of named and pictured categories. , 1985 .

[3]  A. Druin.  What Children Can Teach Us: Developing Digital Libraries for Children with Children1 , 2005, The Library Quarterly.

[4]  K. Wendelin,et al.  How Students Make Book Choices , 1983 .

[5]  Allison Druin,et al.  Differences in pointing task performance between preschool children and adults using mice , 2004, TCHI.

[6]  Allison Druin,et al.  The role of children in the design of new technology , 2002 .

[7]  Kori Inkpen Quinn,et al.  Drag-and-drop versus point-and-click mouse interaction styles for children , 2001, TCHI.

[8]  Kevin Li,et al.  Faceted metadata for image search and browsing , 2003, CHI '03.

[9]  Sherry Kragler,et al.  Student Choices: Book Selection Strategies of Fourth Graders. , 1996 .

[10]  J. R. Thomas,et al.  Acquisition of motor skills: information processing differences between children and adults. , 1980, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[11]  J. Day,et al.  Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2003 , 2005 .

[12]  Carol Bergfeld,et al.  Reading text from computer screens , 1987, CSUR.

[13]  J. V. Dijk,et al.  The Digital Divide in Europe , 2007 .

[14]  Wayne D. Gray,et al.  Basic objects in natural categories , 1976, Cognitive Psychology.

[15]  Allison Druin,et al.  Designing a Digital Library for Young Children: An Intergenerational Partnership , 2001 .

[16]  Gary Marchionini,et al.  Elementary Students' Use of Electronic Information Services: An Exploratory Study. , 1987 .

[17]  Annelise Mark Pejtersen.  A Library System for Information Retrieval Based on a Cognitive Task Analysis and Supported by an Icon-Based Interface , 1989, SIGIR.

[18]  Sonia Livingstone,et al.  Children's Use of the Internet: Reflections on the Emerging Research Agenda , 2003, New Media Soc..

[19]  Ben Shneiderman,et al.  Visual information seeking: tight coupling of dynamic query filters with starfield displays , 1994, CHI '94.

[20]  Carol Collier Kuhlthau.  Meeting the Information Needs of Children and Young Adults: Basing Library Media Programs on Developmental States. , 1988 .

[21]  Gary Marchionini,et al.  Bringing treasures to the surface: iterative design for the Library of Congress National Digital Library Program , 1997, CHI.

[22]  Penelope A. Moore,et al.  Children as Information Seekers: The Cognitive Demands of Books and Library Systems. , 1991 .

[23]  Allison Druin,et al.  Interface Design for Children ’ s Searching and Browsing , 2005 .

[24]  Ben Shneiderman,et al.  Performance Benefits of Simultaneous Over Sequential Menus as Task Complexity Increases , 2000, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[25]  Allison Druin,et al.  A Visual Search Tool for Early Elementary Science Students , 2002 .

[26]  Hilary Browne Hutchinson.  Children's interface design for hierarchical search and browse , 2003, SIGC.

[27]  Edith D. Neimark,et al.  Development of the Understanding of Logical Connectives. , 1970 .

[28]  Karen G. Schneider.  Children and information visualization technologies , 1996, INTR.

[29]  Mark Guzdial,et al.  Learner-centered design: the challenge for HCI in the 21st century , 1994, INTR.

[30]  Allison Druin,et al.  Bringing together children and books: An initial descriptive study of children's book searching and selection behavior in a digital library , 2005, ASIST.

[31]  Allison Druin,et al.  Designing a digital library for young children , 2001, JCDL '01.

[32]  Paula Busey,et al.  Kid's Catalog: An Information Retrieval System for Children. , 1993 .

[33]  Christine L. Borgman,et al.  Children's Searching Behavior on Browsing and Keyword Online Catalogs: The Science Library Catalog Project , 1995, J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci..