Call for Papers

Information Processing & ManagementSpecial Issue on Digital Libraries in theContext of Users’ Work and Interests

Surprisingly little of the work on understanding information seeking and the design of digital libraries has

taken much account of the background of the users or the context within which they are working. It has

recently been noted (e.g. [1]) that there is little interaction between those who study information seeking and

information retrieval. The challenge is arguably greater than this: there is additionally a need to understand

how digital libraries (and related information sources) are used and also how such systems fit into people’s

broader work tasks. Without such an understanding, it is a matter of chance as to whether new systems

actually meet the needs of their users or not.Contributions to this special issue should address either the design of digital libraries as it relates to users’

context, or information seeking and use in context as it relates to digital libraries. More broadly, papers are

solicited on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Integration of digital library infrastructure with systems that support other work tasks, e.g. writing;

structuring information; problem diagnosis; annotation.

• Domain-specific studies of information use in context (e.g. in health, law, humanities, education, etc.) that

can inform design.• Design of digital libraries or digital library components that support particular user needs.

• Usability studies that account for broader work tasks.

Submissions

Submissions should follow the format specified on the Elsevier Author Gateway IP&M Guide for Authors:

http://authors.elsevier.com/GuideForAuthors.html?PubID=244&dc=GFA and should be made online through

the Elsevier Editorial System http://ees.elsevier.com/ipm/.

All submissions will be acknowledged and then refereed by at least 2 peer reviewers. Authors should

indicate that the submission is intended for the special issue on digital libraries in the context of users’ workand interests, in both the online submission process and the accompanying cover letter.

Important Dates

• October 20, 2006: Deadline for submission of papers.

• January 26, 2007: Notification to authors.

• March 30, 2007: Deadline for submission of revised papers.

doi:10.1016/j.ipm.2006.03.005

Information Processing and Management 42 (2006) 1402–1403

www.elsevier.com/locate/infoproman

Contacts

Ann Blandford, Sally Jo Cunningham & Jeremy Gow

UCL Interaction Centre

University College London

Remax House

31–32 Alfred Place

London WC1E 7DP

UKE-maill address: a.blandford, j.gow@ucl.ac.uk

Reference

[1] Kuhlthau, C. (2005). Towards collaboration between information seeking and information retrieval. Information Research, 10(2).

Available from http://informationr.net/ir/10-2/paper225.html.

Call for Papers / Information Processing and Management 42 (2006) 1402–1403 1403