一個電子圖書館系統包含了三項元素:使用者、資訊內容,以及系統技術。電子圖書館之建構,不能徒有系統而沒有內容,否則無法完成資料庫的建置。然而僅將內容數位化並不能保證資源能有效地令人使用,因爲如何組織整理某類資訊,與該類資訊的特色,及使用者對該類資訊的搜尋、使用行爲息息相關。本文爲筆者於臺灣地區從事台灣史料使用者資訊搜尋與使用研究之部份結果,以平埔研究人員爲例,說明其資訊行爲之特色與資源利用的現象,旨在闡述透過使用者導向的研究可增進我們對特定使用者群的理解,並且展示基於使用者研究的理解,有助於我們提出有效而適當的建議,供系統設計與建置之參考。
While user-centered design has been emphasized, much of the discussion of digital libraries is concerned about choosing Web-based technology to create a digitized collection and establish related infrastructure. An investigation into the potential users of a community-based digital library suggests that some critical social, ecological and cultural aspects of information-related behavior of those users need to be taken into account for a digital library to accomplish its goals. This paper reports on an empirical study of scholarly communication among users of the Taiwan Historical Archives and how those scholars and researchers find and use information. Several design principles are suggested based on the findings of such user study.