Investigation of information encountering in the controlled research environment
Information Processing and Management: an International Journal
Burst the filter bubble: using semantic web to enable serendipity
ISWC'12 Proceedings of the 11th international conference on The Semantic Web - Volume Part II
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Ebooks are being integrated into academic library catalogs---either in addition to existing resources or as a substitute to print copies. This study examines the perceptions and opinions of historians about how Ebooks, and the digitization of cultural artifacts in general, impact the research process of historians. Findings indicate that historians are concerned that the digital environment reduces the chances of a serendipitous encounter with a text. Access to resources is a central dimension in their research endeavor. While historians do not reject Ebooks as a research tool, they make use of this digital tool only in specific settings during their research and in their teaching. Additionally, our study found that historians attempt to recreate in the digital environment an atmosphere that encourages serendipity within their field, and would readily welcome new methods and designs that would make this possible.