Professor looks at ways to improve library help systems

A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee associate professor of Information Studies is researching ways to improve the responsiveness of automated library help systems.

Hong (Iris) Xie, the principal investigator, and Colleen Cool, co-investigator, of Queens College, City University of New York, received nearly $190,000 in a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the research. Xie also is writing a book on interactive information retrieval in digital environments.

Xie and Cool will look at the types of situations where novice users of digital libraries seek help; identify the best ways of responding to these situations; and develop principles that can be used to design effective, responsive and interactive help systems.

In a preliminary study, they found that the lack of interaction discourages users who become frustrated with automated online help systems.

In the new study, they will look at the types of situations where users seek help and try to identify which types of help support are most responsive in these different situations.

Subjects who take part in the study will be paid for their time and efforts. Those interested in participating in the project can contact Xie at hiris@uwm.edu.

Women’s football team coach to speak

The coach of Milwaukee’s first professional women’s football team will talk on campus on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Michael Hermanson coached the Milwaukee Momentum to a 4-4 record in its first season. The team is part of the National Women’s Football Association, a league comprised of 38 teams in 25 states. The team began in April.

The talk is scheduled to be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the Outing Center in the lower level of the Union, Room WB11. Participants are asked to sign up by Dec. 1.

UWM seeks to understand teaching beliefs

UWM faculty members are invited to participate in an anonymous voluntary teaching beliefs survey, which is designed to help better understand the nature and level of teaching beliefs at UWM.

Results will be shared at UWM and faculty members will help two UWM doctoral students complete a class project.

Possible benefits are that the study will collect information that will help understand the beliefs of instructors about teaching and learning and the implications for faculty development.

Bookstore to hire temporary employees

The UWM Bookstore was to begin accepting applications for Spring Rush Temporary Cashiers and Stock Clerks on Monday, Nov. 28.

All are temporary positions. Rush stock clerk positions will start December; rush cashier positions start in mid January.

Application materials are available at the Bookstore Information Desk.

For more information, contact Mary Luce at 229-4201.

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