Findability: elementos essenciais para as formas de encontro da informação em bibliotecas digitais

Abstract

This study aims to recommend key elements which impact the ways to find information in digital library environments, including features found in Web 2.0. The theory is based on the concept of Findability, coined by Morville, on the significant contribution of Manovich, on Santaella‟s study about cognitive profiles of readers and Internet users, and on Weinberg and Cunha‟s view on the mission of digital libraries. The development of this work is based on the method of qualitative case studies, highlighting positive and negative aspects of search interfaces from elements considered relevant to digital library projects and identified with the contribution of concepts brought from Library and Information Science. The study emphasizes the contribution of digital libraries for Web search, without however fail to point to their weaknesses and need for evolution. The processing of information at the time of data entry, the development of more intelligent search interfaces, the different cognitive profiles of users, the participation of multidisciplinary teams and constant monitoring of the digital environment elements must be considered and pursued over the existence of a design of this profile. The study points out finally the changes that must occur in searching from the Semantic Web and the development of artificial intelligence, impacting the way we are used to seek information, continually increasing its "findability."