ABSTRACT
This paper describes the design and evaluation of the Artemis interface to the University of Michigan Digital Library, which was built to assist students in searching on-line collections. Noteworthy features of Artemis include the ability to store search results in an on-line workspace, browse collections as well as keyword-search, and access diverse collections (both Web pages and proprietary collections) with a single agent-based architecture. To evaluate Artemis, we conducted in-situ videotaped sessions with students using Artemis in a project-based curriculum. We supplemented this with analysis of log file data collected at the server level. Analysis of videotaped sessions show that students spend a considerable percentage of their in Artemis evaluating search results on a number of levels. Log files show that students also developed fairly sophisticated search strategies, using both browsing and searching, and constructing multiple-keyword searches. Shortcomings and future directions of the Artemis system are also discussed.
