Tangible Information Interfaces for Children in Public Libraries

Abstract

The role of public libraries as facilitators of information has often been questioned against the use of rigid bibliographic structures and tools that appear to provide the expected functionality just in the hands of experts. Online Public Access Catalogs in children’s libraries are supposed to assist young patrons in finding books on their own and explore available services. Although some OPACs have been modified in the presentation and structure of information to appeal to young users, they are still hardly used by children. This work in progress is currently investigating how an interface based on tangible interaction could support children better in their searching tasks within a public library.