Information retrieval (IR) is a complex human activity supported by sophisticated systems. Information science has contributed much to the design and evaluation of previous generations of IR system development and to our general understanding of how such systems should be designed and yet, due to the increasing success and diversity of IR systems, many recent textbooks concentrate on IR systems themselves and ignore the human side of searching for information. This book is the first text to provide an information science perspective on IR.
Unique in its scope, the book covers the whole spectrum of information retrieval, including:

• history and background
• information behaviour and seeking
• task-based information searching and retrieval
• approaches to investigating information interaction and
• behaviour
• information representation
• access models
• evaluation
• interfaces for IR
• interactive techniques
• web retrieval, ranking and personalization
• recommendation, collaboration and social search
• multimedia: interfaces and access.

Readership: Senior undergraduates and masters’ level students of all information and library studies courses and practising LIS professionals who need to better appreciate how IR systems are designed, implemented and evaluated.

"This book is a must if one is a student or researcher new to information science and, in particular, to information retrieval (IR) interaction and multimedia research."

"This is an interesting collection that deserves to be adopted as a key text within information science courses. Award-winning, internationally renowned editors have enticed a number of experts, some with industry experience, to provide high-quality contributions. The solid chapters discussing core fields that make up its coverage – information seeking, information behaviour,information retrieval – assure its place on reading lists. The editors have ensured new developments receive attention but not at the expense of the essentials of the fields."

Ian Ruthven is Professor of Information Seeking and Retrieval, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde.
Diane Kelly is Assistant Professor, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina.