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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; and, recommendation, collaboration and social search multimedia: interfaces and access. A key text for senior undergraduates and masters' level students of all information and library studies courses, this book is also useful for practising LIS professionals who need to better appreciate how IR systems are designed, implemented and evaluated.