[Sigia-l] Faceted Search - non-library, non ecommerce sites

[Katie Ware]

Hello all -
 
I'm wondering if anyone on the list has had experience designing/working with  a non-library, non ecommerce site that uses faceted search. I'm thinking more for sites where "good enough" searches are ok - you're not looking for the perfect chair or doing research on a specific topic. You just want a pool of things to look at and then narrow down - or not. We have a site that will be implementing faceted search for a site like this.
 
I'm particularly interested in any user studies/observations. I am curious about how users actually use it - or if they do. And I don't have time to do extensive research, although I will try to fit some guerilla testing in. I do have an assumption - which could very well be wrong :-) - that having numerous filter options for a search is not unlike "advanced" search. Which we have found that many users don't bother to use. The google effect, as it were. Just give me a text box and a button.
 
I do have the "Design Recommendations for Hierarchical Faceted Search Interfaces" study by Marti Hearst.
 
thanks - 
Katie