Exploring the effects of Discovery Services on Library Instruction Lisa Rose-Wiles, Seton Hall University Melissa A. Hofmann, Rider University Kenneth Kauffman, Rider University

The next-generation approach to research … ? “a web scale discovery service is one that is delivered on demand to library users via the browser, with infrastructure, processing and indexing provided and maintained by the vendor” (Howard & Wiebrands, 2011).

Major players … Ebsco Discovery Service (EDS) ExLibris Primo Summon (Proquest/Serial Solutions) Key Concept: a single, Google-like search box to “search everything” (with various refinements).

Literature review: usability + Pros + - Cons- No silos – don’t need to choose database or OPAC User-friendly; fast and easy to use, familiar to Googlers Designed for the end user Increases use of library resources Many ways to customize and brand The latest “hot thing”! Too many results, often irrelevant Lack of precision Difficult to distinguish source types Unclear what is being searched Misses important content ‘Dumbs down’ searching; does not foster IL skills

Our way or the (information) highway? Librarians Users Find information “the right way” Know what content is being searched Value precision, carefully crafted search terms Information rich, time poor environment = Make it easy, make it fast Satisficing works for most undergraduates

Key quote: our way “Librarians want to teach tools that work, which they understand, and that will help students gain valuable information literacy skills”. “For librarians to want to teach this tool, it needs to meet their expectations, not just that of students” . Buck & Mellinger (2011), p.176. Oregon State University.

versus the Highway… “It is the behaviour of our information seekers that should drive our services … but this ….. sits somewhat uncomfortably with the world of the risk-averse librarian” “We spend far too much time training students to use complicated systems that many will not encounter or have access to once they have left the university” Howard & Wiebrands (2011) Edith Cowan University, Aus.

Experience with Ebsco Discovery Service Seton Hall University Experience with Ebsco Discovery Service

Testing the waters and – launch! 3-4 months customizing and testing EDS before “soft launch” in April 2012. Focus on technical issues (coverage, linking, branding), discussion on listserv. Invited user feedback but received little. No major discussion of library instruction EDS moved to front of redesigned library home page at start of fall semester 2012 !

Some EDS instruction issues Do we teach catalog, journals and subject databases first or EDS first? (well, that depends ….). How do we handle shift from “finding” to “refining” results (without undermining EDS)? How much do we worry about missing content, uneven ranking, embarrassing linking problems etc.? Only 30% of students use ‘traditional’ library databases (Fagan, 2011) Is it easier / quicker to manage “one shot instruction sessions” with EDS?

Optional / additional end slides

Web-scale discovery & IL Buck, S., & Mellinger, M. (2011). The impact of serial solutions’ summon™ on information literacy instruction: Librarian perceptions. Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 16(4), 159-181. Fagan, J. C. (2011). Discovery tools and information literacy. Journal of Web Librarianship, 5(3), 171-178. Fawley, N., Nikki. (2012). Information literacy opportunities within the discovery tool environment. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 19(2-4), 207. Howard, D., & Wiebrands, C. (2011). Culture shock: Librarians' response to web scale search. Kaufmann, K., Larsen, J. & DeSalvo, P. (2012). Discovering the discovery tool: The introduction and impact on research and instruction at Seminole State College of Florida. College & Undergraduate Libraries 19(2-4), 278-296.