Optimizing Discovery Systems to Improve User Experience: The Innovative Librarian's Guide
Two authors with more than 40 years of combined library experience tap into their wealth of knowledge about discovery and user experience, sharing proven methods for setting up, promoting, and teaching their own discovery systems.

Discovery systems are the new one-stop search model for libraries, but simply implementing the software doesn't ensure that it will meet your users' search needs. This book looks at how discovery systems are actually used by examining the findings of several user experience (UX) studies, providing data and observations that will inform your decisions about selecting, implementing, and enhancing this software.

This book provides library practitioners who choose, administer, and interact with discovery systems with insight for establishing or fine-tuning a discovery system. You will understand how the use and effectiveness of the top discovery systems compare to more traditional databases and web resources, get insight into the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the best-selling discovery systems, and examine the UX research findings of the authors on student response and faculty response. You'll also learn about key configuration options that help or hinder search success with these systems and affect content selection, linking software setup, and interlibrary loan processes. The book concludes with recommended best practices for promoting discovery systems, including web design, placement on the library's website, getting coworkers on board, and PR ideas.

"1125408468"
Optimizing Discovery Systems to Improve User Experience: The Innovative Librarian's Guide
Two authors with more than 40 years of combined library experience tap into their wealth of knowledge about discovery and user experience, sharing proven methods for setting up, promoting, and teaching their own discovery systems.

Discovery systems are the new one-stop search model for libraries, but simply implementing the software doesn't ensure that it will meet your users' search needs. This book looks at how discovery systems are actually used by examining the findings of several user experience (UX) studies, providing data and observations that will inform your decisions about selecting, implementing, and enhancing this software.

This book provides library practitioners who choose, administer, and interact with discovery systems with insight for establishing or fine-tuning a discovery system. You will understand how the use and effectiveness of the top discovery systems compare to more traditional databases and web resources, get insight into the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the best-selling discovery systems, and examine the UX research findings of the authors on student response and faculty response. You'll also learn about key configuration options that help or hinder search success with these systems and affect content selection, linking software setup, and interlibrary loan processes. The book concludes with recommended best practices for promoting discovery systems, including web design, placement on the library's website, getting coworkers on board, and PR ideas.

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Optimizing Discovery Systems to Improve User Experience: The Innovative Librarian's Guide

Optimizing Discovery Systems to Improve User Experience: The Innovative Librarian's Guide

Optimizing Discovery Systems to Improve User Experience: The Innovative Librarian's Guide

Optimizing Discovery Systems to Improve User Experience: The Innovative Librarian's Guide

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Overview

Two authors with more than 40 years of combined library experience tap into their wealth of knowledge about discovery and user experience, sharing proven methods for setting up, promoting, and teaching their own discovery systems.

Discovery systems are the new one-stop search model for libraries, but simply implementing the software doesn't ensure that it will meet your users' search needs. This book looks at how discovery systems are actually used by examining the findings of several user experience (UX) studies, providing data and observations that will inform your decisions about selecting, implementing, and enhancing this software.

This book provides library practitioners who choose, administer, and interact with discovery systems with insight for establishing or fine-tuning a discovery system. You will understand how the use and effectiveness of the top discovery systems compare to more traditional databases and web resources, get insight into the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the best-selling discovery systems, and examine the UX research findings of the authors on student response and faculty response. You'll also learn about key configuration options that help or hinder search success with these systems and affect content selection, linking software setup, and interlibrary loan processes. The book concludes with recommended best practices for promoting discovery systems, including web design, placement on the library's website, getting coworkers on board, and PR ideas.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781440843839
Publisher: ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date: 05/24/2017
Series: Innovative Librarian's Guide
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 136
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Bonnie Imler is library director at Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA, and the web usability and assessment coordinator for Penn State University Libraries.

Michelle Eichelberger is the systems and electronic services librarian at Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 Setting the Stage 1

Chapter 2 Usability Testing 5

Usability Testing Framework 6

Creating the Study Team 8

Defining the Purpose of the Study 9

Defining the Scope of the Study 10

Identifying Participants 10

Selecting a Study Method 15

Designing Year Instrument 16

Selecting a Data Collection Method 26

Creating Consent Forms 35

Seeking Permission for the Study 35

Recruiting Participants 36

Planning Research Session Details 39

Conducting Testing 40

Collecting Data 40

Data Analysis 41

Report Findings 43

Instrument and Data Retention 44

Storage Methods for Study Instruments and Results 45

Study Follow Through 46

Chapter 3 Discovery System Configuration 47

Data Decisions 48

The Catalog 49

Local Catalog Data 49

External Catalog Data 51

Local Catalog Tools 51

Databases 52

Recommended Database Option in Summon 52

Database Selection and Branding 53

eBook Collections 54

Setting Up Your User Interface 55

Search Decisions 55

Results List 56

Getting to Full Text 62

Website Access to the Discovery System 64

Benchmarking against Other Libraries 65

Search Box Design 65

Web Implementation 67

Beta Testing 67

System Deployment 69

Transition Planning 69

Search Engine Optimization 71

Chapter 4 Library Instruction and Discovery Systems 73

Instruction Methods 74

Learning Outcomes 74

Where to Start 75

Keyword vs. Subject Searching 76

Advanced Search 77

Boolean Quotation Marks and Truncation 78

Teaching to Limit 80

Teaching the Extras 87

Citation 90

Discovery System Help 90

Promoting the Library Reference Desk 91

Teaching Library Research Grit 92

Chapter 5 PR and Community Buy-In 97

Naming Your Discovery System 97

What's in a Name? 98

Naming Decisions 99

Name Longevity 101

Discovery System PR 102

PR Leadership 102

PR Methods 103

Discovery System Orientation 115

Promotional Timing 115

Community Buy-In 116

Library Staff 116

Selling To Faculty 117

Student Buy-In 121

Chapter 6 Conclusion 123

You Have the Power 123

A Moving Target 124

Appendix: Software and Tools 125

Glossary 127

Bibliography 129

Index 131

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