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1 – 10 of 168There are various online library databases available to access, but none of them include a geographic search option. The purpose of this study is to discover a suitable solution…
Abstract
Purpose
There are various online library databases available to access, but none of them include a geographic search option. The purpose of this study is to discover a suitable solution to solve this problem. To access information, it is critical to search using the geographic locations available in bibliographic databases. Geographic search functionality is available in Web-scale discovery system and services.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach and methods for incorporating geographic search capabilities into VuFind open source discovery software for suitable and appropriate information resource discovery among users are straightforward. Library mash-up tools and techniques were integrated by using geographic locations into a Web-scale library discovery system.
Findings
As a result, bibliographic metadata descriptions help all library users to identify and access documents more quickly and easily. It can assist users and librarians in making better use of library resources by integrating various databases with VuFind and by providing them in a single window-based interface. This system has developed a standardised geographic search architecture, and it is entirely based on the Ubuntu operating system. Furthermore, the 034 MARC 21 tag will be adjusted using the latitude and longitude website.
Originality/value
Web-scale library services are provided by OCLC WorldCat Discovery Services, Summon Web-scale Discovery, EBSCO Discovery Services, Primo Central and others. This Web-scale discovery services platform relies heavily on geographic search interface functionalities.
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Julia Gross and Lutie Sheridan
This study aims to look at how a small group of university students used the new library web scale search discovery tool, “Summon”, and whether they encountered any difficulties…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to look at how a small group of university students used the new library web scale search discovery tool, “Summon”, and whether they encountered any difficulties pertaining to navigation, ease of use and the quality of the search results.
Design/methodology/approach
Researchers conducted a series of usability studies in which students were observed as they conducted some typical library resource searches using the new discovery search platform.
Findings
The paper analyses the data, describes and reports the findings of the usability tests. The study found that the new homepage design of providing a single search box was an effective interface for users. The students found a single search box discovery solution was simple to use, and seemed to deliver satisfactory results on a selection of typical library search tasks. The study confirms some of the promise for web scale discovery, but points to new lines of enquiry in relation to the nature of assistance that students will need in the future, particularly in relation to their need to evaluate information.
Originality/value
Web scale discovery searching is an innovation in the online searching of library collections. The study revealed how a small sample of end‐users experienced the new type of searching and serendipitously identified a new issue that warrants further investigation.
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Bijan Kumar Roy, Subal Chandra Biswas and Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay
This paper aims to provide an overview of the emergence of resource discovery systems and services along with their advantages and best practices including current landscapes. It…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an overview of the emergence of resource discovery systems and services along with their advantages and best practices including current landscapes. It reports the development of a resource discovery system by using the “VuFind” software and describes other technological tools, software, standards and protocols required for the development of the prototype.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper describes the process of integrating VuFind (resource discovery tool) with Koha (integrated library system), DSpace (repository software) and Apache Tika (as full-text extractor for full-text searching), etc.
Findings
The proposed model performs like other existing commercial and open source Web-scale resource discovery systems and is capable of harvesting resources from different subscribed or external sources replacing a library’s OPAC.
Originality/value
This discovery system is an important add-on to designing a one-stop access in place of the existing retrieval silos in libraries. This system is capable of indexing a variety of content within and beyond library collections. This work may help library professionals and administrators in designing their discovery system, as well as vendors to improve their products, to provide different library-friendly services.
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This paper aims to select a few terms in common use today in the library and information science domain, and looks into their usage over time.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to select a few terms in common use today in the library and information science domain, and looks into their usage over time.
Design/methodology/approach
The use of terms is traced historically, if somewhat informally, through writings such as websites, press releases and articles.
Findings
“Discovery tool” suddenly acquired a specific meaning in 2009. “Digital preservation” and “digital curation” may never sort themselves out. “OPAC” and “ILS” are terms in disfavor as the products they refer to lose luster.
Originality/value
The value of the paper is to make readers more aware of the way they use words by reflecting on some commonly used terms in the library and information science domain.
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Amy F. Fyn, Vera Lux and Robert J. Snyder
The purpose of this paper is to test the hypotheses that led to the selection and implementation of a number of customizable features in Serials Solutions' “Summon” discovery…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to test the hypotheses that led to the selection and implementation of a number of customizable features in Serials Solutions' “Summon” discovery layer tool.
Design/methodology/approach
Undergraduate students were surveyed to determine their preferences regarding certain customizable features in the Summon discovery layer tool.
Findings
The authors were most interested in asking students their preferences regarding the ability to add newspapers and outside resources into their search results, as well as their interest in the database recommendation feature. The default Summon settings were selected based on hypotheses grounded in the knowledge of information seeking behavior of undergraduate students. However, it was discovered that the student preferences uncovered through the use of the survey often ran counter to initial assumptions. The results of the case study indicate that this population of students is overwhelmingly interested in having Summon recommend databases in which students might continue their research. However, the results were not as clear regarding the inclusion of newspaper sources and sources from outside the institution in the search results.
Originality/value
The paper's findings demonstrate the importance of supplementing research‐driven hypotheses with specific data‐driven feedback from users when determining the customization and layout of library research tools and technology.
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Tessa Withorn, Carolyn Caffrey, Joanna Messer Kimmitt, Jillian Eslami, Anthony Andora, Maggie Clarke, Nicole Patch, Karla Salinas Guajardo and Syann Lunsford
This paper aims to present recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy providing an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy providing an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of publications covering all library types.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper introduces and annotates English-language periodical articles, monographs, dissertations, reports and other materials on library instruction and information literacy published in 2018.
Findings
The paper provides a brief description of all 422 sources, and highlights sources that contain unique or significant scholarly contributions.
Originality/value
The information may be used by librarians and anyone interested as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
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Kimberly Copenhaver and Alyssa Koclanes
The purpose of this study is to examine shifts in the volume and complexity of reference questions received at a small liberal arts college following the implementation of a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine shifts in the volume and complexity of reference questions received at a small liberal arts college following the implementation of a Web-scale discovery service.
Design/methodology/approach
Researchers used the Warner model of reference classification to review and classify reference questions from the academic year prior to the implementation of EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) and the academic year following EDS implementation to evaluate the change in volume of questions and complexity.
Findings
Research findings are significant as they document a 34 per cent decline in overall volume of reference activity following the integration of a Web-scale discovery service into the research process. Notably, the question category rated as the highest level of reference complexity (level IV) registered an 18.5 per cent increase in volume, post-EDS implementation. Question levels I-III all saw declines in volume ranging from 45 to 14 per cent.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations of the study relate to multiple librarians having recorded questions as they were received by reference services and, as a result, some variation in transaction description should be expected. The concurrent deployment of a Web-scale discovery service and an integrated link resolver made delineation of the respective impact of each tool difficult.
Practical implications
Libraries contemplating the integration of a Web-scale discovery service into the research process will be able to use the research analysis to contemplate service redesign in advance of discovery implementation. The research results support additional training of reference personnel to service higher levels of in-depth inquiries. A redesign of reference services incorporating a tiered reference model using proactive chat with referrals to library faculty for in-depth research consultations is recommended.
Originality/value
After a literature review of relevant research, the researchers discovered few similar studies. As a result, this analysis will be of significant value to the library profession.
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Ellen L. Rubenstein, Cheryl McCain and Kristal S. Boulden
The effectiveness and usability of one-boxes have been subjects of much research and debate, as librarians have worked to evaluate and improve the tools’ effectiveness and…
Abstract
Purpose
The effectiveness and usability of one-boxes have been subjects of much research and debate, as librarians have worked to evaluate and improve the tools’ effectiveness and functionality. As one-box technologies change and improve over time, librarians must learn to navigate their new features and limitations. This paper aims to report the results of a study that sought to determine whether or not one-box teaching practices and philosophies of librarians of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) changed between the fall of 2011 and the spring of 2016.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted using the same survey questions that were sent to ARL instruction and reference librarians in October of 2011. The survey was e-mailed to the same librarians who responded to the original survey. Questions focused on how librarians use the one-box during instructional opportunities and their overall opinions on the one-box as an option.
Findings
There were similarities between the two studies in that librarians agreed that one-box search tools tended to be beneficial for novices as an entrée into library resources but not as valuable for significant research. Librarians also noted the need for improvement in the results and felt that the products did not live up to their hype. There was a slight shift from negative opinions to more neutral opinions, indicating that some librarians have become more accepting of the tool. This shift may reflect a gradual change that suggests that librarians have become more comfortable with or accustomed to the presence of the one-box and its features.
Research limitations/implications
Although this follow-up study was sent to all participants who had responded to the first study, fewer than 25 per cent of the original number responded to the survey in 2016.
Originality/value
This is the first study to examine the shift in practices and philosophies over the past five years of a select group of reference and instruction librarians.
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Meg Galasso, Rachael Anne Cohen and Angie Thorpe Pusnik
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate why libraries should develop instructional plans to further integrate Web-scale discovery services into the academy, as well as propose…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate why libraries should develop instructional plans to further integrate Web-scale discovery services into the academy, as well as propose a three-fold delivery plan to achieve this goal.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper documents a strategy to integrate Web-scale discovery services into library training and instruction for multiple audiences. The strategy is informed by past analysis of discovery service search queries.
Findings
It presents a three-part training plan that can be applied to multiple audiences, universities/colleges and even discovery service platforms.
Practical implications
The strategies and practices detailed in this paper are easily adaptable to other institutions that currently subscribe to Web-scale discovery service products.
Originality/value
This paper introduces an innovative approach toward transforming Web-scale discovery instruction across the academy, based on search query analysis.
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This paper aims to present academic librarians with a framework for teaching and assessing information literacy in response to advancements in online discovery. Advancements in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present academic librarians with a framework for teaching and assessing information literacy in response to advancements in online discovery. Advancements in online discovery require academic librarians to develop new means of teaching and assessing information literacy, with an emphasis on having students use critical thinking to evaluate sources.
Design/methodology/approach
This conceptual paper analyzes how the threshold concept “format as a process” could be incorporated into information literacy instruction sessions which address Web-scale discovery services and other online search tools. General guidelines for applying this concept are included, along with potential classroom activities and assessments.
Findings
Format as a process provides a valuable framework for evaluating information, though librarians need to be mindful of how they present the concept to students. Instruction must be focused on fostering critical thinking skills, rather than how to perform tasks, and assessment must be qualitative in nature.
Practical implications
These changes in online searching mean that information literacy programs will need to alter their approach to instruction and move beyond the “one shot” paradigm. Critical evaluation is a sustainable, lifelong skill which will continue to serve students after graduation, but developing that ability requires academic librarians to fulfill new roles in the classroom and on campus.
Originality/value
The literature surrounding instruction of Web-scale discovery is still limited, and does not incorporate the threshold concepts provided in Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education. This paper concentrates on one such concept, as well as discusses how future concepts could be addressed.
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