Exploring the effects of Discovery Services on Library Instruction

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

2. 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).

3. 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).

4. Literature review: usability + Pros + - Cons- 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 • 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”!

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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Seton Hall University Experience with Ebsco Discovery Service

9. 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 !

10. 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?

11. Optional / additional end slides

12. 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.