A cascading approach to training discovery

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.

EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) Usage in Israeli Academic Libraries

“…The literature on this points out that librarians need to reevaluate instructions at the reference desk and in the classroom. Instructions can be used to teach patrons basic search skills, allowing more time to focus on research skills and encourages them to evaluate the information [35,36].…”

“…Users must intentionally navigate to the advanced search page, so most of them will use the default and basic search box. When students use the discovery service, they type a few relevant keywords, which enable them to find rich, fast, and ranked search results [36]. Asher et al [4] also found that students usually trust the search engine's algorithms.…”

“…On average, 14.42% of the total users turn to the advanced search box as their starting point of access (first interaction data (see Figure 1)). In their work on discovery services usage at Indiana University, Meg Galasso and her colleagues [36] found that although librarians assumed discovery tools were intuitive and easy to use, many users are not using it effectively. This small percentage of users indicates that they find the basic search interface inadequate for their needs.…”