“But I just want a book!” Is your discovery layer meeting your users’ needs?

Abstract

In January 2016, the University of Toledo Libraries implemented EBSCO Discovery Services (EDS) as its discovery layer. Administrators questioned whether users were able to find consortial material in the EDS, so they assembled a task force to conduct a pilot usability test. The task force gathered demographic data and recorded the screens of 25 students answering six task questions. Results showed participants could easily find most items except books, and for tasks that were open-ended, many students continued searching even though they found relevant material. To determine why participants could not find books, the task force consulted with EBSCO and discovered a configuration problem that was easily resolved by editing a mapping table and adding a custom limiter for print books. The searching issue was more difficult to determine, and the task force suggests a lack of library instruction may be at least partly to blame. Libraries invest significant resources in discovery layers. If users have difficulty using them or finding relevant material for their assignments, libraries need to address that issue and instruction is one solution. This pilot study reports on what the University Libraries did to make the EDS more usable for its users.

Keywords:

• usability testing
• EDS
• discovery layer
• academic libraries
• web-scale discovery
• EBSCO Discovery Services

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christine Rigda

Christine Rigda has worked as the Technology Coordinator/Systems Librarian at the University of Toledo since 2006. Her research interests include usability, emerging technologies and trends in the ILS.

Margaret Hoogland

Margaret Hoogland is the Clinical Medical Librarian at the University of Toledo. Previously, she worked in a hospital library, corporate library, association library, and two academic libraries.  Her research interests include working with faculty, staff, and students to identify, understand, and, where appropriate, integrate technology seamlessly into lectures and courses to improve the learning experience for participants.

Jessica Morales

Jessica Morales worked as the Collection Management Librarian at The University of Toledo from 2016-2018 and currently serves as the Head of Interlibrary Loan and Acquisitions Services at the University of Notre Dame. Her professional career has focused on acquisitions, collection development & management, and user support.