Discovering User Behavior: Applying Usage Statistics to Shape Frontline Services

Cohen, Rachael; Thorpe, Angie

doi:10.1080/0361526x.2015.1040194

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Most patrons (93%) use EDS from their desktop computers, 4.14% are mobile users, and less than 1% use tablets. The data resembles the Cohen and Thorpe study [39] on EDS usage statistics in two Indiana University campuses. They found that 98% of the discovery tool visitors were desktop users (PC and laptops).…”

Section: Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Navigation to this option suggests a deeper level of understanding and a more sophisticated research processes [42]. In their work Discovering User Behavior, Cohen and Thorpe [39] suggest to characterize discovery service users as either light users or heavy users. The heavy users should be taught advanced searching techniques for their information needs.…”

Section: Users' Information Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

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EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) Usage in Israeli Academic Libraries

Greenberg¹

2020

Digital Imaging

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Awareness to the problem that different search interfaces discourage patrons' use of library information sources has led academic libraries to implement web-scale discovery services. These services offer the user a "Google-like" search experience of library resources. This study aims to explore library professionals' satisfaction, patrons' information behavior, and use of EDS discovery tool service in academic libraries in Israel. Mixed research methods were used in this study: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research methods are through content analysis of library directors' interviews, and quantitative research method is through collected library metrics (from Google analytics) data analysis, regarding usage patterns and search session analysis. The study aims to gain insight regarding library implementation and patrons' information behavior of the EDS discovery tool, in Israeli higher education institutions.Keywords: information behavior, academic libraries, Israel, EDS discovery service, search in the library Digital Imaging 2 in the life of all library users. It is the most popular search engine for queries about daily issues and for academic needs. It empowers library visitors to search for their academic information needs, within an easy and popular interface [2]. In libraries, some consider this an obstacle, and some see it as an opportunity for innovations and improvements. One thing is certain: Google redefined the search experience, and libraries should acknowledge this.In 2004, Google launched Google Scholar, a tool for discovering scholarly information. Google Scholar is a search engine for academic articles, theses, books, abstracts, and court opinions from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities, and other websites. This free resource, with its basic and familiar interface, has the potential to serve as a scholarly metasearch information engine [3,4]. Google Scholar has received mixed receptions from the librarian community. It has some advanced search features, but it provides no interface for refining the results. Users can set preferences such as language, year, author, and periodical title. They can also view an indication of the libraries from which it can access the source, citation export options, and how to cite the source (for many citation styles). The reviews and critiques of Google Scholar have been mixed, at best. Its content, its search engine, its interface, and its citation count have all been criticized. Patrons of libraries who have subscriptions to the digital archives of publishers are the greatest beneficiaries of Google Scholar, as with a single search they are led to the full digital text versions of the articles [4-6]. Google Scholar is very different from library database interfaces and their search options, yet it introduces library users to scholarly articles through a familiar and friendly interface.

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Section: Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Users' Information Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) Usage in Israeli Academic Libraries

Greenberg¹

2020

Digital Imaging

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“…Vendor supplied usage reports can be analyzed in the context of usability testing and supplemented by outside data such as proxy server logs or Google Analytics for more objective insight. 2 Additional qualitative feedback should be gathered as well through annual surveys and user testing. Staff can also explore less conventional data sources such as local e-resource error reports and reference chat logs.…”

Section: Understanding Users and Their Search Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing Discovery: Developing a Holistic Approach to Managing a Discovery Service

Sisler¹

2020

The Serials Librarian

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Discovery services have become prominent and valuable tools within many of today's libraries. Created to meet user expectations in the age of Google, they aim to provide a single search platform for an institution's electronic collections. Ideally, they connect users seamlessly to resources spread across various publisher platforms and databases. However, without proper configuration and regular assessment a discovery service may develop access barriers that frustrate and potentially drive away users. This presentation outlined a holistic approach developed at Ohio University Libraries for optimizing a discovery service through a combination of technical knowledge, open collaboration, and understanding the user experience.

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“…However, abundant research exists on other aspects of discovery tools. Until now most research on discovery tools focused on usability (Jill, 2018;Power, 2018;Meirose & Lian, 2019;Rigda et al, 2018;Warren, 2017;Woods et al, 2016), user behavior (Cohen & Thorpe, 2015;Dempsey & Valenti, 2016), use pattern changes (Calvert, 2015;Fitzpatrick, 2010;Teolis et al, 2019), and the impact of discovery services on reference and library instruction (Copenhaver & Kochanes, 2016;Walker & Sims, 2012). There seems to be a gap on how discovery services display and promote content of libraries' local collections.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Collections in Discovery Services: An Inquiry

Yang

Dawson

Ding

2019

IJoL

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Many libraries subscribed to discovery services in the hope of boosting the use of their local collections such as print materials, DVDs, or even subscribed ejournals and ebooks that are separate from licensed databases. However, anecdotal evidence shows that the implementation of a discovery service will increase the usage of the vendors’ electronic resources instead. This study aims to find out how well local collections are promoted through EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS), Primo, Summon, and WorldCat Discovery Services (WorldCat) by comparing results of queries in the discovery services versus the number of actual listings from these libraries’ traditional catalogs. Authors conducted three searches based on real-life student assignments in science, history, and sociology in each of the four discovery services. To offset the bias of location configuration, ten libraries with the same discovery tool were selected for each search and total results are averaged. ANOVA and Tukey Honest Significant Difference statistical analyses show differences among the four discovery services investigated. Discovery tools promote local collections in different ways. Some tools provide the possibility to list libraries’ local collections before listing the vendor’s database items, but others are less inclined to do so.

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Discovering User Behavior: Applying Usage Statistics to Shape Frontline Services

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) Usage in Israeli Academic Libraries

EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) Usage in Israeli Academic Libraries

Optimizing Discovery: Developing a Holistic Approach to Managing a Discovery Service

Local Collections in Discovery Services: An Inquiry

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