WorldCat Local and Information Literacy Instruction: An Exploration of Emerging Teaching Practice

Since the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) unveiled its WorldCat Local library catalog discovery layer in 2008, library instructors have debated how to incorporate this tool into their teaching. WorldCat Local's faceted searching brings both educational benefits and unexpected challenges to the classroom. Instructors frequently hold formal and informal discussions on such topics as which search features are most effective during teaching and which patron groups benefit most from this tool. The authors of this article surveyed instruction librarians at U.S. academic libraries that are using WorldCat Local in order to gather and organize this feedback. This article presents the findings of this survey.     

Improving Library Resource Discovery: Exploring the Possibilities of VuFind and Web-Scale Discovery

Like many libraries, the Bridge Consortium (the shared library of Carleton College and St. Olaf College) had outgrown the existing catalog and needed to find an improved search interface for collections. Seeking something that would work with the existing Innovative Interfaces Inc.'s Millennium integrated library system, researchers explored everything from catalog enhancements provided by Innovative Interfaces to a completely separate, Web-scale discovery tool. For the past year, they worked to implement VuFind as a catalog overlay, continually customizing and enhancing it based on user feedback. At the same time, they continued to research a broader solution and recommended a discovery tool to their consortium leadership group that they believe will redefine student research at their colleges and give new shape and direction to their consortium. By thinking of discovery as more than a product and staggering their implementation, they were better able to meet their consortium's needs. This article details their evaluation process and provides reflection on the decisions made. Many libraries are considering Web-scale discovery products. As part of the process, they confront questions about open source tools, Web site redesigns, incorporating user feedback, and consortial needs. The researchers hope to contribute to these libraries' processes by outlining their process and considerations, and what they learned along the way to arrive at their current solution.     

One Academic Library—One Year of Web-scale Discovery

Tonia Graves, the electronic resources librarian at Old Dominion University, described her library's discovery environment using Marshall Breeding's 2010 article “The State of the Art in Library Discovery” as a framework for her discussion. She discussed the library website redesign, the creation of a mobile website, the audit and reconsideration of the role of the integrated library system (ILS), and the implementation of WorldCat Local. The objective of the presentation was to highlight the challenges of revamping the art of discovery in the library and the application of usage data to evaluate the success of the program.     

A Review of "Using Tablets and Apps in Libraries"

Abstract

Academic libraries have increasingly adopted web-scale discovery tools in order to meet the expectations of students who want immediate results, efficient algorithms, and a single search box. As they have become the de facto search tool at many libraries, librarians and patrons alike have been forced to confront the way they think about research processes and in some cases, modulate ingrained habits. In this article, the authors explore student perceptions of efficacy, relevancy, and ease of use of a library discovery tool through a 2017 mixed-methods user experience study conducted at three City University of New York (CUNY) campuses. The results from this user study will be useful to other institutions that already have implemented discovery layers within their library and help inform website design, discovery layer design, and pedagogy. By combining student interviews with a task analysis, the authors were able to learn more about student search behaviors, how they respond to challenges, and what they expect from search tools. Identifying these barriers to student use of the Primo discovery tool has helped us articulate best practices for instruction and interface customization that may address these barriers and has illuminated implications for website integration.     

Affective Experiences of International and Home Students During the Information Search Process

An increasing number of students are studying abroad requiring that they interact with information in languages other than their mother tongue. The UK in particular has seen a large growth in international students within Higher Education. These nonnative English speaking students present a distinct user group for university information services, such as university libraries. This article presents the findings from an in-depth study to understand differences between the search processes of home and international students. Data were collected using an online survey and diary-interview to capture thoughts and feelings in a more naturalistic way. International students are found to have similar information search processes to those of home students, but sometimes face additional difficulties in assessing search results such as confusion when dealing with differing cultural perspectives. The potential implications for information service providers, particularly university libraries, are discussed, such as providing assistance to students for identifying appropriate English sources.     

图书馆资源发现系统的现状与趋势

简要介绍WorldCat Local、EBSCO Discovery Service、Summon、Primo四大具有集中索引仓储的Web级资源发现系统,从内容索引、系统特性、检索结果显示三个方面对它们进行比较分析。最后指出资源发现系统未来的发展趋势。     

The Perfect Storm: Examining User Experience and Conducting a Usability Test to Investigate a Disruptive Academic Library Web Site Redevelopment

Abstract

The researchers conducted a task-based usability test of the effectiveness of online research beginning on the library Web site homepage. The participants included five university faculty members, six graduate students, and six undergraduate students. All participants reported feeling satisfied with their overall research experience, though most were unable to effectively complete all the research tasks of the test. The researchers identified weaknesses in the approach and process of many participants, and overall usability issues of the library discovery tool and other library Web site pages and research interfaces. Findings indicate the need to strategically incorporate self-service information literacy and research skills help into the library Web site, and to implement navigation and design changes to the library homepage, discovery tool interface, online catalog, and across all the library's Web services.     

网络规模发现服务的研究与实践

分析跨库检索和“下一代图书馆目录”技术存在的缺陷,在此基础上阐述网络规模发现服务的基本原理和主要特点,并介绍WorldCat Local、Summon、EBSCO Discovery Service、Primo Central等几款商业网络规模发现服务产品及美国图书馆界对应用这项服务的反应。指出发现服务在中国的应用刚刚开始,它将有助于提高图书馆西文数据库的利用率,而开发中文网络规模发现服务是当务之急。     

The role of the Cataloging Department in the implementation of OCLC WorldCat Local

OCLC WorldCat Local (WCL) is a unique service that connects library users to local, regional, and OCLC WorldCat results in a single discovery-and-delivery interface. In spring 2009, Washington State University (WSU) Libraries decided to implement WCL. All WSU Libraries' departments played important roles in the implementation process. It is the focus of this paper to discuss the role of WSU Cataloging Department during the implementation process in terms of training staff to catalog at the network level, changing cataloging policies and procedures, preparing old catalog for WCL, and collaborating with other WSU Libraries' departments.     

How Students Research: Implications for the Library and Faculty

This paper presents qualitative findings about the search behaviors and research habits of students interviewed at six college and university campuses in the US. Our findings suggest that students’ strategies are influenced by both their non-academic search experiences as well as the broader academic context of their research tasks. Their behaviors suggest an on-going negotiation of these influences, evidenced by the ways they incorporate Google into their research strategy while still closely adhering to faculty instruction for using library resources. Students bring a strong sense of self-reliance to the research process, yet they still experience many barriers and pain points accessing library resources. We have included recommendations for librarians and faculty who, by better understanding the journey of an academic researcher, can work in concert to reduce the barriers and increase the success of students’ research efforts.     

The Visibility of Authority Records,Researcher Identifiers,Academic Social Networking Profiles,and Related Faculty Publications in Search Engine Results

Information about faculty and their publications can be found in library databases such as the Library of Congress Name Authority File, VIAF, WorldCat, and institutional repositories; in identifier registries such as ORCID and ISNI; and on academic social networking sites such as Academia, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, but the way search engines use such identifiers and profiles is unclear. Therefore, researchers at a large comprehensive university conducted several rounds of web searching before and after the creation and modification of faculty authority records. The sample consisted of 24 faculty and the 35 publications associated with their authorities. The researchers searched for the faculty and their publications on the social networking and identity websites directly, and then used Google, Bing, and Google Scholar to record which of the faculty members’ profiles and publications were found within the top 50 results. Faculty with more profiles were more visible in search engine results, and faculty with authority records ranked more highly in Google. Results related to publication discovery and ranking were more inconclusive, but revealed clear differences between search tools. The implications of this exploratory research can support educational efforts about academic identities and scholarly profiles, begin a research agenda, and inform methodological development surrounding the influence of identity records and academic social networking profiles on web visibility.     

Implementing a Synthesis Tutorial to Improve Student Literature Reviews

ABSTRACT

While undergraduate students may be able to find appropriate scholarly sources, they often struggle to use those sources when writing. This study aimed to improve students’ writing by targeting one specific skill: synthesis, or the ability to integrate multiple sources. Students in a psychology course viewed a video tutorial prior to writing an introductory literature review. Those who viewed the tutorial were more likely to cite two or more sources per paragraph compared to those who did not view it. Students’ survey responses also indicated that they found the tutorial helpful, suggesting it has promise as an instructional tool.     

The Effectiveness of Librarian Searching of Google,WorldCat, and a Library Online Catalog

As studies show, undergraduates needing information frequently begin their research in a search engine such as Google rather than a library online catalog. To test the efficacy of that research approach, a local usability study of fifty topics in ten disciplines of study was performed. In a comparison of WorldCat.org and Google Books to the library catalog, it was found that more than double the number of hits to library-held material was found by searching WorldCat.org than the library online catalog alone. It was also learned that twice as many hits to articles and material within a thirty-mile radius were found in WorldCat.org and Google Books as compared to searching the online catalog alone. These results suggest the need to improve the native interface of catalogs and for continued placement of resources outside the library catalog.     

RLG and OCLC: Combined for the Future

On July 1, 2006, The Research Libraries Group, Inc. (RLG) and the Online Computer Library System (OCLC) combined their organizations and resources. RLG's products and services were integrated with OCLC's, and RLG's program initiatives went forward within an expanded OCLC Research division. This was a historic moment for libraries and research institutions consonant with the incredible changes in the information environment that had been underway during the previous decade. The expansion of WorldCat that resulted and the renewed attention given to research libraries by OCLC in the merger has positively impacted libraries around the globe.     

Usability Evaluation of a Research Repository and Collaboration Web Site

This article reports results from an empirical usability evaluation of Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative Central as part of the effort to develop an open access research repository and collaboration platform for human-animal bond researchers. By repurposing and altering key features of the original HUBzero system, Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative Central hosts previously published materials from related disciplines and an extensive bibliography, in addition to traditional hub materials such as tools and datasets. Seven graduate students in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University participated in the usability evaluation. Tasks included exploring the system, finding an article in the repository, submitting an article to the repository, adding bibliographic information of an article to the repository, and using interaction features such as user groups. Participants also answered open questions regarding their overall experience and rated Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative Central's usability using the System Usability Scale. Response measures included task successfulness, navigational steps, task time, participant comments, and behavior notes recorded by the researcher. Results of the evaluation showed that the overall user experience of Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative Central was satisfactory but also indicated a number of usability issues. Participants had difficulty inputting metadata such as resource type and author information when submitting an article to the repository. There were also interface design issues regarding layout and consistency. It is expected that findings from this study and the evaluation methodology can be extended to the development and evaluation of similar research repository systems.     

Discovery Tools in the Classroom: A Usability Study and Implications for Information Literacy Instruction

In 2016, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) library acquired ProQuest’s discovery tool Summon. To determine when information literacy instruction using Summon would be effective and what aspects should be taught, librarians conducted a usability study. Students completed tasks focused on determining whether Summon is intuitive and whether the interface needs to be taught. Results indicate that students are comfortable with the interface and have few problems with the tool. Instead, participants struggled with critical thinking processes associated with research. Results were used to integrate the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education into instruction.     

The Research Lifecycle as a Strategic Roadmap

ABSTRACT

What is the role and purpose of the academic library in the 21st century? Increasingly, this question is being asked on campuses around the country. The thesis of this article is that academic libraries will continue to play a vital role on campus, provided they align their services to the research and discovery missions of their respective institutions. If this is true, a clear definition of the research lifecycle now becomes a strategy roadmap, allowing academic libraries to see the bigger picture as well as the sweep of research services they might offer. The case for crafting the library's strategic plan around the research lifecycle is presented in four parts in this article. In part one, a review of the literature is presented, specifically that having to do with the continuing imperative of academic libraries to practice strategic alignment. An exploration of the increasing importance of the research experience in higher education is then presented in part two, followed by a detailed look at the research lifecycle. And finally, an overview of strategic opportunities and partners is presented in a final section.