Please Excuse The Cross Posting.

Discovery Systems: The Promise and the Reality

RUSA Emerging Technologies in Reference Section (MARS) program at ALA

Sunday, June 24th, from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Since 2008, discovery systems – programs such as Serials Solutions’ Summon, EBSCO Discovery Service and Ex Libris’ PrimoCentral – have promised to revolutionize how students and researchers discover, access, and use library resources of all types by providing a "Google-like" search experience for library collections. This program will examine how well discovery systems are fulfilling these promises four years into their development. Have they lived up to expectations? What are their limitations? Can users find and access more of our library resources, and with increased ease?  Our panelists will take a close look at the promise of discovery systems and discuss their practical applications and limitations.

Panelists are:

Marshall Breeding, Independent Consultant and Founder of Library Technology Guides, will provide an overview of the history and development of the discovery landscape.

Barbara DeFelice, Director, Digital Resources and Scholarly Communications Programs, Dartmouth College, will discuss the results of focus groups conducted at Dartmouth this spring that asked users what they want in an ideal information discovery environment. Dartmouth released Serials Solutions’ Summon to its users in Fall 2009.

Mark Dehmlow, Head, Library Web Department, University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Libraries, will share how Notre Dame has customized Ex Libris' Primo and Primo Central and how these programs have lived up to the criteria Notre Dame established at selection four years ago.  

Michael Kucsak, Director, Library Systems and Technology, University of North Florida, will discuss that institution’s experiences with EBSCO Discovery Service.

Cody Hanson, Web Architect and UX Analyst, University of Minnesota Libraries, will discuss UofM's implementation of Primo as a “next-gen catalog” and that library’s current exploration of discovery options.

This forum is presented by the RUSA Emerging Technologies in Reference Section (MARS) Local Systems & Services Committee. We hope to see you there!

Regina Koury
Electronic Resources Librarian
Eli M. Oboler Library
Idaho State University
850 S. 9th Avenue, Stop 8089
Pocatello, ID 83209
(208) 282-4582