Keeping Discovery in the Library

Ken Varnum2 November 2011

Charleston Conference

Search ResultsSummon Native ArticlesPlus (API)

ArticlesPlus Functionality

• Replicates most of Summon’s hosted site• 360 Link is resolver• Each citation has a permalink for

bookmarking, sharing, and error reporting• Favorites

Being in the Flow

Lorcan Dempsey defines “being in the flow” as:• the library needs to be in the user

environment and not expect the user to find their way to the library environment

• integration of library resources should not be seen as an end in itself but as a means to better integration with the user environment, with workflow.

“In the flow”, 6/24/2005http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/000688.html

Image credit flickr user M.H Stephens

Staying in Our Users’ Flow

• We want to be where our users go• We need to be where we are• Our users’ flow often involves the

library, so we try to add extra value there

Image credit:Flickr user aigle_dore

Challenges• Not all functionality of

Summon’s native interface exists in API

• Need to do extra work– Display Web of Science

Citation Counts– Display LibGuide author

photos• API not 100% documented

Effects• Eliminated Ex Libris’ Metalib • Eliminated server for

OpenURL resolution• Database searching is down• Full-text downloads up• Ability to add functionality

Adding Functionality

This is the big win….• Favorites• Custom searches• Semi-permalinks• Failure reporting• User analysis

Where Next?

• Continue to build services around discovery• Bring scoped searches to specific courses• Move toward sharing frequently used and/or

saved resources among natural collaborators• Continue to study search & browse usage

Contact Information

Ken VarnumWeb Systems Manager

University of Michigan Library

varnum@umich.edu@varnum

lib.umich.edu/users/varnum