Discoverability: Investigating the Academic Library's Changing Role in Connecting People to Resources

Abstract

In October 2008, a small group at the University of Minnesota Libraries set out to explore the concept of discoverability of the Libraries’ resources. Commissioned by the Web Services Steering Committee, the group identified trends in user behavior and analyzed data available from library systems and used the results to develop a set of principles. These principles are helping to guide the Libraries’ strategic decisions as they relate to discovery. This case study describes how the group performed its analysis, identifies questions and issues uncovered in the process, and provides examples of how the guiding principles have affected planning and analysis throughout the Libraries.