Discovery layers introduction

PLVN – ICT Special Interest Group Thursday 21 st July 2011

Also known as
Discovery layer
Discovery service
Web scale discovery service
Resource discovery platform

What is a discovery layer?
A discovery layer provides a single point of access to the full library collection across bought, licensed and digital materials. Typically, a single search box is offered alongside a range of other navigation features. (Lorcan Dempsey LITA Top Tech Trends 2011)
Discovery Layer: an application or service which sits on top of a library’s catalogue, electronic holdings and other records to provide a unified and modern experience
(Chris Keene, University of Sussex Library 2010)
To me, a Discovery Layer allows a user to search across a library catalogue (or several), an ebook platform (or several), and a source of articles (or several). And incorporates the following:
Federated searching
Metasearching
Single host environment
(Mita Williams, Windsor Public Library, Canada, 2008)

How does a discovery layer work?
Federated search
Indexing of databases
Expanded search options
Narrowing
Fuzzy logic – Did you mean….

What a discovery layer is not?
A replacement to federated search
A ready made index to all your databases content (depending on your vendor)
The cure for all your catalogue ills
The way to get people to use the rest of your library website

What it can do for you?
Better searching
Cross platform searching
Quicker results (depending on indexing)

Source: Library Technology Guides

Just in
Evaluating and implementing Web Scale Discovery Services in your Library Services
http://www.scribd.com/doc/59958617/Evaluating-and-Implementing-Web-Scale-Discovery-Services-Part-1
The Library Discovery Layer Product Selection Committee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQnycl8BEFU&feature=player_embedded
Unified Resource Discovery Companion http://sites.google.com/site/urd2comparison/articles-on-discovery

Discovery layers introduction

by Michelle McLean

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