Virginia Tech migrated its knowledge base and discovery service from ProQuest to EBSCO in May 2018, facilitating the transfer of numerous journal and book packages. The configuration process provided insights into user behavior, revealing a reliance on Google as a primary access point for library resources. Additionally, the library adjusted its systems to enhance accessibility for off-campus users and updated instructional materials for effective resource use.

1. C O N F I G U R I N G
K N O W L E D G E B A S E S
F O R D I S C O V E R Y
A N D A C C E S S
ROBERT SEBEK: COLLECTIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES
A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 8

2. V i r g i n i a T e c h
c h a n g e d i t s K B
a n d D i s c o v e r y
s e r v i c e f r o m
P r o Q u e s t t o
E B S C O i n M a y .
 We migrated hundred of packages of journals, books,
and videos to the new KB
 We configured EDS with content, links, and limiting
options
 We changed the openURL services and prioritized
platforms and providers

3. R e v i e w o f c u r r e n t
u s e
 Planning for all of this configuring gave us an opportunity
to review current usage and practices
 We studied how Discovery was used through focus
groups, task-oriented observations, and detailed analysis
of usage data
 I’ll focus on that usage data

4. V e n d o r s t a t s
 Some vendor stats include referring sites—where were
users immediately prior to accessing the full text?
 These stats shows 2/3rds of users start in Google—
regular Google, Google Scholar, and country-specific
flavors (probably overseas students)

5. G o o g l e A n a l y t i c s
 Google Analytics on our link resolver pages also show
60%+ users began in Google*
 Summon will link directly to full text for most
vendors/publishers, bypassing the link resolver page,
which skews this statistics
 These stats also show higher Google usage early in the
semester, presumable before students are taught about
Discovery and other databases

6. O t h e r n o n -
D i s c o v e r y s o u r c e s  PubMed (also requires configuring to link to our
holdings)
 WorldCat.org

7. H o w d o w e e n s u r e
t h e m a j o r i t y o f
u s e r s c a n a c c e s s
l i b r a r y s u b s c r i b e d
r e s o u r c e s f r o m
G o o g l e ?
 Changed KB-feed to Google Scholar to EBSCO
 Updated FAQs about configuring “Library Links” in GS
 Emphasize this step in instruction sessions
 Provided details about why GS does not work with
EZproxy and the importance of using Library Links to
ensure authenticated sessions
 Configured an additional KB with holdings for users who
don’t know to set Library Links

8. T w o K B s !
W h y w e a l s o k e e p
W o r l d C a t ’ s W M S
i n p a r a l l e l t o o u r
p r i m a r y K B
 In addition to easing access to our collections via ILL, we
maintain the WorldCat KB to aid access to off-campus
users who have not configured their Library Links
 Find in a Library link in Google Scholar will make use of
geolocation services so local users (the vast majority of
our off-campus users) will find print and online materials
 Once this KB was sync’d with the primary (originally
Serials Solutions’) we saw a decrease in Ask a Librarian-
reported problems with access

9. O t h e r s t a r t i n g
p o i n t s
 Configuring the new link resolver (openURL) address in
every vendor site that allows it
 Updating instructions on using LibX with vendor/
publisher’s emails to route direct links through the proxy
 Providing faculty and grad students with updated
instructions on using Persistent Links to search results,
full text, and database search pages