Implementing Library Discovery

In the summer of 2010, Drake University's Cowles Library implemented EBSCO Discovery Service™1 (EDS). During the implementation and throughout the first year of use, the library faced challenging decisions regarding resource selection, how to present resources in a way that maximized their utility, and configuring the public interface to appeal to both first-time users and experienced researchers. This chapter provides libraries considering or having purchased a Web-scale discovery tool a look at the various issues and potential solutions they may face when implementing a discovery service. It will specifically target those aspects of implementation that concern resource selection and configuration of the public interface. Issues and examples discussed refer to EDS™, but many of the issues are common to all discovery solutions.