{"id":292251,"date":"2026-07-20T18:29:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/blog\/better-library-discovery-service-starts-behind-the-scenes\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T16:31:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:31:35","slug":"better-library-discovery-service-starts-behind-the-scenes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/blog\/better-library-discovery-service-starts-behind-the-scenes\/","title":{"rendered":"Better library discovery service starts behind the scenes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Academic libraries are being asked to deliver more intuitive, consistent discovery experiences. While users see only the search box, the real work takes place in the systems, workflows and metadata that support it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Randyn Heisserer Miller, Associate Dean for Collections, Discovery, and Digital Initiatives, San Diego State University stressed, “We look closely at what students are actually doing to get to information, not what we assume they\u2019re doing. Some of those findings don\u2019t always match what librarians intuitively expect, but we have an imperative to make discovery as easy as possible.” <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Many libraries still operate across fragmented environments that make it harder to meet these expectations. Disconnected systems, duplicated effort and inconsistent metadata are ongoing operational issues. They also affect how easily students and researchers can find and assess library resources.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A new whitepaper, Better discovery starts behind the scenes<\/u><\/em><\/a>,<\/u> looks at how libraries are addressing these challenges and treating discovery as a strategic priority.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The hidden barriers to discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n

Library users are accustomed to fast, relevant search experiences outside the academic environment. They expect similar ease of use within the library.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Behind the scenes, the picture is often more complex. Siloed systems can require repeated manual work and ongoing reconciliation of metadata across platforms. This not only takes time; it introduces inconsistencies that affect search results and user confidence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Like Nancy Babb, Discovery Services Librarian, University at Buffalo notes, “Users aren\u2019t really searching anymore in the traditional sense. They\u2019re asking questions, and they expect the system to help them get to an answer, even if they don\u2019t know exactly what they\u2019re looking for yet.”<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This gap between user expectations and operational reality shapes many libraries\u2019 priorities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From fragmented systems to joined-up discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n

The whitepaper describes a shift toward cloud-based platforms that bring together cataloging, acquisitions, discovery and analytics.<\/p>\n

Bringing these functions into a single environment reduces duplication and improves data consistency. It gives libraries a more stable foundation for discovery, where information moves more reliably and errors are easier to manage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

These changes extend beyond internal workflows. Integration with institutional systems and teaching platforms allows library services to be present throughout the academic journey rather than limited to a separate entry point.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The role of AI in library discovery services<\/strong><\/p>\n

Artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in managing large and complex collections. From supporting metadata creation to assisting with search, AI can reduce manual effort and improve discoverability at scale.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“One of my talking points is always in favor of metadata, and in favor of excellence in metadata.” Nancy Babb, Discovery Services Librarian, University at Buffalo<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The whitepaper also stresses the importance of careful implementation, with librarians maintaining oversight. This approach keeps professional judgment central while allowing technology to assist where it is most useful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A strategic opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Improving discovery is not just a technical exercise. It influences how libraries are used and how they contribute to teaching and research. More effective discovery can increase the visibility and use of collections and strengthen the library\u2019s role across campus. For many libraries, the focus is on how to modernize systems in a way that supports both operational needs and user expectations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Download \u2018Better discovery starts behind the scenes<\/a>\u2019<\/u><\/em> to see how changes behind the scenes can improve how users discover and engage with your library collections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Academic libraries are being asked to deliver more intuitive, consistent discovery experiences. While users see only the search box, the real work takes place in the systems, workflows and metadata…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":292252,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1483],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-292251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-library-software"],"acf":[],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":292251},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292251"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":292279,"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292251\/revisions\/292279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/292252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=292251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=292251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}