Summon, serendipity and scholarly success: Improving the user experience with discovery

Abstract

Since implementing Summon as a discovery tool, librarians at Metropolitan State University have shifted the way we teach information literacy courses, approach collection development, and conduct reference interviews. Through usability testing, user interviews, and usage statistics, we are able to see how there has been a change in the way patrons approach our collections and the way they seek and find answers to their questions. By learning to recognize and work with the strengths of web scale discovery, we can help create a more positive search experience for students of all levels.