New features in the Summon discovery service enable streamlined access of local library and consortia content by researchers
Seattle, WA – June 21, 2012 – Since the introduction of the Summon® discovery service three years ago, Serials Solutions®, a ProQuest® business, continues to rapidly release new functionality. The company today announced new catalog display functionality, as well as support for consortia catalogs in the Summon discovery service.
The new catalog detail page improves display of items from both local and consortia catalogs indexed in the Summon service. Optimized to include enrichment content from Syndetic Solutions™ such as book covers and table of contents and LibraryThing ratings and reviews, the catalog detail page was designed to entice the user to access the content. Libraries will now have the option to customize Summon records for catalog items to include additional enrichment content, custom text and intuitive linking options for placing holds, interlibrary loan requests and accessing e-books.
The new catalog detail page also represents the first step in providing functionality for libraries considering replacing their current OPAC with the Summon service. The open architecture of the Summon service, and the virtually unlimited customization options for the catalog detail page, create the optimal front-end discovery tool for any library services platform or web-scale management service, including Serials Solutions Intota™.
“We have tracked and measured the increase in traffic from Summon to our OPAC and are pleased to see that Summon is driving users not only to our electronic resources but to items in our local catalog,” said Jeff Daniels, head of technical services and electronic resource management, Grand Valley State University. “Observation of this user behavior coupled with this new seamless experience gives us confidence there is a viable pathway to replacing our OPAC.”
Unique to the Summon service, the new indexing capabilities for union catalogs and disparate catalogs enables researchers to easily scope searches using facets to a particular library or group of libraries pre- or post-search.
Unlike most existing union catalogs, Summon service users can easily scope searches to display catalog holdings from specific libraries within their consortia. This also facilitates convenient access to items available through shared borrowing arrangements. For institutions without a formal union catalog, this new functionality enables users to discover content with the flexibility to select combinations of collections tailored to deliver the most relevant search results.
“As one of nine member libraries in the WRLC, we are eager to explore this new union catalog functionality,” said Robert Reeves, E-Resources Applications Administrator at American University. “Facets in the Summon service will make it easier for our users to scope search results across our consortial catalogs to find the most relevant information for their research even if it’s not located here at American.”
New administrative tools provide a more efficient way and new options for customizing how local catalog records are mapped to match the library’s specifications in the Summon service – and optimized for display of the record. This added functionality will also enable librarians to easily see the mapping, evaluate how it’s working and make better modification decisions.
The new catalog features will be demonstrated at the American Library Association annual conference in Anaheim, CA, and new research conducted on the use of the Summon discovery services by the University of Huddersfield and Grand Valley State University will be presented. To learn the real impact discovery is having on increasing user satisfaction and usage of library resources, register for the educational event here.
“Launching new capabilities and the consistent evolution of the Summon service is possible because of our disciplined approach and commitment to introduce new features and updates every three to four weeks,” said Michael Gersch, senior vice president and general manager, Serials Solutions. “As we celebrate the third anniversary of the Summon service, it is clear the market has embraced this service and it is a positive reflection of our product development strategy. These new features provide compelling evidence of our responsiveness to market requirements and our ability to deliver value to our customers and users.”
