University of Wisconsin aims to assess usefulness of MetaLib

Most libraries in the University of Wisconsin (UW) system use Ex Libris’ MetaLib to provide federated search service to its users and now UW is putting MetaLib to the test. UW is performing a MetaLib assessment to determine the overall usefulness of MetaLib as a research tool.

By August 21, the MetaLib Assessment Working group, charged with the usefulness study, will deliver its final report of its findings. The Assessment Wiki notes four key expectations of its investigation:

• Conduct a review of the literature and summarize the empirical research that 1) assesses usability of and user response to federated search tools and 2) analyzes user expectations about searching for information in general
• Develop a protocol for assessing the usefulness of MetaLib as a research tool as compared to other library research tools
• Deploy this protocol with selected groups of users in selected UW libraries
• Summarize and report key findings

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