Discovery Layers and the Distance Student: Online Search Habits of Students

Abstract

Has your institution purchased discovery layer tools? Are you wondering how students are using them and how much return your institution is getting on that investment? Not only are there more resources available to students online than ever before, but there are also more avenues for students to discover those resources. The Royal Roads University Library puts links to Google Scholar, Summon, LibGuides, Captivate tutorials, and more onto its Web pages. This paper is an investigation of how students are using those resources and what they think of them. It presents student feedback on these discovery layers combined with empirical evidence from usage statistics. The paper explains how the library will use this evidence to inform both the electronic paths designed to lead students to its resources and the outcomes of its information literacy instructional sessions. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.