A Discovery Service is an online tool that allows library systems to search a wide range of content, including resources in print and online formats. They are widely used by libraries around the world to help users search for content accurately and efficiently.

One of the main uses of discovery services is to search and link to full text online.

What is a Link Resolver?

Connection solvers work in conjunction with discovery services. They facilitate content discovery and full text linking, acting as a bridge between different databases. When a library is subscribed to multiple databases and full-text resources, it can prove difficult to operate if an article referring to one database is available elsewhere. Connection solvers help with this by allowing users to move effortlessly between one reference to one database and full text to another.

Discovery tools can be used to expose all the content elements of a library, if they choose. These may include online directories, files, repositories, and other content.

How Do Discovery Services Work?

You used to search databases (or full text) and then follow links to full text. But because it was impossible to find everything by accessing one vendor, you could either visit each one individually or use federated search to search for vendor product groups in a single step (and then link).

Discovery is different because it contains an index that represents the full searchable text content and also offers a link to open the full text content.

Advantages of Discovery Services

• Discovery tools provide access to large quantities of varied content.
• Discovery tools are fast as their architecture uses a unified index of a large knowledge base.
• They focus mainly on electronic full text but can be linked to OPACs.
• They are easy to use.

Disadvantages of discovery services

• They return vast numbers of results that need to be limited through the application of available filters.
• They do not have the functionalities of a single database or platform.

 ExLibris Summon Discovery Service

Unified

A comprehensive data approach, leveraging a unified index and knowledgebase.

Adaptable

API or out-of-the-box interface facilitates universal search, resource exploration, and content access.

Relevant

Ranking algorithm presents balanced search results across content types, regardless of provider.

Accurate

Index-Enhanced Direct Linking (IEDL) delivers nearly 100% linking success for more than 500+ million items.

Flexible

Customization options increase opportunities to engage users and extend library services.

Easy to manage

Administration tools make it easy to perform system maintenance, optimization, and usage analysis.

For more information and to discuss your needs, please contact us at: info@interoptics.com.gr or mparadise@interoptics.com.gr