1. The Bento Approach to Next-Generation Discovery and Delivery Systems
William H. Mischo
Mary C. Schlembach
Michael A. Norman
Jason P. Heldreth
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library
Library Research Showcase
November 10, 2015

2. Library Discovery at a Crossroads
Academic libraries should “step back to reconfirm (or reconsider) their vision for discovery, to ensure that their visions connect with information-seeking practices … determine whether they have a viable strategy …”
Roger Schonfeld, Ithaka S+R, 2014
Explore “Full Library Discovery” models that move beyond the retrieval of collections to also include local information services and content.
Lorcan Dempsey, OCLC, 2013

3. Evolution of Discovery
Over the last 20 years:
Supercatalogs with A&I services loaded;
Federated search systems employing broadcast searching
Web-Scale Discovery Systems (WSDS) with metadata and full-text in aggregated single consolidated index
Hybrid Bento style systems with information results presented in a zoned screen display with content grouped into separate, designated screen areas

5. Overarching Challenges in Discovery
Should libraries be (or want to be) the starting point for users seeking scholarly content?
If we believe libraries have always played a supplementary role in exploration, should the focus be on aiding delivery of known-items?
Recent studies on WSDS have identified user issues with interpreting blended results displays, relevancy rankings of results, and inadequate access to local library services

6. What have we learned from User Studies?
Transaction logs: 1.5 million searches :
Average words per query is 5.17 words
3.58 words per query in 2008; 3.76 words per query in 2009; 4.33 words per query in 2011, 5.11 in 2014
48.7% were 3 words or less, 30.5% are 6 words or more
58.4% are known item: 80.2% title, 9,4% author/title, 4.5% author, 1.7% full citation
Importance of full-text access: Discovery is Delivery
Seeing a lot of cut-and-paste known-item searching
29.1% of all sessions used a search assistance suggestion or custom added link
73.34% of click actions available in our Bento

7. Bento Characteristics
23 libraries with Bento implementations
All have Books and Articles area
Articles: 17 Summon, 2 Primo, 2 EDS
Website = 15, library guides = 9, journals = 10, databases = 10, digital collections = 7
OPAC can be separate from WSDS (VuFind); Princeton: Primo OPAC/Summon articles
**Subject top picks = 7, staff contacts = 5
Illinois: spell checking, one-click to full-text PDF or DOI lookup (no link resolver), OPAC availability info and direct links to e-resources

8. Bento as Solution
Better distinguishes format types to ameliorate blended display problems in WSDS – but silos
Many users come in with known-item book, journal article citation, journal title, etc.
Users want access to disciplinary databases
Some libraries have invested in local or regional OPACs rather than WSDS OPAC
Full library discovery includes websites, pathfinder content, datasets, subject specialist links, course management systems

9. Illinois Bento