**3. Discovery tools**

Discovery services are vital tools to increase search ability and accessibility of library resources. A combined search interface for multiple resources will help users discover relevant content. The tool reduces time and effort spent in both searching and learning to use the various database interfaces. It broadcasts a query across all sources and returns one organized list of results for the user [7, 8]. Discovery services have become almost essential in academic libraries. The libraries need to create a discovery layer that simplifies the search process while broadening the richness of resources availability in a Google-like interface. The discovery service is comprised of pre-indexed materials from many library information sources. The discovery solution enables faceted browsing, relevance ranking, and limitation options to refine the search results. Discovery tool services are the libraries' attempt to offer a "Google-like" search experience of library resources.

The discovery tool makes it possible to create a centralized index of an institution's information resources through a single point of access. Since the content is pre-indexed, response time is very quick and meets the user's needs. Discovery tools enable to connect patrons with the library's storehouse of information and search indexes and databases quickly and easily. These tools tend to be more popular with users, especially undergraduates, than traditional library search tools [9–12].

Libraries took upon themselves to review current web-scale discovery solutions and implement it accordingly. In their review, Karadia and Pati [13] suggest a summary of discovery tools' advantages:


**77**

phies, and opinion.

*EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) Usage in Israeli Academic Libraries*

iii.Relevancy-ranked results in an intuitive interface expected by today's

As Hanrath and Kottman [14] summarize, there is a wide consensus in the literature that discovery tools are one way of retaining patrons who are already immersed

In this work, we present a case study of six academic libraries in Israel, who

Education is highly valued within Israel's national culture, and its higher education sector has been acknowledged for helping to encourage the country's development. There are nine universities in Israel, as well as numerous higher education colleges. Courses are often taught in Hebrew, though Israeli universities also offer English-taught programs. In Israel, academic libraries started to implement discov-

This study uses data from three governmental universities and three colleges (two governmental and one private), to reflect on information behavior and discovery tool use in different types of users and institutions. Every library in our study is unique, each with a diverse organizational culture, a distinct student population, and different educational programs and specialties. This enables us to draw a

The study uses a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data on usage of EDS discovery service tool. We analyzed librarians' interviews regarding their professional perspectives and patrons search information behavior via Google analytics transaction logs to reveal interactions between users

We contacted 10 academic library directors, according to a given list of Israeli libraries that implemented the EDS service (at least 2 years ago). The contact was made via email, which asked them to participate in the study; six of which accepted. We conducted an hour-long interview by phone or by face-to-face meetings, with each library director (two of which, referred us to the head of the discovery tool services in the library). We discussed three topics: the decision procedure, the essence of EDS discovery tool, and the search behavior of the library patrons. The questions were regarding their professional practice, general philoso-

in the "world of Google" and to bring them back to the library world.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89453*

iv.Simplify the research process

v.Increase the use of library resources

chose to implement EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS).

representation of academic library users in Israel.

information seekers

**4. Study population**

ery services in 2010 [9].

**5. Methodology**

and the discovery system.

**6. Findings and discussion**

**6.1 Qualitative research method**


As Hanrath and Kottman [14] summarize, there is a wide consensus in the literature that discovery tools are one way of retaining patrons who are already immersed in the "world of Google" and to bring them back to the library world.

In this work, we present a case study of six academic libraries in Israel, who chose to implement EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS).
