Unify Search Results with a Decoupled Web App

The notorious ILS lives at the heart of most libraries’ technology ecosystems. It allows the library to easily catalog and disseminate their collection. This, coupled with 3rd party databases and a separate web presence, each with their own search capabilities, creates a confusing user experience. With a unified search tool that queries multiple data sources (e.g. ILS, event system and website) you can provide a “Bento Box” style search experience – giving your users everything they need in one place. This flexible framework provides a human-centered approach to unifying results from different sources.

Peter and I gave this presentation at the LITA Forum 2017.

Transcript

1. Unify Search Results with a Decoupled Web App PETER WEBER AND CHRISTINE COUGHLAN
3. @atendesign aten.io
4. Work That
 Matters
5. Work That
 Matters
7. Challenges with Search
8. Many Sources • Website • Catalog • Digital media sources (OverDrive, Hoopla, Freegal, etc.) • Event Systems Known Issues
15. Pros • One search bar for all three services • Easily leveraged existing platforms • Cost efficient Cons • Forces the user to make a choice of which service to search • User leaves the current platform and experience • Doesn’t follow routine experience
20. Pros • One unified search bar • One page of results • Results organized by type Cons • Overwhelming experience with too many options • Too many results that may push down the relevant resource • Hiding the search options for simplicity
21. Multiple formats • Physical media • Downloadable media • Streaming content Known Issues
22. “We've often admired the integrated catalog search on DarienLibrary.org. It's really nice how different material type records are all joined together. - Mark W. Jarrell
 Online Applications Developer at Richland Library
25. Pros • More relevant results higher on the page • More intuitive result Cons • Tabbed experience
26. Discovery Layers A Google-like search across all library resources!!!
29. Inconsistent interface • Site navigation • Filters • Branding Known Issues
31. Different search algorithms • Relevancy • Untargeted fields Known Issues
34. The Way Forward
35. Listen to Your Customers 1. Focus on catalog search 2. Group results by title 3. Present more relevant results 4. Preserve “power tools” for advanced users
36. One Unified Search
38. The Decoupled Approach
44. Thanks! Christine Coughlan christine@aten.io Peter Weber peter@aten.io