Re-Thinking the Library’s Role in Discovery and Access in a New Era of Search
- Conference Year
- Online Northwest 2026
- Session
- 1
- Type
- Breakout Session
- Presenters
- Uta Hussong-Christian, Oregon State University Libraries & Press
- Hannah Rempel, Oregon State University Libraries & Press
- Hui Zhang, Oregon State University Libraries & Press
- Ian Scofield, Oregon State University Libraries & Press
- Abstract
As librarians with decades of experience, we are well aware that there are many discovery tools available for finding academic sources. However, it can sometimes be simplest to make decisions about the content we select and the discovery and access platforms we promote based on our own searching preferences or outdated memories of user behavior. Sticking with past assumptions becomes increasingly problematic due to the rapid proliferation of AI tools being used for discovery and access, which are reaping the benefits of increased availability of open-access content. The result of so much free and easy access to high-quality sources may be that many students and faculty may never interact with their campus library. To better understand our users’ realistic source discovery and access workflows, we invited participants to record search logs and videos of their searches, and we engaged in informal interviews focused on current AI searching behaviors. In this presentation, attendees will gain an understanding of the discovery and access barriers users encounter based on real user search dilemmas; they will identify potential discovery and access focus areas for their library to hone in on based on the local examples we provide; and they will engage in discussion about tough decisions libraries need to make about supporting legacy discovery and access platforms in a new era of search needs and possibilities. Our findings and discussion will be of interest to a broad range of Online Northwest attendees, recognizing that calls for discovery and access technical changes intersect with cultural shifts in searching behaviors and norms.