Just One Click.

Back in March, I gave a talk at the CIC Libraries conference, Interface=Instruction. I discussed how an intuitive, easy-to-use library interface can inherently teach our users how to find the information they need. Since March, our library has made great progress in this area. We've launched the Libraries' Facebook App, made a library research iGoogle tab, and created the Research JumpStart--an interface especially for undergraduates that doubles as a collection of portable widgets primed for use on other sites (such as PageFlakes, Netvibes, Blogger, etc..)

During the CIC talk, I showed the Maryville University Library's home page. Right in the middle of the page, there's a search tool that, with one click, goes directly into EBSCOHost and connects the user with articles related to their search terms.
Few libraries are doing this--one click to find the articles you need. Many, many libraries are making a library catalog search box available on their home page, and perhaps a tool to find articles via their meta-search / multi-search tool. If you're taking your users through a MultiSearch tool, there are still too many clicks. Too many opportunities to make the wrong choice and get lost (like the gentle patron in this video).

All of this is a long way of saying that (thanks to Binky's hard work!) we now have our own one-click search box for ProQuest. It doesn't go through MultiSearch--it goes directly into the native interface. The new ProQuest search box is available on the Research JumpStart page, for use there, or as a portable widget. It will also be available soon in the Libraries' Facebook app. Try it out!

Amazing, the changes and innovations that can happen in nine months or less!