Evolutional Librarianship: From Supermarket to Smorgasbord

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes the journey of one library to ensure its service continues to present online information in an innovative mode that provides a competitive option for successful searching. Based on information about user search behavior and the concept of information clustering, a new online product was developed. Designed and presented as a “smorgasbord” of focused topic clusters or subject guides, the product enables users to draw on the high-quality, curated content of the library's large research database without doing the work of searching and selecting. Topics were selected based on the sectoral expertise of the library team and the user interface built within the current content management system. A review of usage three years after release resulted in a refresh of the topic structure and significant reduction in maintenance effort. The overall journey has resulted in a new collection and a new approach, evolving both the skillset and the mindset of the professionals involved.