How can a user focus a search to retrieve desired results?
For example:

• by limiting by format, subject, language, date, peer-reviewed, etc.
• by providing a thesaurus-type feature that maps searchers to related terms

How can a searcher distinguish between varying types of resources in results?
For example:

• faceting (if so, please describe)
• indication of fulltext availability
• indication of peer-reviewed

What are the ways your product allows a searcher to refine a search based on results?
For example:

• by offering “did you mean” functionality
• by recommending related sources
• by maintaining a search history

What can a searcher do with search results?
For example:

• display and sort options
• exporting/saving options
• citation generation feature

What are the personalization features offered?
For example:

• folders for saving results
• content alert service

How will your product operate in a multi-library environment?
For example:

• can several or all libraries be searched simultaneously?
• Can libraries be searched individually?
• How will users determine which campus an item is from and whether or not they have access to it?

Environmental Scan
The University of Wisconsin System is comprised of 13 four-year universities and 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges campuses. Collectively the libraries serve a variety of user groups, from community users and freshman students to graduate students and faculty researchers, representing a vast range of research skills. The libraries provide user assistance in-person, via phone, email, online chat and through other technological means, including Desire2learn (D2L) course management system used System-wide and LibGuides content management system (used on 9 campuses).

UW System libraries adhere to a “one system, one library” philosophy that aims to make library resources as widely available and seamlessly accessible as possible to all UW students, faculty and staff. Toward that end, UW System libraries offer universal borrowing, enabling patrons to quickly and easily request and borrow books from any System library.

In keeping with their educational mission, UW System libraries place emphasis on instructing students in effectively finding, identifying and evaluating information from a variety of sources, including scholarly and academic resources.