Abstract: This contribution offers a brief and broad view on a core function of digital libraries; to support their users in discovering the most relevant information. We consider developers and managers of Information Sources, and Information Services, and examine how they can improve information discovery. The paper is mainly based on experience, published literature and empirical research, in the context of academic and scientific information services. The following aspects of digital libraries are considered: from print to digital, disintermediation, the online catalogue, digital search, federated search, merging of databases, link generators, advanced commercial discovery services, the importance of freely available discovery services, open access, enhancing subject retrieval, searching via images, web and search engine optimization, the social web, and information literacy of users. Many relations exist among these topics. As the information landscape continues to evolve faster than ever, continual adaptation is a must for (digital) libraries.
Keywords: Information retrieval, information discovery, disintermediation, federated search, meta-search, aggregation, internet
