[Libs-Or] Quirk When Searching Gale PowerSearch

Jennifer Maurer jennifer.maurer at state.or.us
Tue Nov 19 15:42:36 PST 2013


Please pardon the cross-posting.

When conducting a Gale Powersearch from the Gale common menu,

            [cid:image001.jpg at 01CEE53D.0F304330]

...you get a different search result than if you begin the exact same search from the Powersearch homepage.

            [cid:image002.jpg at 01CEE53D.0F304330]

This can bring different search outcomes that may lead to students / patrons missing potential resources. To get the maximum results, please advise users to search from the Powersearch homepage. If you start your search on the Common Menu page, simply click Continue without entering any search terms. That will get you to the PowerSearch homepage.

For example, compare these two searches for Marxist literary criticism. If prompted for a password, use oslis.
           Using PowerSearch Common Menu: http://tinygaleurl.com?2x3at1j (under 20 hits)
           Using PowerSearch Homepage: http://tinygaleurl.com?b5s093e (over 100 hits)
Thanks to Neil Wong, Sam Barlow High School/Gresham High School Librarian, for identifying this quirk. When I notified Gale, they reported that it is a known issue, and a future update will include using the same search algorithm for both interfaces.
Can't see the screenshots? Refer to the attachment. Questions? Please ask.
Thanks,
Jen
Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
Oregon State Library
250 Winter Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
503.378.5011
jennifer.maurer at state.or.us<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>

OSLIS || www.oslis.org
Learn to research. Research to learn.(c)

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