I like Joel's approach, which is clear and says exactly what it means.
On the other hand, our usability testing indicates that users assume
they're doing federated search regardless of what we explain--and
perhaps more cheerfully, that if they're looking for a database
they're looking for one of two or three known items (JSTOR,
ScienceDirect, Lexis-Nexis, etc.). At a previous job we got very good
results by putting links to the five databases that got 80% of our use
on the homepage and front-and-center on the databases page.

Chris Strauber
Tisch Library
Tufts University

On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 8:55 AM, Joel Marchesoni <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Unless you want the search box front and center, which would make it look like a federated search, you could do what we do [1] and use placement to make its purpose clear.
>
> [1] http://www.wcu.edu/1602.asp
>
> Joel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sarah Weeks
> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 8:22 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] usability question: searching for a database (not in a database)
>
> Long time lurker, first time poster.
> I have a little usability question I was hoping someone could give me advice
> on.
> I'm updating the databases page on our website and we'd like to add a search
> box that would search certain fields we have set up for our databases
> (title, vendor, etc...) so that even if someone doesn't remember the first
> word in the title, they can quickly find the database they're looking
> through without having to scroll through the whole A-Z list.
> My question is: if we add a search box to our main database page, how can we
> make it clear that it's for searching FOR a database and not IN a database?
> Some of the choices we've considered are:
> Seach for a database:
> Search this list:
> Don't remember the name of the database? Search here:
>
> I'm not feeling convinced by any of them. I'm afraid when people see a
> search box they're not going to bother reading the text but will just assume
> it's a federated search tool.
>
> Any advice?
>
> -Sarah Beth
>
> --
> Sarah Beth Weeks
> Interim Head Librarian of Technical Services and Systems
> St Olaf College Rolvaag Memorial Library
> 1510 St. Olaf Avenue
> Northfield, MN 55057
> 507-786-3453 (office)
> 717-504-0182 (cell)
>
>
> --
>