This screams out 'usability test' to me - even if it's a short 5 minute survey of students as they walk through the door. We know from past usability testing that databases are one of most confusing things on a library web site - I would definitely test your assumptions.
Cheers,
Susan


>>> Andreas Orphanides <[log in to unmask]> 07/30/10 9:05 AM >>>
Another thing that could help clarify the role of the search box would be to 
have some type-ahead action. This would cue the user as to what it is they are 
actually searching for, and also give them an opportunity to skip past the 
results screen if they select a full title from the type-ahead. Of course, this 
would require a bit more infrastructure to support.

-dre.

Sarah Weeks wrote:
> 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
>