PRIMO Multi-Search Engine in Selected Polish Libraries – Functionality Analysis

Abstract

The article presents the characteristics of the PRIMO VE interface in terms of its functionality. Its features, differences and similarities that occur in the examined libraries were discussed, depending on the types of libraries, the library system in use, and the method of implementation. The study covered twenty different types of libraries that implemented the PRIMO multi-search engine. The impact of resources and metadata on their presentation in the form of facets/filters and their impact on search efficiency was examined. The number of ranges used in libraries, information about indexed resources, detailed document types, and additional functions that allow to narrow searches affect the functionality of the system. The conducted queries showed a connection between online resources and the number of obtained results, as well as the impossibility of precise narrowing down by facets caused by the quality and diversity of metadata. The aim of the study was to learn the functionality of the multi-search engine depending on the system version, library type, and method of implementation in the library. The following research methods and tools were used in the study: literature review, cognitive journey, method of analysis and comparison of the examined library websites.