The Understanding Discovery Platform Usage survey provides insight into the discovery platforms used by potential and existing VuFind® users. The aim of the survey was to understand the platforms being used by these cohorts, including the features features users liked, disliked, and wish they had in their existing discovery platforms. The survey results will be used to inform potential directions for future feature development of the VuFind® platform and inform future discussions with potential funders.

The survey instrument was sent to specific discovery communities (VuFind® and Blacklight) as well as the general library open source community (via Code4lib and other mailing lists) and responses were collected survey from November through December, 2021. A total of 49 usable responses were received.

Over half of survey participants (59%) indicated that they used VuFind® and one-third indicated they used EBSCO Discovery Service. Just over one-quarter of participants (27%) indicated that they used multiple discovery platforms, with VuFind® and EBSCO Discovery Service being the most commonly cited combination of platforms used. Sixteen percent of participants indicated using other platforms not listed in the list of answer options. Other platforms used included Aspen Discovery, Enterprise (SirsiDynix), SAGE (a locally developed alternative to Blacklight), and Encore. One user indicated that their organization did not use a discovery platform because it was deemed to be too expensive to do so.

When asked about the approximate size of discovery platforms currently in use, 37% of participants indicated using platforms with 500,000 to 2 million records, and 27% of participants indicated using platforms that contained more than 50 million records. The majority of participants (71%) indicated using platforms of 500,000 records or more, and 29% of participants indicated using platforms containing fewer than 500,000 records.

Survey participants were primarily from academic libraries (n=39), with some users from public libraries (n=3), special libraries (n=1), research institutes (n=1), and other institutions (n=5) such as library consortia comprised of either only academic libraries, only intergovermental agencies, or a mix of academic, public, K-12, and special libraries.

Most survey participants were employed as library staff (n=25) or in other occupations such as IT specialists (n=12), software developers (n=8), educators (n=2), or researchers (n=2).

Survey participants resided in the following countries: