If it really works, this could be one amazingly useful tool for both info pros and end users. In some cases you not only get a list of databases to try but also actual answers. It would ultra useful if the database subscriber could add-in local databases that were not included in the main package. Perhaps a local database from a nearby state with campaign finance and lobbying data. After reading the announcement it sounds like Summon does offer something close to this. We'll have to give them a call and get a yes or no answer.
From the Announcement:
The Summon service’s new Database Recommender points users to not only the indexed content in a library’s collection, but also to valuable, targeted research tools that are rarely captured by any discovery service – all within the context of a single search. Now, a user’s Summon search will return the specific books and articles that are relevant along with a list of recommended databases to consult for additional pertinent information.
“Database Recommender addresses an issue that plagues all discovery solutions, whether it’s web-scale discovery or federated search or something in between: the inability to access all of the electronic content a library holds in a single search,” said Jane Burke, senior vice-president, Serials Solutions. “This database discovery function points users to specialized resources that can assist their research, whether they’re indexed by Summon or not. By highlighting these sources for researchers, Summon is able to provide the best search experience possible, inspiring users to return to the library for every research task.”
This latest feature of the Summon service showcases sources that don’t lend themselves to be indexed by any service—such as dynamic or statistical databases – but make the library so well fitted to its academic community. In keeping with the Summon service’s uncomplicated interface, recommendations are integrated in the results screen and a mouse click takes users to the resource’s home page.
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