No Clear Winner When Deciding Between Abstracting and Indexing Databases and Discovery Services

A Review of:  AlHamad, M. M. (2025). Balancing precision and usability: Librarian perspectives on abstracting and indexing databases versus discovery services in academic libraries. Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 29(2), 169–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/10875301.2025.2472419  Objective – To assess the perceived efficacy of abstracting and indexing (A&I) databases compared to general discovery services and to explore strategies for resource prioritization in the context of budget constraints.  Design – Online survey.  Setting – Academic libraries.  Subjects – 69 academic library professionals responded from a pool of thousands.  Methods – An anonymous survey was distributed to library professionals in July 2024 through multiple networking platforms, including the American Library Association's (ALA) Connect and several professional listservs. Respondents were asked to choose which resource, A&I databases or general discovery services, they recommend for undergraduate students or advanced users conducting literature searches, the advantages of each, whether A&I databases could be replaced with general discovery services, and how they would prioritize the database renewals if faced with budget constraints. The survey included multiple-choice, multiple-option, Likert scale, and open-ended questions.  Main Results – Respondents were library professionals from doctoral/research facilities (45), master’s (15), baccalaureate (2), and associate colleges (2). The author stated that there was no preference for one resource over the other. When asked which database they would prioritize when faced with budget constraints, 48% of respondents would base it on user needs and available budget, 36% would prioritize full-text articles, 3% would prioritize A&I databases, and 1% reported no preference. The advantages of A&I databases reported by the majority of respondents included comprehensive coverage of literature, high-quality indexing and metadata, facilitation of in-depth literature reviews, and assistance in identifying specific articles within a field. A small number (8%) reported that A&I databases offered no advantages over discovery services. The advantages of discovery services include ease of use and broad coverage across disciplines, quick access to diverse resources, and integration with institutional holdings and centralized access points. Similarly, a small number (9%) reported that discovery services offered no advantages over A&I databases. Participants commented that discovery services were helpful for beginners and that A&I databases were essential for systematic reviews and structured searches. Because A&I databases are comprehensive, respondents suggested they were discipline-dependent and valuable in fields of science, technology, engineering, and medicine.  Conclusion – The author suggests that the choice between A&I databases and discovery services is dependent on the level of the user and the field of study. There are advantages to each resource, and respondents overall did not prefer one over the other. The author reiterates the complexities of prioritization and navigating budget restraints and highlights the need for information literacy to enable students to make informed decisions between the two and to be able to navigate each effectively.