Discovery tools are adequate, access to results is not

Researchers and discovery services:  Behavior, perceptions, and needs, Research Information Network, November 2006.  A major study (113 pp.) commissioned by the Research Information Network (RIN) and undertaken by Rightscom. From the full report:

1.3 Key findings...

1.3.2 Users cannot always access the resources they have discovered

The main frustration is not with the research discovery services themselves but with the problem of subsequently accessing identified sources and materials. The 'last mile' of the process which actually delivers the document or other source that has been searched for is the focus of concern, with lack of access to journal articles because of a subscription barrier being the most frequently-expressed difficulty experienced. Librarians agree with researchers that the key problem is accessing online journals rather than problems with the discovery tools themselves. (Section 4.2.9)...

4.2.9 Satisfaction with resource discovery tools

Many researchers are satisfied with the resource discovery services available to support their research....The most generally-expressed concern was about securing access to source materials found by these discovery services. A regularly expressed frustration is the difficulty in seeing articles and other materials because an institution does not have access to the required journal or source.