[Web4lib] Google Scholar on Library Website?

[Popp, Mary F.]

Here at the Indiana University-Bloomington Libraries, we are discussing whether or not to add Google Scholar to the list of "Top 10" electronic databases on our web site and/or to display it more prominently on our home page (http://www.libraries.iub.edu) or our database pages (http://www.libraries.iub.edu/findinfo ).    We have an up-and-running federated search system, so we do not need to use Google Scholar for that purpose, but we have proxied it and are using open URL links inside it.  At the present time, we have Google Scholar listed on our list of 400+ databases, but we have not displayed it prominently.    We have read recent materials from Greg Notess, Peter Jasco, Martin Myhill, Roy Tennant, and others and we think we are aware of Google Scholar's strengths and weaknesses.

We are interested in knowing what other libraries have done or are considering.   We had asked this question of the Heads of Reference from the CIC (Committee on Institutional Cooperation-members are from the Big 10, University of Chicago, and University of Illinois-Chicago) and heard some interesting responses.  We would like to broaden our discussion to all of our colleagues at Web4Lib.  

Has your library made a link to Google Scholar on your home page or displayed it in a prominent place on your list of library databases?   What were your reasons for doing so?   If you discussed taking such a step and decided against it, why did you make that decision?
 
Many thanks in advance,
 
I will be happy to summarize results for the list.

Mary
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Mary Pagliero Popp
Public Services Librarian, Library Information Technology 
Indiana University Libraries, Wells Library E456
1320 E. 10th Street
Bloomington, IN   47405
812-855-8170      FAX: 812-856-7949    popp at indiana.edu