Enhancing Search in Digital Collections: Traditional vs. AI Keyword Searches

As AI-powered search tools become more common, users are starting to expect enhanced search capabilities across all platforms, including libraries. While generative AI search systems can provide efficient results, they are just one tool in our search arsenal with strengths and weaknesses like any other. Northwestern Libraries Digital Collections provides both lexical (traditional keyword-based) and semantic (AI-powered) search options. This poster will examine the different results offered when searching both systems with the same keywords. By comparing specific search terms, we aim to understand how each tool processes queries and what kind of results they produce. We will assess which system provides the most relevant and valuable resources for each search, helping us to both guide users in effectively using both systems and to refine metadata processes to improve future result relevance across all search methods.