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Federated Searching. Computers in Libraries 2007. The Concept. One search interface Will search across any online resource you include Everything will be searched simultaneously Search hits will be compiled on a single screen Discovery tool Patrons will find and use new online resources
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Federated Searching Computers in Libraries 2007
The Concept • One search interface • Will search across any online resource you include • Everything will be searched simultaneously • Search hits will be compiled on a single screen • Discovery tool • Patrons will find and use new online resources • Each online service will have its chance to “shine”
Set-up • Select a vendor • WebFeat (broadest array of target databases)? • Central Search (nice clustering)? • Smaller fry (Metalib, etc.)? • Make sure all your targets are recognized • You may pay one-time fee to have target included • Determine which targets you actually need • Aggregate databases may be your best friend • Individual journal titles may be unnecessary as targets
Set-up (Continued) • Experiment with targets • Which work the way you want? • Which don’t—will the vendor tweak its approach? • Determine your search categories • By format? • By subject? • Mix of both?
Recommended Balance • Reference works & encyclopedias • Journals • Online books • Databases • In-house content
Persnickety Question • Include Google or Wikipedia? • Bill it as “one-stop shopping” • Make it all-inclusive • Wean researchers away from the open Internet and toward more authoritative sources, without sacrificing their loyalty to Google • Exclude Google or Wikipedia? • Bill it as Library-approved search tool • Bill it as authoritative sources only
What To Expect • No database discoveries! • Researchers will stick with what they know • No “shining stars” will exhibit themselves • Upsetting usage statistics! • Search phrases used will make librarians cringe • Previously popular databases will remain popular; researchers won’t be weaned from favorites • Very little “culture change” – old habits die hard
Contact Information Bradley E. Gernand Library Manager Institute for Defense Analyses bgernand@ida.org 703-845-2405