Overview of Federated Searching

1. 1 Overview of Federated Searching Presented by: Peter Kanehiro LIS 672: Technology for Libraries & Information Centers (Fall 2009) Dr. Luz M. Quiroga University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa November 25, 2009

2. Outline • What’s Federated Searching? • Selection: What to Look for • UH Libraries, HSPLS • Representative Products • Demo: OSU LibraryFind • Conclusion • References

3. What’s Federated Searching? (1) • Federated Search: “A search for information using software designed to query multiple networked information resources via single interface.” - Online Dictionary for Library and Information Sciencehttp://lu.com/odlis/odlis_f.cfm

4. What’s Federated Searching? (2) • Search scope: expanded • OPACs (local, remote), databases (abstracting, full text), digital repositories, WWW (including “deep Web”) • Software: federated search engine • Standardized protocol (Z39.50, SRW/SRU, MXG) • Results presentation: uniform interface • Ranking: software feature that weights records by the degree to which they meet the query’s requirements • Deduping: removal of all but 1 occurrence of a record

5. What’s Federated Searching? (3) “[Database searchers] don’t go to see if another database might have more and/or better results…. Most give up and angrily leave…. They’ll go to Google….” – Dr. Péter Jácso http://www2.hawaii.edu/~jacso/

6. What’s Federated Searching? (4) How can the search burden be eased?

7. 7 Selection: What to Look for • Library administrator’s perspective • Administration module’s capabilities • Hosting • Pricing • User’s perspective • Interface • Search progress indicator • Results display

8. 8 UH Libraries, HSPLS (1) • 2 local library systems in Hawaii • Relevant to UHM students • Easily accessible

9. UH Libraries, HSPLS (2) • UH: LibraryFind (planned) • HSPLS: Web Feat

10. 10 Representative Products (1) • WebFeat Express • Vendor: WebFeat (http://www.webfeat.org/index.htm) • Key characteristics: compatible with 9K dBs, native results, customizable, sort options, exportability • WebFeat Enterprise (multi-library version): • Key characteristic: multiple access profiles, multiple library use tracking, multi-library authentication

11. 11 Demo: OSU LibraryFind (1) • Type: “an open source metasearch application developed by librarians for libraries, built with Ruby on Rails.” • Developer: Oregon State University libraries • Features: • Open URL resolver • Ability to locally index collections • Web-based administration • 3-tiered caching system (improves search speed) • Customizable user interface • http://libraryfind.org/

12. Thread Subject Author Date 12 Demo: OSU LibraryFind (2) Community • Support resources (libraryfind.org) • Blog-like online discussion • Documentation • Downloads

13. 13 Demo: OSU LibraryFind (3) http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/ Search box

14. 14 Demo: OSU LibraryFind (4) Sort by: Relevance Author (A-Z) Date (newest 1st) Author (Z-A) Date (oldest 1st) Refine results: Material types Subjects Authors Databases Search results

15. 15 Demo: OSU LibraryFind (5) (format) Title Author Content description Year Publisher, other facts of publication Citation Save This Item More from ‘OCLC WorldCat’ Book record

16. 16 Demo: OSU LibraryFind (6) [Article] Title Short abstract or other information (e.g., availability). Full Abstract Citation Save This Item Article record

17. 17 Conclusion • Convenient • Easy to use: single interface • Saves time: searches multiple sources simultaneously • Products • Fit institution’s capabilities/budget • Commercial • Open source

18. 18 References • “Federated Search.” Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_search#cite_note-0 (accessed November 19, 2009). • Hawaii State Public Library System http://wfxsearch.webfeat.org/wfsearch/menu?cid=10134 (accessed November 22, 2009). • Jacso, Peter. “Thoughts about Federated Searching.” Information Today 21, issue 9: 17-20 http://eres.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=14656508&site=ehost-live (accessed November 19, 2009). • Kochtanek, Thomas R. and Joseph R. Matthews. Library Information Systems: From Library Automation to Distributed Information Access Solutions. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2002. • Lederman, Sol. “Federated Search Finds Content that Google Can’t Reach Part I of III.” Alt Search Engines http://www.altsearchengines.com/2009/01/11/federated-search-finds-content-that-google-cant-reach-part-i-of-iii/ (accessed November 19, 2009). • LibraryFind http://libraryfind.org/home (accessed November 21, 2009). • Linoski, Alexis and Tine Walczyk. “Federated Search 101.” Library Journal Volume 133 (Summer 2008) http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6571320.html (accessed November 19, 2009). • Oregon State University. http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/ (accessed November 21, 2009). • Reitz, J. M. ODLIS: Online Dictionary for Library and Information Sciencehttp://lu.com/odlis/odlis_f.cfm (accessed November 20, 2009). • WebFeat http://www.webfeat.org/index.htm (accessed November 22, 2009). • Webster, Peter M. “Challenges for Federated Searching.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 12, issue 3 / 4 (2007): 357-68 http://eres.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=27265315&site=ehost-live (accessed November 21, 2009).

19. 19 Thank You for Your Attention!