[WEB4LIB] Which database to search? Database of Library (subject)

[Steve Toub]

NC State is working a concept which is really intriguing. It's planned 
to go live this fall, but Tito Sierra presented a preview at a recent 
conference.

In Search of the Single Search Box: Building a "First-step" Library 
Search Tool

Presentation:
http://www.diglib.org/forums/spring2005/presentations/morris0504.htm

Video Demo:
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/dli/staff/tsierra/dlf-ncsu-qs-demo.wmv

Abstract:
Libraries are under increasing pressure to provide users with a single 
search box that provides access to the diverse set of content and 
services available through the library website. Neither library catalogs 
nor generic Web site search tools meet this need directly. Metasearch, 
while promising, is still generally characterized by slowness, 
incompleteness in coverage, and confusing result sets. At NC State, an 
analysis of library Web site search logs indicated that a large 
percentage of user-submitted search terms target similar classes of 
content (e.g., database names, journal titles, library information) to 
which the library could readily provide a direct link. Concurrent with 
implementing a next generation metasearch tool, NCSU Libraries is 
developing a new Web site search tool designed to provide users with 
quick and comfortable access to distributed silos of library content. A 
"sponsored-links" component of this tool connects users to relevant 
high-use library resources and information. A subject- identification 
component provides contextual links to subject resource guides. 
Integrated results from ancillary local indexes enable use of the tool 
as a "first-step" in library search. This presentation will describe an 
in-house solution based on open source tools such as Nutch and SWISH-E. 
Challenges of current development will be discussed and future 
development directions will be outlined.

	--SET


Mark Allan wrote:
> Colleagues,
> 
> This posting is going out to both libref-l and web4lib.
> 
> In my library we are looking at updating both our website as well as 
> creating portal channels for our new University Wide Portal.  In order to 
> make students aware of the electronic databases that we have available, our 
> electronic resources librarian has proposed a searchable "database of 
> databases" (or possibly utilizing the online catalog), so if a student is 
> interested in business, they'd type in "business", and a list of databases 
> meeting this description would be revealed.  I have a number of questions 
> related to this topic:
> 
> 1. Do any of your libraries do this?  If so, can you give me a URL pointing 
> to the pertinent URL that I can look at?
> 2. What software does you library use to accomplish this purpose, or is it 
> home-grown java?
> 3.  Is your OPAC configured to provide this service?  If yes, is there an 
> accessible URL?
> 4. What keywords describing the databases are used and indexed, and how do 
> you arrive at the pertinent words and import them into the database?
> 
> I appreciate your help!
> 
> 
> Mark
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Mark Allan
> Head, Reference Unit
> Porter Henderson Library
> Angelo State University
> ASU Station #11013
> San Angelo, Texas 76909-1013
> (325) 942-2511
> (325) 942-2198 (FAX)
> mark.allan at angelo.edu
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> I love the smell of book dust in the morning.  It smells like...... knowledge.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> Any opinions given above do not necessarily reflect those of the Porter
> Henderson Library, Angelo State University, the Texas State University
> System, the state of Texas... 
> 
> 
>