[Web4lib] Federated search applications-why did you choose?

[w-mischo at uiuc.edu]

We are testing several locally-developed federated search 
applications that focus on resource discovery and ranking. 
The search results show the number of matches to the user 
query and display links that provide “live” connections to 
the native interfaces at the point of the completed search. 
Users can then, if they wish, also modify the search in the 
native interface. We want to utilize the value-added 
features of the native interfaces, including custom full-
text links and our local SFX link resolution button. The 
custom full-text and faceted search links are not 
consistently or typically passed through by vendor federated 
search systems.

One example is our multi-OPAC search at:
http://search.grainger.uiuc.edu/voyagersearch/

We are also testing an undergraduate oriented interface at:
http://search.grainger.uiuc.edu/searchaid/searchassist.asp

and an engineering/business system where users can choose 
specific databases at:
http://search.grainger.uiuc.edu/searchaid/searchaid.asp

Bill Mischo


---- Original message ----
>Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 13:06:09 -0400
>From: "Pons, Lisa (ponslm)" <PONSLM at UCMAIL.UC.EDU>  
>Subject: [Web4lib] Federated search applications-why did 
you choose?  
>To: "Web4Lib" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
>
> 
>We are in the process of choosing a federated search 
product. I am
>wondering if those on the list could detail why they went 
with one
>vendor over another?
>
>Additionally, what feature(s) has been the best received?
>
>How have staff received these?
>
>We're also interested in limitations-for example, if one 
cluster of
>databases can only include 8 databases, is this perceived 
as a drawback?
>
>How much time is spent maintaining the product?
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>Lisa Pons-Haitz
>University of Cincinnati
>_______________________________________________
>Web4lib mailing list
>Web4lib at webjunction.org
>http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/

William H. Mischo
Engineering Librarian & Professor of Library Administration
Head, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1301 W. Springfield Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

Phone 217-333-7497
FAX   217-244-7764
Email w-mischo at uiuc.edu