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 MānoaNovember 25, 2009

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Outline

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

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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 Science http://lu.com/odlis/odlis_f.cfm

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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

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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

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http://www2.hawaii.edu/~jacso/

What’s Federated Searching? (4)

How can the search burden be eased?

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Selection: What to Look for

• Library administrator’s perspective– Administration module’s capabilities– Hosting– Pricing

• User’s perspective – Interface– Search progress indicator– Results display

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UH Libraries, HSPLS (1)

• 2 local library systems in Hawaii– Relevant to UHM students– Easily accessible

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UH Libraries, HSPLS (2)

• UH: LibraryFind (planned)

• HSPLS: Web Feat

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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

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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/

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Demo: OSU LibraryFind (2)

• Support resources (libraryfind.org)– Blog-like online discussion– Documentation– Downloads

Community

ThreadSubjectAuthorDate

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Demo: OSU LibraryFind (3)

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Search box

http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/

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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

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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

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Demo: OSU LibraryFind (6)

[Article] Title

Citation Save This ItemFull Abstract

Short abstract or other information (e.g., availability).

Article record

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Conclusion

• Convenient– Easy to use: single interface– Saves time: searches multiple sources

simultaneously

• Products– Fit institution’s capabilities/budget

• Commercial• Open source

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References• “Federated Search.” Wikipedia http://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 Science http://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).

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Thank You for Your Attention!

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