Metasearch and the Public Portal Brenda Bailey-Hainer Colorado State Library PreConference on Usability Issues in Metasearch Interface Design ALA Annual 2004

Context Portal – guided information gateway for the public Success of portals critical for libraries Illustrates value of librarians in making sense of information, the Web Metasearch essential to public portals

Context Where do public portals come from? Public libraries Library consortia State library agencies

Context What tools are used Portal interface/searching software Integrated library system software Resource sharing system software

Public portals access… Resources Library catalogs Online databases – commercial & locally created Full text from journals, books, newspapers Digitized materials from local collections Selected websites GIS maps Community information Government information Knowledge databases

Public portals access… Interactive services Virtual reference services Online homework help Online classes State and local government services Circulation systems Interlibrary loan requesting Purchasing options

The diverse public General population Adults Young adults Children Students K12 educators Lifelong learners Professionals Business community Academic community Voters Legislators Genealogists English language learners Multiple cultures

Usability – two faces Front end user Joe and Josephine Citizen Back end user Systems administrator Interface designer Librarian/content manager

Characteristics of success – Front end users Easy to use, intuitive Fast Links to full text transparent to end user Reliable, consistent Everything delivered right now! Personalizable at user level Aggregates information in understandable groupings

Characteristics of success – Back end users Flexible Easily customizable Adaptable to institution, group, state level Easy to maintain at institution, group, state level Recognizes different types of authorization/authentication Recognizes users in different roles Gathers statistics for evaluation Outputs Outcomes

Metasearch – the history In the beginning, there were… OPACs – alone OPACs – in packs Online databases – segregated Marriage of OPACs and online databases Extended family – digitized materials, websites Password required to join the party authentication/authorization More services, more resources

Challenges Speed Inconsistent implementation of standards Aggregating/presenting results from disparate resource types New - cultural heritage institution resources Different standards, software, & record structures Maintaining interoperability Subject headings, thesauri, terminology Integrating multiple software packages Linkages and bread trails

Metasearch – the future Think beyond current resource targets Seamless integration of searching and services Integration with digital government New interface viewpoints GIS Temporal spatial access Tempo-dynamic research Multiple user role viewpoints

Teen’s view Single search box, but— multiple windows with multiple simultaneous activities Immediate gratification – full text, complete object 24/7 online chat with librarian for assistance Resource targets Websites Video clips Audio clips Animation Games Online classes Last resort – books, magazine articles

Genealogist’s view Single search box Date limit Geographic limit – place name and lat/long codes Personal name as subject and/or author Resource targets Newspaper full text Magazine article full text Manuscripts, diaries Public records – birth, death, property Cemetery records Digital objects – photos, oral histories, video clips Temporal spatial view Layers of photographs of same physical location over time

K12 Educators View Single search box Returns selected “best” results – not comprehensive Grade level and reading level limits Linked to state education standards Resource targets Websites Full text books, articles Primary source material Digital objects – photos, audio, video Educational objects Lesson plans

Information Gathering Comments submitted via website Informal discussions Review of other public portals Focus groups with target audiences Teens, Spanish speakers, adults Cultivated reviewers Your Perceptions approach Formal usability testing

Metasearch and the Public Portal Lots of opportunities Lots of challenges Exciting future potential Brenda Bailey-Hainer