Federated Search evaluation & implementation

Outline Drivers Methodology Outcome

Drivers Customer pressure Expiry of TD-Net contract Staff pressure Peer pressure Frustration with bidding process

Put another way … The average library decision about implementing new technologies takes longer than the average life cycle for new technologies. K. G. Schneider. e_user_is_not_broken_a_meme.php e_user_is_not_broken_a_meme.php

Methodology

Evidence gathering Literature search What do our users want Students / Researchers / Academic staff Library staff / Trainers Best of breed

What we asked in an ideal world, how would you find information for your studies?

Who we asked Research focus group Postgraduate focus group Academic staff focus group Informal interviews with students

What we gave them …

They said … We want

Search individual databases & groups Simple & advanced search options Clear easy-to-use interface De-duplication Filtering of results Rank by relevancy Refworks compatible Searchable by journal title Spellchecker and/or synonyms

Shortlist 360 Search WebFeat MetaLib TDNet

Evaluation Trial User testing on campus User testing off campus Feedback / Web Monkey Amazon voucher

Overall rankings 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th WebFeat

WebFeat responses YesNo Was it easy to use719 Did you find the interface clear & simple 719 Could you search how you wanted to6415 Did it give a fast enough response6614 Did it produce relevant results6614 Was it useful6614 Did you find full text articles6317 Did you have any problems1367

What users said … WebFeat was my definite favourite. It was excellent.... please, please get this one. I loved WebFeat WebFeat was by far the best … … so user friendly … … really easy to use …

Decision time User feedback Costs

Key features 1 Users choose what they want to search Quick Search boxes Topic Clustering Spell check function - just like Google Related terms Export to RefWorks

Key features 2 Find it! Proxy – single sign on (sort of) Users can link directly to the native database from Find it! if you prefer. True native results - presents full text results within their native interfaces. All native functions are fully functional.

Questions?

Demo Admin page

Further information Malcolm Emmett