Central Search / “Multi-Search” Federated Searching at Portland State University Adriene Lim, 2007 OLA Annual Conference

Overview Why Central Search? Implementation issues System functionality, features Integration of system Assessment efforts to date Next steps in 2008/2009?

Why Central Search? Metafind, MetaLib, and Central Search examined, quotes obtained –Interface preference –Support model compelling –Vivisimo results clustering –Touted high number of readily available connections Bundled purchase: Central Search, Article Finder, A-Z MARC serials records Customer and user feedback very positive Quick implementation timeline

Some Implementation Issues Not everyone convinced about the value of federated searching First step: agree on why and for whom we were building the system Second step: agree on design, defaults, search categories, databases, Library catalog and Google Scholar placement Beta-tested the system with users first, getting feedback, suggestions

System functionality, features Hosted support model Purchased 100-resources tier Fast integration with Serials Solutions coverage data, OpenURL resolver, RefWorks, etc. Flexible templates for design Clustering by Topic, Date, Journal, Author Access to XML-based Application Programming Interface (API)

Alternative Homepage Toolbar to be tested soon with users

Assessment Efforts Web Survey / User feedback – Examples: Student: “Just started using this and I already think its a major improvement. Love the clustered results.“ Staff Comment: "This seems like a good service since I typically search multiple databases one at a time.” Student: "Wonderful, helpful, great, fantastic.” Anonymous: "I like this new feature to search across multiple databases at the same time. But the accuracy of the results has not been very good." Student: "Forward & back buttons or arrows instead of just clicking page numbers would be good." Anonymous: "I like it, but it'll take practice to utilize. Glad Google Scholar is in there too!“ Faculty: "Hey, just a brief note to tell you that I love this! Just used it for a reference question and it works pretty well."

Assessment Efforts Feedback from subject librarians – examples: “I usually introduce it now in my discipline specific upper division classes and graduate classes. Students seem to like it. I usually discuss how it is useful as a 'discovery tool', and that it is only able to search using a keyword strategy so to be aware of the tremendous pitfalls associated with only using the strategy if one is trying to do an extensive survey of the available literature on a topic.” “I use it…as an exploratory tool…I showed them how to use it to find some new subject databases worth exploring for their topic - where they could switch to do more sophisticated searches.”

Next Steps in late 2008/2009 License expires in mid-2009 Issues to explore in late 2008: –Continue with Central Search and other packaged purchases? –Open source alternatives (Portland State Library readiness for this?) –Developments in field - e.g. WorldCat Local Pilot, Google Scholar, others?

Thank you! Adriene Lim Systems Librarian Leader of Library Technologies Portland State University Library Phone: