1. View from the Metasearch Providers
NISO Metasearch Initiatives Meeting
May 7, 2003
P. Noerr

2. Background General description Who uses this service Keys to success
Broadcast, federated, aggregated searching
Single sign-on, interface
Who uses this service
Libraries, corp. Info centers, Publishers
Keys to success
Broad scope, simple operation
Performance

3. Metasearch Use Today Relation to metasearch Historical perspective
Direct user access, or through portal, ILS, F-E
Authentication, documents, scope, processing
Historical perspective
Growing rapidly, becoming a ‘requirement’
Server to ILS & Portals
Client to Search engines & Publishers
Technology independence important
Technology Partnerships
Relation to metasearch
Types of Access
Services requested

4. Metasearch Use Tomorrow
18 months
Virtually all Academic & Consortia library RFPs will include basic functionality
3 years
Will be a new system area for all libraries and information centers, including commercial
Impact on business
Good, VITAL!

5. Challenges Problems that need solving Market definition
Market differentiation
Economies of scale
Availability of service
Reliability
Timely repair
Breadth of coverage
Interconnection technology
Commercial Rights Management