1. Federated Searching Computers in Libraries 2007

2. The Concept One search interface –Will search across any online resource you include –Everything will be searched simultaneously –Search hits will be compiled on a single screen Discovery tool –Patrons will find and use new online resources –Each online service will have its chance to “shine”

3. Set-up Select a vendor –WebFeat (broadest array of target databases)? –Central Search (nice clustering)? –Smaller fry (Metalib, etc.)? Make sure all your targets are recognized –You may pay one-time fee to have target included –Determine which targets you actually need Aggregate databases may be your best friend Individual journal titles may be unnecessary as targets

4. Set-up (Continued) Experiment with targets –Which work the way you want? –Which don’t—will the vendor tweak its approach? Determine your search categories –By format? –By subject? –Mix of both?

5. Recommended Balance Reference works & encyclopedias Journals Online books Databases In-house content

6. Persnickety Question Include Google or Wikipedia? –Bill it as “one-stop shopping” –Make it all-inclusive –Wean researchers away from the open Internet and toward more authoritative sources, without sacrificing their loyalty to Google Exclude Google or Wikipedia? –Bill it as Library-approved search tool –Bill it as authoritative sources only

7. What To Expect No database discoveries! –Researchers will stick with what they know –No “shining stars” will exhibit themselves Upsetting usage statistics! –Search phrases used will make librarians cringe –Previously popular databases will remain popular; researchers won’t be weaned from favorites –Very little “culture change” – old habits die hard

8. Contact Information Bradley E. Gernand Library Manager Institute for Defense Analyses bgernand@ida.org 703-845-2405