1. Federated Search evaluation & implementation

2. Outline Drivers Methodology Outcome

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

4. Put another way … The average library decision about implementing new technologies takes longer than the average life cycle for new technologies. K. G. Schneider. http://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/06/th e_user_is_not_broken_a_meme.php http://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/06/th e_user_is_not_broken_a_meme.php

5. Methodology

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

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

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

9. What we gave them …

10. They said … We want

11. 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

12. Shortlist 360 Search WebFeat MetaLib TDNet

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

14. Overall rankings 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th WebFeat28211715

15. 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

16. 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 …

17. Decision time User feedback Costs

18. 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

19. 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.

20. Questions?

21. Demo Admin page

22. Further information Malcolm Emmett malcolm.emmett@brunel.ac.uk