1. Federated Searching By Cheri Duncan James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA 22807 duncancj@jmu.edu May 12, 2003

2. What Is It? Federated or Cross Domain Searching can be defined as integrated access to disparate resources via a single search interface.

3. What Isn’t It? A single method of searching Full-text linking A replacement for Google or Yahoo A solution to all of the patron’s search needs

4. Why Do It? One user interface for multiple resources Intuitive web-like searching Ability to organize and group resources in more useful ways for searching Ability to return results from multiple resources quickly, then choose one or two resources for native interface searching if desired

5. How to Accomplish It? HTTP connectors Z39.50 protocol XML gateways *Each method requires some customization.

6. What Is Available? Vendor interfaces which search multiple databases subscribed to through that vendor simultaneously. (Ovid, CSA, ISI) Federated searching software that build connections to multiple databases regardless of vendor and bundle them under one search interface. (MuseGlobal, WebFeat, Fretwell Downing) Federated Search systems which incorporate link servers for full-text linking from the federated search results. (ENCompass, MetaLib)

7. ENCompass Federated Searching Collection Manager PsycInfo HTTP PubMedInfotrac Z39.50XML Virtual Collection Econ Virtual Collection Nursing Virtual Collection Biology Virtual Collection Psyc LFP Journal or Article Journal or Article Journal or Article Journal or Article Journal or Article LFP

8. What Does It Look Like?

11. Challenges of Implementing Federated Searching Database connectivity and interconnectivity Database structure and indexing Selecting sites to search Reliability Ranking mechanisms Vendor cooperation