Metasearch: Selection Considerations NISO Metasearch Workshop October 30, 2003 Beth Forrest Warner Director, Digital Library Initiatives University of.
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Metasearch: Selection Considerations
NISO Metasearch WorkshopOctober 30, 2003
Beth Forrest WarnerDirector, Digital Library Initiatives
University of Kansasbwarner@ku.edu
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #2
First, some background on KU…
Carnegie Research 1 institution, ARL Library Multi-campus: Lawrence, Medical Center, others Approximately 28,000 students Information Services division includes:
Library IT units Digital Library Initiatives
Approximately xxx databases, xxxx e-journals
Vice Provost IS
Library DLI IT Units
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #3
KU’s metasearch environment
Metasearch implemented as part of full digital library system ENCompass from Endeavor Information Systems Production: November 2002 50+ databases (still adding) Multi-protocol: http, Z39.50, XML (soon) OpenURL linking (LinkFinderPlus)
Serials Solutions holdings
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #4
KU’s related systems environment
Integrated library management system: Voyager (Endeavor)
University portal: uPortal Course management system: BlackBoard Institutional repository system: DSpace I/A/A: LDAP, local directory service, EZ-proxy
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #5
Selecting a metasearch system
Key points: Define your audience, needs, & goals Know your local environment Assess integration requirements Assess functionality requirements
Metasearch functions vs. broader portal functions Understand the basic technology involved Understand the range of players involved Know your vendor(s) and their customers Consider an RFI / RFP, take a test run
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #6
Define audience, needs, goals
Define your primary audience(s) Students, faculty/staff, researchers, public, librarians Local, remote
Define your needs & goals Resource discovery / In-depth search Core resources / Specialized resources Commercial resources / Free resources Local resources / Remote resources
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #7
Define local environment
Resources to search Databases, vendors – who provides what A&I databases, full-text, OPAC(s), websites, etc. Licensing arrangements (unlimited, limited, pay per search)
Staff resources available Position(s) / people available Skill-sets
Authentication environment ILMS vendor
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #8
Define integration needs
Stand-alone module vs. search system component
Related system(s) integration: ILMS Institutional portal Specialized portals Course management system Institutional repository system Harvesters
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #9
Define functionality requirements
General Client Searching & search results Knowledge database Authentication Administration & vendor support
Can be somewhat tricky to separate metasearch functions from application portal functions…
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #10
Functionality requirements: GeneralMetasearch application: Supports multiple standard and
non-standard search protocols Enables access for novice and
advanced users to heterogeneous targets with diverse metadata
Supports standard metadata formats whenever possible
Ensures reliable duplication of search results
Links search results to full-text or other content delivery options whenever possible
Unicode supported Provides use statistics
Application portal: Helps users identify and select
one or more targets most useful to their research
Helps user understand choices for specifying search queries, manipulating and exporting search results, and navigating among portal functions
Supports personalized user profiles (for session parameters, target selection, saved queries, etc.)
Respects laws and institutional policies relating to user privacy
Users can begin evaluating partial search results before complete search results are received
Provides use statistics
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #11
Functionality requirements: Client Supports a web client in a browser-neutral environment on a variety
of hardware platforms running various operating systems Complies with Section 508 requirements, if applicable Supports locally-customizable screen displays Supports different user communities and “levels” of searchers
(expert, skilled, novice) Allows local branding, labeling, and search session defaults Interface is modular; underlying system is backwardly compatible to
allow for gradual implementation of new system functionality without losing local customization
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #12
Functionality requirements: Searching & search resultsMetasearch application Search results are viewable by
target and as merged search results. Search results are clearly understandable.
It is clear how search results returned from different targets are ordered, as well as how and when search results from different targets are de-duped
Results (records) are parsed to allow for easy and consistent application manipulation and display
Application portal Users can easily perform
information-seeking tasks in an iterative manner
Various sort options are available
Users can easily save and export selected search result records from one or more queries without additional log-in requirements
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #13
Functionality requirements: Searching & search results (2)Metasearch application Searching options include
more than “keyword anywhere” support. Users can, for example, search keywords in specified fields or browse a “left-match” display of fields in an ordered list.
Searchers can apply “search relationship identifiers” (such as Boolean operators, truncation, wildcards, and nesting) in a single advanced search query
It is clear which search result records are linked to accessible digital content
Application portal Between search sessions,
users can save, modify, and delete both search queries and the targets associated with these queries
Subject-based retrieval tools to enhance queries can be incorporated
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #14
Functionality requirements:Knowledge DatabaseMetasearch application Vendor maintains basic descriptive metadata and configuration
information; translators are maintained / updated frequently; changes to remote targets are monitored, incorporated quickly
Knowledge database is updateable online and through batch processes using update requests expressed in an open format
Contents of the knowledge database are exportable in an open format
Institutions can access vendor-supplied descriptive metadata and configuration information on an ongoing basis
Institutions can add local descriptive metadata and configuration information to knowledge database records; this information is retained when records are refreshed
The knowledge database can integrate metadata from multiple external sources
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #15
Functionality requirements:Authentication
Metasearch application Different authentication
methods to individual targets are supported (IP address, ID/password, specialized URLs, etc.)
Application portal The architecture allows the
use of different methods to authenticate users and recognizes various user roles or classes of users
Proxy services are supported (ex. EZ-proxy)
Allows administrators to configure the set of targets and portal functionalities displayed to an authenticated user based on information about the user and role/class
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #16
Functionality requirements:Administration
Metasearch application Provides access to Z39.50 target
servers and one or more mechanisms for accessing non-Z39.50 target servers.
No effective system limitations on the number of targets or resources within these targets
No effective system limitations on the number of simultaneous active retrieval sessions. The system supports a substantial portion of institutional users
Application portal Web-accessible administrative
interfaces are secure, and private information (such as passwords and user profile data) is stored in an encrypted or secure environment
The application interoperates with related library systems and applications
the application supports secure user logins and enables institutions to determine what session-specific information is stored and purged
The application can control access for different user roles/classes according to target-specific access control agreements
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #17
Functionality requirements:System reliability, vendor support
The application provides for complete and robust recovery in case of operating system failure. Provides less than x% downtime.
Tools and comprehensive machine-readable documentation are available, with permission given to excerpt and adapt documentation for local use
Vendor can clearly define staff skill-sets required to implement / operate system
Vendor provides installation services and training, as requested Vendor is available 24x7 for problem resolution Vendor procedures and response mechanisms for handling bug
reports and enhancement requests are clearly defined
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #18
Understand the basics
Portal vs. Metasearch functionality Differences between search protocols Whose search engine does what Resource translators – who, what, when The reality of de-duping results Is relevance ranking really relevant? Software vs. service
What you are really buying Is a single-vendor solution critical?
Who handles what level of security
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #19
Understand the players: who’s on first…?
Search Portal:Federated Searching, etc.
ResourceTranslators
Resources
Local CommercialRemote
Searching,Authentication
authenticatio
n
OPAC
Z39.50, XML, http
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #20
Know your vendor(s), customer base
Who provides search translators: In-house External partner
Support staff Development staff Stability, financing Look beyond current
functionality – consider development path, upgrade cycle
Track record ILMS vendor?
Mix of customers Types of institutions
Similar sizes, range Similar resource mix User group
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #21
Gathering information: Use an RFI / RFP?
IMLS vendor vs. other federated search vendor
Purchasing / contracting requirements Metasearch vs. portal – define scope Keep it simple, focus on critical points
Don’t forget who your primary audience is (hint: its not really the librarians…)
LC’s requirements list is only 11 pages… Standards are critical
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #22
Gathering Information:Take a test drive
On-site demonstrations, include users Hands-on test environment
Searching, include users Administrative functions
Look at other installations in production Talk to current customers
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #23
Metasearching: final thoughts
Remember: Its a young and rapidly changing technology Its a volatile environment There are multiple players involved The competition is Google Its only one way to get users to your resources Resource discovery vs. in-depth searching Be flexible You are buying a service as well as a system
October 30, 2003 NISO Metasearch Workshop Slide #24
Some additional resources The Truth About Federated Searching, Information Today, 20(9), October 2003,
http://www.infotoday.com/it/oct03/hane1.shtml Luther, Judy, Meta Search Engines – The Librarians’ Answer to Google?, The Charleston
Advisor, 4(4), April 2003, http://www.charlestonco.com/features.cfm?id=123&type=np Luther, Judy, Trumping Google? Metasearching’s Promise, Library Journal, October 1,
2003, http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA322627
List of Portal Application Functionalities for the Library of Congress, First Draft for Public Comment, July 15, 2003, issued by the Library of Congress Portals Applications Issues Group, http://www.loc.gov/catdir/lcpaig/portalfunctionalitieslist4publiccomment1st7-22-03revcomp.pdf
Tennant, Roy, The Right Solution: Federated Search Tools, Library Journal, June 15, 2003, http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA302427
Blossom, John, Federated Foxholes: Moving Search Beyond Library Science to Content Science, Shore, October 6, 2003, http://shore.com/commentary/newsanal/items/20031006federated.html
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