federated search evaluation & implementation. outline drivers methodology outcome
TRANSCRIPT
Federated Search
evaluation & implementation
Outline
• Drivers• Methodology• Outcome
Drivers
• Customer pressure• Expiry of TD-Net
contract• Staff pressure• Peer pressure• Frustration with
bidding process
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/the_user_is_not_broken_a_meme.php
Methodology
Evidence gathering
• Literature search
• What do our users want
• Students / Researchers / Academic staff
• Library staff / Trainers
• Best of breed
What we asked
“in an ideal world, how would you find information for your studies?”
Who we asked
• Research focus group
• Postgraduate focus group
• Academic staff focus group
• Informal interviews with students
What we gave them …
They said …
We want
• 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
Shortlist
• 360 Search
• WebFeat
• MetaLib
• TDNet
Evaluation
• Trial
• User testing on campus
• User testing off campus
• Feedback / Web Monkey
• Amazon voucher
Overall rankings
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
WebFeat 28 21 17 15
WebFeat responses
Yes No
Was it easy to use 71 9
Did you find the interface clear & simple
71 9
Could you search how you wanted to 64 15
Did it give a fast enough response 66 14
Did it produce relevant results 66 14
Was it useful 66 14
Did you find full text articles 63 17
Did you have any problems 13 67
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 …”
Decision time
• User feedback
• Costs
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
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.
Questions?
Demo
• Admin page
