dbWiz

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dbWiz

• Automagic Resource Selector

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The Problem

• too many electronic resources
• lots of stuff out there
• requires specialized knowledge
• human librarian not always available to give
  immediate help

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A Solution

• cross database search tool
• use dbWiz
• search Z39.50 enabled databases
• search SQL databases
• search databases available on web
• search resource/subject guides

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Virtual Reference?

• replace the reference librarian?
• tool to assist librarians
• off site usage
• always available
• immediate results

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Demo search screen
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Demo search results
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Demo database results
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Demo detailed database results
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Demo live test

• dbWiz
• http//mercury.lib.sfu.ca8888/cgi-bin/parasearch/
  dbwiz.cgi
• paraZserver
• http//delos.lib.sfu.ca8888/cgi-bin/www_gateway/c
  mdev/z3950.CGI?yaz.db

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The Guts

• lets take a look inside dbWiz

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The Guts

• dbWiz is really three main parts
• dbWiz
• parasearch server
• databases
• plus a search client

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The Guts dbWiz

• CGI front-end
• part that user sees
• perl/apache/linux

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The Guts parasearch server

• parasearch server does the actual searching
• waits to be called by dbWiz

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The Guts parasearch server

• uses
• Stanford Z39.50 zclient / Zeta perl zclient
• perlDBI for SQL
• perlLWP for web

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The Guts databases

• a parasearch driver for each database type
• Z39.50
• SQL
• web

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The Guts search client

• para Z server
• single Z39.50 search to multiple Z39.50 search

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The Guts search client

• para Z server
• lowest common denominator search attributes
• how to handle
• duplicate results?
• sorting?

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The open source angle

• created using open source software
• Yaz Z39.50 SimpleServer
• Stanford Zclient/Zeta Zclient
• perl DBI, LWP, ParallelForkManager
• Apache
• dbWiz is open source itself

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Todo

• staff interface for managing Z39.50 databases

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Possible enhancements?

• custom screens based on user profile
• limit results to fulltext (immediate) sources
  only
• heuristics for automatic resource selection
• based on number of hits?
• hits in subject guides?
• based on past searches?

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Other database wizards

• UCSD Database Advisor
• California Digital Library Searchlight
• Flashpoint at the Los Alamos National Lab
• Multi-SEARCH at the University of Arizona

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For more information

• web
• www.lib.sfu.ca/dbwiz