LAU CASE STUDY

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• LAU CASE STUDY
• By
• Cendrella Habre
• Systems Librarian
• Lebanese American University
• Fourth AMICAL Conference
• Al Akhawayn University Ifrane Morocco
• May 27-30, 2007

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Outline

• Terminology
• Definitions
• Major developers and available systems
• Overview of LAUs ZPortal
• Advantages disadvantages

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Terminology

• Note This technology started in 1999/2000
• Library Portals
• Federated Search Engines
• Library Portlets
• Protocols/Standards/Set of rules
• Z39.50
• OpenURLs (Z2Web)
• Link Resolvers (OL2)

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Definition (1)

• Portal is a web-based search tool
• Portal concept is often ambiguous and confusing
• Portal is a buzzword inappropriately used
• Other terms used in the information community
• Metasearch
• Metadata search
• Parallel search
• Broadcast search
• Cross-database search
• Search portal

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Definition (2)

• A library portal or a federated search engine
  is a discovery tool (a software actually) that
  enables a user to search using a single-search
  interface across certain websites, library
  catalogs, and databases of information resources
  to retrieve and integrate the results in a single
  presentation

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Library Portals vs. Federated Search Engines

• Library Portals
• It is certain that all Library Portals can search
  Z39.50 databases
• Yet not all Library Portals can search currently
  available licensed databases. (Authentication
  problem for remote users)
• Federated Search Engines can search all Z39.50
  and currently available licensed databases for
  both walk-in and remote users.

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Library Portlet

• The Library Portlet is a small search window
  found on any web page of a university,
  organization, institution, company, etc., which
  allows direct access to the online catalog and
  other resources available.
• This is a powerful and convenient library
  resource tool.

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Z39.50

• A protocol that allows a computer to search
  collections of information on a remote system,
  create sets of results for further manipulation,
  and retrieve information mainly used for
  bibliographic information.www.cs.cornell.edu/wya/
  DigLib/MS1999/glossary.html
• A set of rules governing the formats and
  procedures used by two computers to interact with
  one another. www.esls.lib.wi.us/glossary.html
• A standard that defines how computers search in
  library catalogues. The Library of Congress is
  the Maintenance Agency and Registration Authority
  for this standard, see http//www.loc.gov/z3950/ag
  ency/www.lib.monash.edu.au/vl/glossind.htm

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OpenURL

• A standard developed by NISO (National
  Information Standards Organization)
• It provides a uniform way for users to link
  directly from bibliographic citations (in non
  Z39.50 compliant databases) to fulltext articles
  available in online resources, websites, and
  other services for which a URL can be constructed
• It facilitates links

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Link Resolver

• A link resolver uses the OpenURL standard to
  create links to content, such as E-journals,
  library catalogs, Internet search engines, some
  ILL systems, bookshops, etc.
• In other words, when a patron finds a citation or
  reference to a specific article, this link
  resolver supplies the best available path to the
  content, anywhere in the library collection.

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Developers?

• Small Vendors
• Library Systems Vendors
• Database Aggregators

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Federated Search Engines

• AGent (Auto-Graphics)
• Meta Search Solution (Blue Angel Technologies)
• Muse Solutions (MuseGlobal, Inc.)
• WebFeat3 (WebFeat)
• ZPortal (OCLCPICA)
• For more information
• http//www.loc.gov/catdir/lcpaig/portalproducts.h
  tml

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Automated Library Systems

• EnCompass (Endeavor)
• iPAC (Epixtech Dynix/Horizon)
• ILINK (Sirsi)
• MetaLib (Ex-Libris)
• Polaris (Gaylord)
• MAP or Millennium Access Plus (Innovative
  Interfaces, Inc.)
• iPortal (VTLS)
• YouSeeMore (TLC)
• For more information
• http//www.loc.gov/catdir/lcpaig/portalproducts.h
  tml

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Database Aggregators

• MultiSearch (CSA)
• OVID Technologies and MuseGlobal (Dec. 1, 2004
  announced delivery of a metasearch engine)
• More to come
• _______________________________________________
• Few aggregators have integrating metasearching
  into their resources, e.g.
• ScienceDirect
• JSTOR
• GALE
• EBSCOhost
• WilsonWeb
• Etc.

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Hosting

• Note
• All the above mentioned companies provide
  hosting services at their own sites to potential
  clients.

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_at_ LAU

• LAU is the first academic institution in Lebanon
  to implement the ZPortal system.
• Why ZPortal was selected?
• Professional/Academic
• Rigid
• Flexible
• Familiar with interface (OLIB)
• Widely used
• Pricing/Services

MultiSearch (CSA) OVID Technologies and
MuseGlobal (Dec. 1, 2004 announced delivery of a
metasearch engine) NISO (National Information
Standards Organisation More to come
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Why do we need it?
Retrieve useful records
Search database
Print or save to disc
Locate the journal on the shelves
Check the OPAC
Or go to the e-journal
Do you have access to the full-text?
Find the volume and issue
Go to the article
Other Resources (such as DDS)
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Overview
End User
Collections and Search Profiles
Z39.50
OPAC
Other resources
Link to non-searchable resources
http
local or web
Search Engines
Fulltext services
AI services
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Z2Web (Link Resolver)How does it work?
The user must be authenticated to use
OpenLinking. The user runs a search.
The OpenLinking Resolver asks the following
questions 1. Can I match on ISSN? 2. What
services are available to this user? 3. How will
I build the URL to go to each available
service? When these questions are answered
successfully, the links are built and displayed
to the user
The user clicks on the link and it is opened in
another browser window

• The search result contains metadata -
• Journal title
• Journal of management studies
• ISSN 0022-2380
• Date/volume and issue data Jul2002/Vol39/Issue 5
• Pagination p.619

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_at_ LAU

• LAU site http//libwserv.lau.edu.lb43002/zportal
  /
• Other sites
• http//www.k4h.northbristol.nhs.uk
• http//www.library.nhs.uk/

MultiSearch (CSA) OVID Technologies and
MuseGlobal (Dec. 1, 2004 announced delivery of a
metasearch engine) NISO (National Information
Standards Organisation More to come
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Advantages

• Less time in searching Several resources are
  searched at once
• Single one-stop web page
• Single interface (results)
• Tremendous increase in the usage of online
  resources, thus cost-effective
• Excellent tool for ILL/DDS
• Portal vs. Google
• Searching techniques can be applied, e.g.,
  Boolean operators

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Disadvantages

• No Arabic support
• Security It involves the opening of some ports
  outside the university firewalls
• End-user overwhelmed with of hits
• Continuous maintenance and update
• Unable to cover all licensed databases

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Library Portals or Federated Search Engines
enable you to search a world of information
Conclusion