This document provides an overview of library portals and federated search engines, including definitions, major developers, standards, and LAU's implementation of the ZPortal system. It discusses terminology, differences between portals and federated search engines, examples of popular systems, and advantages and disadvantages of the portal approach. The case study focuses on LAU being the first academic institution in Lebanon to adopt ZPortal and how it functions to allow single-search access to the library catalog and other resources.
EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptx
LAU ZPortal Case Study
1. LAU CASE STUDY
By
Cendrella Habre
Systems Librarian
Lebanese American University
chabre@lau.edu.lb
January 24, 2006 1
2. Outline
Terminology
Definitions
Major developers and available
systems
Brief overview of LAU’s ZPortal
Looking @ other ZPortal examples
Advantages & disadvantages
January 24, 2006 2
3. 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)
January 24, 2006 3
4. 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
January 24, 2006 4
5. 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”
January 24, 2006 5
6. 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.
January 24, 2006 6
7. 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
resources tool.
January 24, 2006 7
8. 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/agency/
www.lib.monash.edu.au/vl/glossind.htm
January 24, 2006 8
9. 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
January 24, 2006 9
10. 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.
January 24, 2006 10
11. Developers?
Small Vendors
Library Systems Vendors
Database Aggregators
January 24, 2006 11
12. Federated Search Engines:
AGent (Auto-Graphics)
MetaStar (Blue Angel Technologies)
MuseGlobal (MuseGlobal, Inc.)
WebFeat (WebFeat)
ZPortal (FDI)
For more information
http://www.loc.gov/catdir/lcpaig/portalproducts.html
January 24, 2006 12
13. 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.html
January 24, 2006 13
14. 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.
January 24, 2006 14
15. Hosting
Note
All the above mentioned companies
provide hosting services at their
own sites to potential clients.
January 24, 2006 15
16. @ LAU
LAU is the first academic institution in Lebanon to
implement the ZPortal system.
Why ZPortal was selected?
3. Professional/Academic
4. Rigid
5. Flexible
6. Familiar with interface (OLIB)
7. Widely used
8. Pricing/Services
January 24, 2006 16
17. Why do we need it?
S earc h database R etrieve usefulPrint or save to disc
records
L ocate the C hec k the
Or go to the journal on OPA C
e-journal the shelves
F ind the Do you have
volume and access to Go to the
issue the full- article
text?
Other
Resources
(such as DDS )
January 24, 2006 17
18. Overview
End User
Collections and Search Profiles
Z39.50
OPAC Other
resources Link to non-
searchable
http local or web resources
Search Fulltext
A&I
Engines services
services
January 24, 2006 18
19. How does it work?
The user must be
authenticated to The OpenLinking Resolver asks the following questions:
use OpenLinking. 1. Can I match on ISSN?
The user runs a 2. What services are available to this user?
search. 3. How will I build the URL to go to each available
service? The user clicks on
the link and it is
When these questions are answered successfully, the opened in another
links are built and displayed to the user 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
January 24, 2006 19
20. @ LAU
LAU site:
http://libwserv.lau.edu.lb:43002/zportal/
Other sites:
http://www.k4h.northbristol.nhs.uk
http://www.library.nhs.uk/
January 24, 2006 20
21. 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 are applied, e.g., Boolean
operators
January 24, 2006 21
22. 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
January 24, 2006 22
23. Conclusion
Library Portals or Federated Search
Engines enable you to search a
world of information
January 24, 2006 23
Editor's Notes
Note that each bullet needs a click to appear on screen!! OpenLinking is FD’s OpenURL resolver. The OpenURL resolver takes metadata and matches it with locally held rules about where your electronic content is available from. It means that FDI have implemented the OpenURL standard in its draft form, to enable your users to link from a search result in ZPORTAL to digital conent. Not all content providers and e-journal sites you use will be OpenURL enabled. However, this does not mean that you cannot link to those sites. FD have developed a range of templates which specify the metadata required for a website. Content can mean a range of media - including journals, electronic full-text, the library catalog, Internet search engines and so on.
Note that individual mouse clicks are needed on this slide. Life before ZPORTAL and OpenLinking - the research process currently goes something like this - your users search a database or databases to find articles that may be useful for their term paper they find some useful records and then print them out or save them to a floppy they then go check the OPAC and find the item on the library shelves or go to the e-journal (if they can find it on your website or through the OPAC perhaps) they would then locate the volume and then the issue (in both e-journals and on the shelves) in the case of e-journals, they may then find that the library doesn’t have a subscription, or they aren’t allowed access but if they are lucky , then they may finally reach their destination - the article
This slide is on page “x” of your training manual as well as in the ppt slides. So what’s going on in the background? The user must be authenticated to use openlinking - this enables authorization to take place - does the user have appropriate access rights? From a search result, metadata is taken and passed to the OpenURL resolver - configurable rules are questions - can I find the ISSN? What services are available to this user? And how do I build the URL to that service, given the metadata I have from the search result? Following this provess, the user is offered a number of links and by following the links, they can access full-text or library catalogues.
OpenLinking is the final piece in the ZPORTAL jigsaw. Using openlinking you will be resolving “the most appropriate copy” issue. OpenLinking is FD’s solution for linking from a citation to the full-text or other appropriate website or service.