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.

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