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Evaluating Cross-database Search Tools

Discover the process of evaluating cross-database search tools at UC and the interesting vendor and customer responses. Learn about the final product and the lessons learned throughout the evaluation process.

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Evaluating Cross-database Search Tools

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  1. Evaluating Cross-database Search Tools Catherine Soehner, Head Christy Hightower, Engineering Librarian Science & Engineering Library University of California, Santa Cruz October 4, 2003 LITA National Forum

  2. University of California • 10 campuses • 100’s of libraries • California Digital Library

  3. Our Users Want • Easy, intuitive, fast All in one place • Instant full text

  4. Cross-database Searching at UC • UC San Diego • Database Advisor • California Digital Library (CDL)

  5. What We Wanted • Customized for each campus • Customized for each library • Better functionality • Duplicate removal • Sorting • Integration with full text and ILL • Panic Button

  6. The Panic Button Idea • Designed to search: • Full Text • All subjects • Small number of databases • Undergraduate level

  7. SearchLight Reloaded Project to evaluate commercial software to replace SearchLight

  8. Process: Vendors • Reviewed Web documentation • Contacted each vendor • Set up demo • CDL Checklist • Questionnaire

  9. Interesting Vendor Responses • Features R&D • Personalization, alert services, vocabulary assistance, deduping, merging • Technical infrastructure & programming R&D

  10. Process: Customers • Contacted customers • Questionnaire

  11. Interesting Customer Responses • Wish List • Interface Control • Vendor Responsiveness

  12. Final Product • 30 page report evaluating 5 products • Summary chart with top 18 features • Final decision • Prototypes from top 3 vendors

  13. 7 Interesting Features • IP address authentication • Number of databases searched • Number of database categories allowed • Merging and de-duping • Sorting • Auto-check for non-functioning databases • Communication

  14. Lessons Learned • Raise expectations • New market • Technology ready to meet our imagination • Ask pointed questions, such as: • Can your software do X today? • Keep asking!

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