Improving e-book access via a library-developed full-text search tool.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reports on the development of a tool for searching the contents of licensed full-text electronic book (e-book) collections.


METHODS
The Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) provides services to the University of Pittsburgh's medical programs and large academic health system.


METHODS
The HSLS has developed an innovative tool for federated searching of its e-book collections. Built using the XML-based Vivísimo development environment, the tool enables a user to perform a full-text search of over 2,500 titles from the library's seven most highly used e-book collections. From a single "Google-style" query, results are returned as an integrated set of links pointing directly to relevant sections of the full text. Results are also grouped into categories that enable more precise retrieval without reformulation of the search.
A heuristic evaluation demonstrated the usability of the tool and a web server log analysis indicated an acceptable level of usage. Based on its success, there are plans to increase the number of online book collections searched.


CONCLUSIONS
This library's first foray into federated searching has produced an effective tool for searching across large collections of full-text e-books and has provided a good foundation for the development of other library-based federated searching products.
Foust
Jill E
JE
jef2@pitt.edu
Bergen
Phillip
P
Maxeiner
Gretchen L
GL
Pawlowski
Peter N
PN
D001874:Book Selection; D002381:Catalogs, Library; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D046609:Libraries, Digital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016243:Library Collection Development / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008000:Library Surveys; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012014:Reference Books, Medical; D014481:United States