READIT - 2009 - Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

Proceedings of READIT-2009, Kalpakkam - 603 102, 29-30 Dec 2009
Searching library and non-library content simultaneously
DISADVANTAGES:
‣ Federated search does not emulate native search searching a content source through its
native search function will always offer more sophisticated options.
‣ It is harder to enter deeper into a collection with a federated search product
‣ Complete removing of duplicates may be difficult
‣ Configuring a federated search system for a new or unknown database takes time and
may require money to compensate the vendor
‣ Searching for a known item is not what federated search does well.
‣ Change in a database configuration will render it unsearchable by the federated search
engine until the “connector” is fixed.
VENDORS:
The federated search tool or software is being promoted by both commercial
organizations and Institutions. Hence federated searching is classified as Commercial and Open
source, which is listed in the table.
Sl.No. Organization / Institute City Commercial /
Open Source
1 Auto-Graphics, Inc Pomona Commercial
2 CARE Affiliates, Inc Blacksburg Commercial
3 Comcepta AG Switzerland Commercial
4 Deep Web Technologies, Inc Santa Commercial
5 Ex Libris Illinois Commercial
6 Groxis, Inc San Francisco Commercial
7 Index Data, Inc West Martford Commercial
8 MuseGlobal, Inc San Fransciso Commercial
9 Serials Solutions Seattle Commercial
10 TDNet West Chester Commercial
11 WebFeat Old Brookville Commercial
12 WebLib Hungary Commercial
13 DBWiz Simon Frazer
University
Open Source
It is inferred from the Table 1 that, 13 organizations are listed in providing federated
searching software’s of which 12 organizations are found to be commercial and only one is open
source. Its interesting to note from this table that developing countries can make use of this open
source software to search different resources in a single interface.
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