Virtual WebFeat User Group (VWUG) Meeting Provides Clients Opportunity to Give Feedback

On March 16, 2005, WebFeat hosted its first WebFeat User Group meeting of 2005. The meeting, which was held “virtually” via conference call and WebEx, drew many users from the over 1,500 libraries now using WebFeat systems. Among the libraries with representatives in attendance were public libraries (Chicago Public Library, San Diego Public Library), academic libraries (University of Oklahoma, University of Illinois); consortia (OPLIN, ILCSO), and state libraries (Oregon State Library and the State Library of Louisiana). WebFeat User Group meetings are held semi-annually and provide clients with an opportunity to give feedback on current products and to make suggestions for improvements.

The WebFeat client services team began the user group meeting by walking users through the many features and benefits of our latest product release, WebFeat 3. Many of the innovations present in WebFeat 3 are the direct result of clients’ feedback from previous user group meetings. WebFeat 3 features include dynamic results display capabilities, ProCite® and EndNote® compatibility, email alerts, transparent searching of pre-selected thesauri, and compatibility will all major OpenURL link resolvers! The client services team also demonstrated SMART™, WebFeat's exciting next-generation COUNTER-compliant usage tracker, before opening up the meeting for a lively question and answer session.

WebFeat thanks all of our clients who participated in this meeting. It is through user suggestions that we are continually working to make our product better. The next Virtual Webfeat User Group Meeting will be held in August. Details and invitations will be sent after the 2005 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

ILCSO Selects WebFeat To Provide Federated Search Solution

Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization committee unanimously approves WebFeat after extensive review of federated search products

After an extensive review of leading federated search solutions, the Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization (ILCSO) Board of Directors has selected WebFeat as its federated search provider.

The ILCSO Digital Library Products Committee (DLPC) voted unanimously to approve WebFeat at the culmination of a nearly two-year process, involving a formal RFP, detailed onsite product demonstrations, and interviews with each of the vendors’ references.

In its report detailing recommendations to the ILCSO Board of Directors, the DLPC stated: “The [WebFeat] demonstration showed that this is a product with a user interface that is both excellent in usability and highly customizable. Moving back and forth between the WebFeat and native interfaces is very straightforward and intuitive. The references… all were very favorable in their comments, and in particular they spoke very highly of WebFeat’s responsiveness and willingness to adapt their service to customer needs.

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Louisiana is Latest State Library to Launch WebFeat System

State Library of Louisiana provides improved access to databases for 338 libraries statewide with customized WebFeat federated search solution

On March 2nd, 2005, the State Library of Louisiana launched its state-of-the-art WebFeat federated search system, which enables patrons to search all of the State Library’s online databases simultaneously with a single intuitive interface. Databases can be searched at the State Library of Louisiana in Baton Rouge or at any of the 338 urban and rural public libraries statewide. Database access is also available remotely to anyone with a valid library card through the State Library’s website (http://www.state.lib.la.us) or local public library websites.

"WebFeat addresses a trend observed by librarians in Louisiana and across the country,” noted State Librarian Thomas F. Jaques. “Library users want premium library resources, but they now expect the same quick, comprehensive access to online resources provided by Google and other Internet search engines. In implementing WebFeat, the State Library is providing easier access to the valuable resources in the Louisiana Library Connection databases."

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2 Public Libraries Launch Custom WebFeat Systems

Omaha Public Library - On March 7, 2005, Omaha Public Library launched its custom "PowerFind" federated search solution powered by WebFeat. PowerFind is the latest integration of a WebFeat system with the popular Dynix Information Portal and represents the latest technology integration between partners WebFeat and Dynix. The Omaha Public Library serves more than 1.6 million visitors at its main library and 9 branch libraries located throughout the city of Omaha. PowerFind may also be accessed remotely via the library's website http://omaha.lib.ne.us/.

Vigo County Public Library - VCPL launched its "MutliSearch" federated search solution powered by WebFeat in March, 2005. The MultiSearch system enables patrons to search the library’s catalog resources and 54 online databases simultaneously with a single intuitive interface. Patrons can access MultiSearch remotely through the library’s website http://www.vigo.lib.in.us/. WebFeat custom configured many features of the VCPL system. For more information, read the VCPL case study.

WebFeat to Host Breakfast at ACRL Conference

On Friday, April 8, 2005, WebFeat will be hosting a gourmet breakfast for attendees of the ACRL 12th National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mary Marshall, Vice President of Sales for WebFeat, will provide a special demonstration for academic libraries of our latest product release and services. Mary will be available after the breakfast to answer any questions about WebFeat features or federated searching.

The invitation only event, which will be held in the 14th floor Horizon Room of the Millennium Hotel, has reached capacity. For more information contact mehman@webfeat.org or click here to view the invitation online.

In Defense of Stupid Users

Insights into Google’s success
by Todd Miller, President, WebFeat

At the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in January, I attended yet another industry program—this one under the aegis of NISO on metasearching—where attendees in a packed room discussed various aspects of searching lots of databases at the same time.

I should have used a stopwatch to clock the time it took from the start of the meeting for someone to voice the obligatory disparaging comment about the ignorant user searching “Britney Spears”. Similar comments came on the heels of the haughty laughter, ridiculing the typical unenlightened user’s inability to craft beautiful search strings, replete with wildcards and Boolean operators and appropriate filter selections. It doesn’t seem to matter what the intended meeting topic is. We just can’t wait to take a dump on the user.

It then occurred to me that maybe it was not the user who was unenlightened.

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