EOS International and WebFeat Partner to Supply Special Libraries With Federated Search Functionality

Joint development partnership to offer EOS clients simplified access to multiple database resources

Old Brookville, NY, December 8 , 2004— Market leaders EOS International and WebFeat today announced a joint development partnership in order to supply EOS clients with simplified, simultaneous access to multiple database resources.

“WebFeat’s patented metasearch technology will enable us to provide federated search capabilities as part of our EOS.Web OPAC, similar to how EOS currently provides Z39.50 cross-library searching,” states Jeff Goodwin, Director of Research & Development for EOS International. “After carefully reviewing the field of companies offering federated search products, WebFeat’s superior technology was the only one to meet our compatibility standards.”

Federated search functionality eliminates the problems associated with having to search, one at a time, dozens of databases, each of which have their own unique search interface. With federated search, from a single customized search interface, users can select any set of database sources to search, whether it be the Web, Z39.50, SQL, XML, proprietary, commercial or free. Results are displayed according to source, and with a single click, the entire record will be displayed in the native interface. Webfeat even links e-books to OPAC records and e-articles to serial records.

"With the customized federated search interface, complex authentication issues are resolved, enabling libraries to streamline the search process for both beginning and experienced users," state Todd Miller, President of WebFeat. "The result is simplified back office operations, reduced costs, and improved access to information."

About WebFeat
WebFeat (US patent #6,807,539) is the developer of the WebFeat Prism™, used by over 1,500 leading public, academic, government and Global 1000 libraries and information centers—including over half of the top 20 largest U.S. public libraries and one out of every 10 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions. WebFeat’s latest release, WebFeat 3, offers a suite of next-generation metasearch tools, the SMART™ COUNTER-compliant usage tracker, and MyWebFeat™ personalized metasearch system. Originally founded in 1992 as an information technology consultancy, WebFeat has earned industry recognition from leading organizations such as the Gartner Group and Library Journal. Learn more about WebFeat at www.webfeat.org.

About EOS International
EOS International is a leading global library information management software and services provider with a client base of over 3,000 special libraries. A client-driven company nominated for a Computerworld Smithsonian award, EOS library automation software products (EOS.Web™ Express, EOS.Web™ Enterprise, and hosted, EOS e-Library Services®) serve the stringent knowledge and content management needs of corporate, legal, medical, government and special libraries of all sizes. EOS International can be found online at www.eosintl.com.

Additional Contact
Elizabeth Kelley, Marketing Manager
EOS International
760-431-8400 x107
ekelley@eosintl.com