Boston Public Library implements WebFeat PRISM™ for federated search of database resources and library catalog

WebFeat-powered BPL Big Dig meets needs of major public library serving users throughout Massachusetts

Old Brookville, N.Y., February 26, 2004 - The Boston Public Library (BPL) has implemented WebFeat PRISM™, the leading federated search solution for public, academic, government, and corporate libraries, to power the BPL Big Dig -the library's name for federated searching of its many electronic resources, including the online catalog. The BPL Big Dig provides millions of customers throughout Massachusetts with the ability to search over 70 information databases simultaneously through an easy-to-use interface seamlessly incorporated in the Electronic Resources page of the library's web site, www.bpl.org.

"Our goal is to continually improve the services we provide to our customers," explained Cindy Phillips, Technology Implementation and Training Officer at Boston Public Library. "Whenever technology helps us do that we like to bring it on board. We anticipate that WebFeat federated search will help us meet the ever-changing information needs of customers ranging from casual users to in-depth researchers."

At the WebFeat-powered BPL Big Dig, customers have multiple options to make searching easier, more efficient, and more appropriate. They can globally search all 70 databases plus the library catalog; select from 22 subject areas such as Business, Government, Law, and Statistics; or customize their search by clicking any number of select boxes from the comprehensive listing of all databases.

WebFeat Prism provides capabilities not previously available at BPL. Before WebFeat, customers were required to scan a list of more than 70 database resources, prioritize their choices according to an often-limited knowledge of database contents, and then search each database individually.

With 27 branches in addition to the central library in Copley Square, the Boston Public Library is the largest public library in Massachusetts. It is also a major research libraryone of only 2 public libraries in the nation that are members of the Association of Research Librariesand the "Library of Last Recourse" for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, mandated to provide services for every state resident. Said Phillips, "We strive to meet the needs of everyone who walks through our doors or who visits us online."

"WebFeat went live at the BPL in December 2003," said Phillips. "Now, were looking forward to the reports we can generate with WebFeat Usage Tracker, which will help us evaluate how often our online databases are used and how cost-effective they are."

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 federated search tools, PRISM™, the SMART™ COUNTER-compliant usage tracker, and MyWebFeat™ personalized federated search system. Originally founded in 1992 as an information technology consultancy, WebFeat has earned industry recognition from leading organizations such as Library Journal and the Gartner Group. Learn more about WebFeat at www.webfeat.org.