WebFeat and the Ohio Public Library Information Network bring federated database search to the citizens of Ohio

Leading federated search solution provides simple user experience, powerful shared search capabilities for 250 libraries state-wide

Old Brookville, N.Y., February 26, 2004 - The Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) has chosen WebFeat Prism, the leading federated search solution for public, academic, government, and corporate libraries, to provide comprehensive database search capabilities to the millions of patrons of Ohio's 250 public libraries. OPLIN chose WebFeat because it meets the complex needs of the state-wide consortium and makes the search process simple, elegant, and powerful for users.

"We chose WebFeat specifically because it gives us the greatest flexibility," said Don Yarman, Library Services Manager at OPLIN. "Other federated search products are designed to integrate primarily with one library automation system. But at OPLIN and in Ohio generally, we don't have single state-wide systems. We needed to ensure integration with all of the systems in all of our libraries. WebFeat lets us do exactly that. "

Most important is how WebFeat's simplicity and power help OPLIN meet its core missionproviding the citizens of Ohio with Internet connectivity to shared information resources. "Visit public libraries across the state," remarked Yarman, "and youll find all kinds of peopleschool children, professionals, and retirees, casual users and power researchers. WebFeat lets us meet all of their needs in the simplest, most appropriate ways. WebFeat gives them a search capability that's as easy as Google, but with premium library resources underneath for much better results. "

Where OPLIN users previously had to search one database at a timeafter scanning the list of 100 available resources to determine the right place to startWebFeat will now allow them to search all databases globally or choose resources by subject cluster. Said Yarman, "Our new Information Resources page will have a Pictures and Maps category, Homework Help for students, Business Information, Medical and Health News, and much more. In the second phase of OPLIN's overall services upgrade, we'll offer access to unique cultural and historical resources from cities and counties across the state. All this will be available through an elegant, intuitive front-end matching our new web interface."

Yarman also values the convenience of WebFeat's hosted service provider model. Unlike other providers, WebFeat does not require users to build their own translators (the technologies that allow federated search engines to communicate with proprietary databases), but writes and maintains them centrally. For user libraries and consortia, WebFeat's translator updates are transparent and instantaneous, ensuring that access to valuable resources is never interrupted.

"We are very pleased with WebFeat," concluded Yarman. "The people have been wonderful to work with. Im impressed by their ability to listen and to accommodate our needs."

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.