ProQuest, part of Cambridge Information Group, has announced the acquisition of US-based search engine provider WebFeat. ProQuest plans to merge WebFeat with Serials Solutions, its Seattle-based business unit and developer of e-resource access and management tools for libraries.
Under the leadership of Serials Solutions' general manager, Jane Burke, the strengths of WebFeat's and Serials Solutions' federated search platforms will be combined to create a single, market-leading solution. The new platform will debut in early 2009, providing libraries with more power and efficiency in accessing their data pools. The current search platforms from both Serials Solutions and WebFeat will continue to be supported as this development proceeds.
Founded by information industry veteran Todd Miller, WebFeat introduced the first federated search technology in 1998 and has continued as a market leader, serving more than 16,500 libraries, conducting more than 172 million database searches annually. Miller, who holds four patents in the field of federated search, will remain with WebFeat briefly as a consultant. WebFeat employees will be aligned functionally within Serials Solutions' current organisational structure. While WebFeat staff will become part of Serials Solutions, its customer support and all development activities will continue uninterrupted.
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