Library information provider OCLC Research, US, has released a new report titled 'Single Search: The Quest for the Holy Grail.' The report seeks to highlight successful strategies in providing a single point of access to library, archive and museum collections.
In the era of global search engines, users are often seen to be puzzled by the realisation that they can search the Internet through a single interface. Yet the resources of universities and other institutions are often compartmentalised in a plethora of informational silos, each with its own dedicated system, search categories and user interfaces. Many institutions want to make the breadth of their local resources easily discoverable regardless of where and how the resources are managed.
To address this desire, OCLC Research facilitated a working group of nine single search implementers through discussions about the opportunities for, and obstacles to, integrating single search access across an institution. Members of this group told their stories, identified issues, and acknowledged similarities and differences in their approaches. This brief report summarises those discussions and highlights the emerging practices in providing single search access to an institution's collections. The goal of the report is to foster successful single search implementations by sharing the experience of the working group with those who are just beginning to plan single search implementations.
The report is the latest in a series of OCLC Research reports about how to increase access to special collections that have resulted from its work under the thematic focus of Mobilizing Unique Materials.
Interested parties may read the report at http://www.oclc.org/research/publications/library/2011/2011-17r.htm
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