Out-googling Google: Federated Searching and the Single Search Box 13 th National ACRL Conference March 29 – April 1, 2007 Presentation by Verne W. Newton Director of Library Services Kathryn Silberger Automation Resources Librarian James A. Cannavino Library Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY

James A. Cannavino Library Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College 30 Bachelor's degrees 30 Bachelor's degrees 10 Master's degrees 10 Master's degrees 16 Certificate Programs 16 Certificate Programs 5,000 students on Main Campus 5,000 students on Main Campus 750 adult continuing education students 750 adult continuing education students 875 full and part-time graduate students 875 full and part-time graduate students

Marist College Main Campus and 4 extension sites Main Campus and 4 extension sites Several Online Degree Programs Several Online Degree Programs Growing # of Distance Learners Growing # of Distance Learners

James A. Cannavino Library 190,000 Volumes 190,000 Volumes 91 databases on A – Z List 91 databases on A – Z List 100’s of recommended web sites 100’s of recommended web sites 34,000+ electronic journals (21,000+ unique titles) 34,000+ electronic journals (21,000+ unique titles) 9 Full Time Librarians 9 Full Time Librarians

Web Site Redesign

Single Uncluttered Page

This resulted in 27 Subject Pages

Usage /Data

Why Not A Single Google Style Search Box?

Including Google

Usage Patterns Fall 2004 to Fall 2005 Changes Fall 2004 to Fall 2005 Changes –Website visits up 13% –Database Searches up 29% –PDF document usage up 63% –Overall document usage up 350% ***  *** some inadvertent over-counting by providers

General Usage Trends Newspaper usage increased the most Newspaper usage increased the most  Sort order of most recent first favors news Alphabetic advantage diminished Alphabetic advantage diminished Significant increases in scholarly article usage Significant increases in scholarly article usage  Jstor, Project Muse, Science Direct increases > 50%

General Usage Trends Segmented databases – significant increase in article usage Segmented databases – significant increase in article usage

General Usage Trends Good informal comments from students and faculty Good informal comments from students and faculty

General Usage Trends Databases not compatible with federated searching saw significant decreases. Databases not compatible with federated searching saw significant decreases.

Out-googling Google by searching the “Invisible Web” Google cannot search content that is stored in databases and delivered in dynamic pages. Google cannot search content that is stored in databases and delivered in dynamic pages. Fox Hunt can. Fox Hunt can.

Creating a Virtual Federated Database Fashion Design program Fashion Design program –No commercial resource available –Several good open access sources available  American Memory  NY Public Library Digital Gallery & NYPL Picture Collection Online  Artcyclopedia  Google Images