From Topic to Text: The Evolution of reSearcher, An Integrated Open Source Software Project Kevin Stranack, Consortial Support Librarian Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries

Outline  What is reSearcher?  Where Did It Come From?  Federated Searching  Serials Management  Link Resolving  Bibliographic Management  Why Open Source?  Future Directions  Further Information

What is reSearcher?  Integrated, open source software suite  Designed to ease resource discovery, access, and management  Used throughout Western Canada  Funded by COPPUL and SFU  Development team located at SFU  Participation from many COPPUL libraries

Where Did It Come From?  Originally developed at SFU (OJAC)  Adopted by COPPUL  Became “reSearcher” GODOT Citation Manager dbWiz CUFTS

Federated Searching: dbWiz  Lead Developer: Calvin Mah, SFU  One source searches multiple targets  Developed for COPPUL as a prototype  Currently funded by nine COPPUL members and ELN  Expected release: Summer 2005

dbWiz: What can it search?  Library catalogues  Subscription databases  Free web-based databases  Selected web sites  Internet search engines  Institutional repositories

dbWiz: Why use it?  Convenient  Easy to use  Customizable  Ability to create subject specific categories

dbWiz: Screenshots  dbWizPrototypePage1.html dbWizPrototypePage1.html

Serials Management: CUFTS  Lead Developer: Todd Holbrook, SFU  Serials knowledge base  245+ collections  Aggregators  Electronic publishers  Association publishers  Open access content

CUFTS: Why use it?  Single source of serials information  Centrally updated  Static A-Z lists  Dynamic serials database  MARC records  Collection comparison reports  Full-text link resolving

CUFTS: Demonstration  Knowledge base  Public CUFTS site  A-Z list (Winter 2005) Prototype In development  Serials database (Spring 2005) Prototype

Link Resolving: GODOT  Lead Developer: Kristina Long, SFU  Places a link in your online databases  Searches local and remote catalogues  Works with CUFTS for full-text linking  Interoperates with many ILS and ILL systems  1999 CACUL Innovation Achievement Award winner

GODOT: Why use it?  OpenURL version 0.1 compliant  Works with all major sources  Facilitates resource sharing and cooperation  Maximizes use of often hidden resources  Recently redesigned  Highly customizable user interface  Convenient and easy to use

GODOT: Demonstration  CSA user interface CSA user interface

GODOT: More Sources - EBSCO

GODOT: More Sources - ISI

GODOT: More Sources - WebSPIRS

GODOT: More Sites  University of Winnipeg University of Winnipeg  Concordia University College Concordia University College  Brandon University Brandon University

GODOT: Demonstration  Administrative interface Administrative interface

Bibliographic Management: Citation Manager  Lead Developer: Todd Holbrook, SFU  Web-based database of citations  Personal or group use  Imported from GODOT  Imported from external list or directly  2003 CACUL Innovation Achievement Award winner

Citation Manager: Why Use it?  Easy to use  Securely store, organize, share  Accessible from anywhere  Exports to commercial products  Available to alumni

Citation Manager: Demo  Simon Fraser University Simon Fraser University  Centre for Dialogue Centre for Dialogue

Why Open Source?  Stable  Lower costs  Facilitates collaborative development  Allows for community input and decision- making  Contributes to the wider library community

Future Directions  Creating a long-term open source business model  Increased promotion/marketing  Encourage participation from wider open source community  Adding functionality  Expanding resources searched

Further Information  Kevin Stranack: Consortial Support Librarian   