Federated Search, More in LS2 PAC

Stand-alone unified discovery services and federated search systems, both of which have gotten much attention recently, tend to carry costs commensurate with their all-encompassing nature. With its LS2 PAC catalog module, however, The Library Corporation (TLC) is taking a slightly different approach.

Responding to the concern that full-scale federated search and discovery products can be prohibitively expensive for many library systems, TLC has built a basic level of federated search directly into its new LS2 PAC.

At no additional charge, TLC will enable up to five database connectors to some of the most popular electronic resources used in smaller and medium-sized public libraries. A separate list of relevant articles is accessible from the main results page, giving users quick access to content from sources like EBSCO, Gale, and others.

Along similar lines, LS2 PAC also features optional integration of RSS newsfeed items directly into the list of catalog results. According to Joshua Bloom, TLC CTO, this aims to bridge the problematic gap of currency that exists in most catalogs. For example, he says, a keyword search for “Obama inauguration” in other catalogs is unlikely to return any relevant published materials from a library’s holdings. With feeds from sources like the New York Times, Washington Post, or any other site with RSS content, LS2 PAC can point users directly to current information. A listing of RSS newsfeeds also appear among the faceted browsing options for refining the results list of a catalog search.

Tagging options similarly play a prominent role among a number of other user-centric features in the catalog. In LS2 PAC, the tags actually feed back into the search index to refine search results. What’s more, items are automatically tagged with the search terms used when a patron clicks through to an item from a keyword search, improving relevancy ranking for future search results.

With regard to the interface, tags even allow staff to pick which book covers appear in the Book River, LS2 PAC’s cross between a frontispiece and a screensaver (see image above). It’s a customizable visual stream of item cover art, controlled by tagging items records with a designated identifier in the admin interface. Covers then flow into the Book River minutes after the item gets tagged, allowing librarians flexibility in showcasing materials and collections of interest.