Today Technology has changed the way libraries operate as well as the user’s behavioral pattern. It is a challenge for many libraries to provide their users the best of services & update them with recent information hosted on various publishers platform

One of such challenge is to provide users with a single platform to access all the subscribed resources on a single search window. The most popular method adopted by many libraries is implementing of federated searching engine.

Federated search is an information retrieval technology that allows the simultaneous search of multiple searchable resources. A user makes a single query request which is distributed to the search engines participating in the federation. The federated search then aggregates the results that are received from the search engines for presentation to the user

Here we have examined EHIS – EBSCOhost Integrated Search by EBSCO Publishing and listing some of its salient features.

EBSCO publishing is a company of repute in the field of online resources and currently has the presence in over 90 different countries of the world.

EBSCOHOST INTEGRATED SEARCH

EBSCOHOST INTEGRATED SEARCH: A new revelation in the world of federated search. If you have ever thought of searching all your library resources with a single interface, then EBSCOhost Integrated Search is your answer. Research shows that many customers who are using federated search products are unhappy with four essential components — Search Quality, Search Speed, Customer Service and Cost. Because the recently enhanced EBSCOhost interface is the essence of EBSCOhost Integrated Search, it leverages the same easy-to-use EBSCOhost features and functionality that users know and have come to rely on.

 Like federated search engines, EBSCOhost Integrated Search allows users to simultaneously search EBSCO databases as well as all other electronic resources, including those from other database aggregators, OPACs and publisher packages. However, unlike federated search products, true integration is possible with EBSCOhost Integrated Search as libraries can now apply the powerful EBSCOhost search experience to all of their other electronic information resources.

The salient Features of EBSCOhost Integrated Search (EHIS) are given below. 

·          Full 508 Accessibility

EBSCO Publishing (EBSCO) has teamed with accessibility experts to make it easier to search EBSCOhost® and NoveList products using screen readers and keyboard controls.  This means that:

• Full features of EBSCOhost are available to all users, including those with various physical and visual disabilities.
• Improved navigability for screen readers and keyboard controls dramatically decreases the page sizes and improves the overall delivery speed of EBSCOhost for users with low bandwidth connections.

·         AJAX - Fast response times, allowing results to trickle in without delaying the user

                  Asynchronized Java & XML (AJAX) technology allows the EHIS unmatched speed. Slow connectors will not frustrate users anymore. This technology allows EHIS to skip the slow connectors and allow users to see the results available while EHIS will keep on searching slow connectors at the background.

·          Subject Sets

Library can create various subject sets out of its total collection thereby segregating its resources like Management Databases, Science Databases etc. It eliminates confusion among the users when they see a large list of resources.

·         Basic and Advanced Search functionality –

EHIS provides you with EBSCOhost Basic & Advanced searching options.

1.         Basic searching is for novice users. It is a Google like interface which allows you to give in a keyword and search the all the databases/Information servers.

 2.        Advance searching is for  seasoned researchers allows them to use field base search (Searching by Author, Publisher etc.), Limiters (Full Text, Date Sliders, Peer reviewed etc.) allowing them to retrieve much precise search results.

·       Full Text Limiter

Users can now limit their searches to those articles only for which full text are available.

·         Date Slider limite

                  Users can set a date range to make their searches

·         Sort results by relevancy or date

                  Users can sort there results by “Date” or by “Relevance”. Relevancy ranking algorithm of EBSCO is of highest standard making sure that users actually get most relevant result on top. 

·         Clustering (Facets) –

                  Facets or clustering allow user to further precise there searches from the result list itself. Subject Clustering i.e top 10 suggested terms related to your given keyword, Publication Clustering i.e. top 10 Journals from which result list has picked up articles, Author Clustering etc. are available to ease your searches.

·        My EBSCOhost -  Add to Folders option

                  A Unique functionality of EHIS . Users can use “My EBSCOhost” feature to save their searches. It gives an option to personalize a folder wherein articles from  non EBSCOhost e-resources can be saved for future reference and can be retrieved on requirement.

Multiple folders can be created and divided into two – Sharable & non-sharable

·        My EBSCOhost - Creating Alerts

It’s another unique feature of EHIS. Create Alerts for your searches, and our system will notify you through emails whenever any new article appears in any journal related to your required field.

                

·         My EBSCOhost - Print, Save, Email

Print, Save or Email a citation from the result page itself. Users do not have to worry about copy pasting a citation or opening their email accounts to save some data. 

·        My EBSCOhost - Note Taking

Note taking feature allows users to create notes in relation to any article in the result list and save it to my EBSCOhost folder. The need to keep pen & paper handy can be avoided. Users can retrieve the required notes at any time and also the article related to it.

·         Use of Custom Links (Helps in adding Library Local Collection)

                  Custom linking allows the library to add their local print collection to EHIS telling the users that this particular title is also available in the library. Open access titles can also be custom linked to library’s records.

·         Branding

Branding facilitates the placement of library logos or names and messages on most EBSCOhost screens. Logos or library names can appear in the upper-right corner of EBSCOhost user interface screens, and special library messages can be located at the bottom of select pages, such as the:

• Choose Databases Screen
• Basic Search Screen
• Advanced Search Screen
• Basic Search Screen Result List
• Advanced Search Screen Result List

Branding provides a great way to personalize the search experiences of library users, and to promote current library programs or upcoming events.

·         Admin Features

Administrative features allows library to brand the EHIS pages with their logo’s color combinations etc. EHIS also allows widgets i.e library can put there announcements etc on the EHIS pages. Usage statistics for all the connectors can also be provided through EBSCO admin site. There are many functionalities with EHIS admin site controls.

·         EBSCO Integration Toolkit - Providing Access directly through Library Site

EBSCO Integration toolkit (EIT) allows the library to provide the users access directly through their e-resource page. It can create html coding for your website allowing you to integrate EHIS directly to library main page.

·         And much more

                          

In addition, through EBSCOadmin, librarians can now setup any databases from any vendor, customize the user experience for external databases, generate usage reports from external databases, add labels of databases for unfamiliar end users and more. Whether providing access to EBSCOhost Integrated Search through the library’s website or via the EBSCOhost platform, libraries can integrate all of their electronic resources into one central location, thereby eliminating unnecessary end-user confusion and significantly cutting down on training time for library staff.  

Comparision B/w EHIS & other major competitors present in the market

Here is the brief comparison between EHIS, GISTfind & SWETSwise Researcher

Features Available in	EBSCOhost Integrated Search	GISTfind	Swets
Web 2.0 Compatible	Yes	No	No
Full 508 Accessibility	Yes	No	No
AJAX (Speedy Results)	Yes	No	Yes
Subject Sets	Yes	Yes	NA
Basic & Advanced Searching	Yes	Yes	Yes
Visual Search	Yes	No	No
Search through Titles	Yes	Yes	Yes
Search through Author	Yes	Yes	Yes
Search through Publication Name	Yes	Yes	Yes
Search Through Subject Terms	Yes	No	No
Search Through ISSN	Yes	No	NA
Full Text Limiter	Yes	No	NA
Date Limiter	Yes	Yes	Yes
Date Slider	Yes	No	No
Sorting by Date	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sorting By relevance	Yes	Yes	NA
Subject Clustering	Yes	Yes	No
Author Clustering	Yes	No	No
Title Clustering	Yes	Yes	No
Save Search Option	Yes	No	No
Creating Search Alert	Yes	No	No
Creating Journal Alert	Yes	No	No
RSS Feed	Yes	Yes	NA
Add to Folder (Personlised Folders)	Yes	No	No
Print, Save or Emailing Citation	Yes	No	No
Taking Notes	Yes	No	No
Searching Libraries Print Collection through Custom Linking	Yes	No	No
Branding Customer Logo	Yes	Yes	Yes
Branding Customer Color Scheme	Yes	No	No
Branding Complete Customization of Page	Yes	No	No
Admin Features – Usage Statistics	Yes	Yes	Yes
Admin Features – Counter Compliance Usage Statistics	Yes	No	Yes
Direct Access though Library website (Integrated to Library Mainpage)	Yes	No	No
Mobile (Portable Handheld Devices) Interface	Yes	No	No
MP3 Conversion for HTML Full Text	Yes	No	No
Widgets	Yes	No	No

To Sum up EBSCO’s EBSCOhost Integrated Search has more functionalities than other services available in the market. EBSCO also has dedicated support team for EHIS to assist its users which can conduct webinars and create support materials for its customers.

So Federate it.

Regards