Page 121 - DLIS407_INFORMATION AND LITERATURE SURVEY IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Information and Literature Survey in Social Sciences

Notes Common Search Interface

A library portal must act as an intermediary, allowing users to search different resources (with
different search protocols and metadata in different formats) using a single search interface and
thereby eliminating the need for the user to learn and remember the particular search characteristics
of each resource.

Federated Search

It must also allow end users to select more than one information resource, and then to search all of the
selected resources simultaneously. The user to be presented with an integrated set of search results
that can ultimately be merged, sorted and perhaps exported as a single list of relevant references.

Direct Access to Content

It must have a context sensitive dynamic linking service integrated with a library portal to allow
users to move from a document citation to the full text of the document in electronic form with the
click of a mouse.
Authentication

A library portal must provide access to licensed or commercial resources without users having to log
in to each one with different usernames and passwords.
Increasing number of libraries are now looking for an automated library systems that include a portal,
which serve as a single user interface to provide access to a wide variety of electronic resources both
within and outside the library.
According to Boss a typical portal must have the following features:
Customisable Web Interface

Portal must have an easy to navigate interface that can be designed to match the look and feel of an
organisation’s existing applications. Portals are generally implemented with Web browsers, but it is
possible to use another client interface such as a GUI.

Personalised Content Presentation

Portals personalised on the basis of users profile information to deliver personalised content can add
value to the service. The personalisation can be for an individual or for a category of individuals.

Security

Most portal servers use caching to improve performance. The users access the cache, rather than the
backend server that is the source of the information. User profiles can be used to increase the security
of the systems being accessed. Patron authentication is another security feature required to determine
rights to access. Access could be limited to specific individuals or categories of people.
Communication and Collaboration

Portal can also be used to provide chat, e-mail, shared calendars, Web meetings, etc. A library portal
has the potential of changing how libraries are used and how librarians do their work and thereby
bring real change to professional and organisational culture.

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