Northern Arizona University Library Teams with WebFeat to Implement Custom Federated Search System

Over 19,000 students, faculty and staff benefit from improved access to electronic resources

Old Brookville, NY, September 28, 2005 — Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library has launched a federated search solution powered by WebFeat which enables researchers to simultaneously search any or all of up to 50 of the library’s online databases—including the library’s catalog. The custom designed system, seamlessly embedded within the libraries web pages, provides users with an easy-to-use interface for conducting either basic or advanced searches. Users may now search for articles, books and journals directly from the library’s homepage (http://www.nau.edu/library/index.html). Researchers can perform WebFeat searches from campus as well as remotely with a valid Northern Arizona University I.D.

Library Dean Cynthia Childrey stated, "WebFeat offers a streamlined, results-focused research experience for our students and faculty that is responsive to their needs. The Library's ability to customize both search interfaces and search functionality made WebFeat a winning choice for us."

WebFeat is an integral part of the Library's redesigned website which launched August 22 nd in time for the current Fall semester. WebFeat seamlessly integrated various custom-designed user interfaces throughout the website to provide patrons with varying types of basic and advanced searches. A Quick Search box embedded in each of the Library’s web pages enables patrons to simultaneously search a set of general resources including several popular databases and the library’s catalog. Users may also perform searches by selecting from a menu of subjects, pre-populated by library staff with sets of resources most relevant to Northern Arizona University’s colleges and academic programs. Subject sets include databases that fall into the following categories: General and News; Arts & Letters; Business; Education; Engineering and Natural Sciences; Forestry; Health Professions & Nursing; Hotel & Restaurant Management; and Social & Behavioral Sciences. More advanced searches may also be conducted by users who wish to individually choose any combination of available databases to search. Additionally, WebFeat is in the process of integrating searches directly into the University's WebCT Vista courses.

Besides powerful and convenient search capabilities, WebFeat provides Northern Arizona University with an invaluable database usage tracking component. SMART , Statistical Measures Available Real Time, is the most sophisticated usage tracking software ever developed. The SMART usage tracker allows library staff to see at a glance how resources are being utilized. Said Brian Schuck , Electronic Initiatives Librarian, Cline Library, Northern Arizona University, "In just one month of use, a quick perusal of the statistics shows that WebFeat has been widely embraced by our user community."

"WebFeat is proud to have worked closely with Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library to provide a state-of-the-art search tool for so many students, faculty and staff,” commented Todd Miller, President of WebFeat.

About Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University has a student population of about 18,000 at its main campus in Flagstaff and at 30 sites across the state. The Cline Library is the keystone to academic life at NAU. To assist students, faculty, and staff in their academic endeavors, the Library includes more than 1,400,000 volumes. Annually the Cline Library licenses hundreds of electronic information products to support the study and research needs of Northern Arizona University students, faculty and staff. Currently the NAU community enjoys access to the articles found in nearly 20,000 journals and newspapers. Learn more about Northern Arizona University at http://www.nau.edu/library/.

About WebFeat
WebFeat (US patent #6,807,539) is the developer of the WEBFEAT PRISM™, used by over 2,500 leading public,
academic, government and Global 1000 libraries and information centers—including over half of the top 20 largest U.S. public libraries and one out of every 10 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions.

WebFeat’s latest release, WebFeat 3, offers a suite of next-generation federated search tools, PRISM, the SMART™ COUNTER-compliant usage tracker, and MyWebFeat™ personalized federated search system. Originally founded in 1992 as an information technology consultancy, WebFeat has earned industry recognition from leading organizations such as Library Journal and the Gartner Group. Learn more about WebFeat at http://www.webfeat.org.