Apologies for duplication:
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Following the launch of the Hybrid Library Projects Search Engine on 16
August, some interest has been expressed about the technology and
development work behind this product. Ian Upton, BUILDER Technical
Development Officer, has written a paper outlining the technology used and
some of the key issues involved in product development:

html version available directly from:
http://builder.bham.ac.uk/documentation/interconnectivity/html/hlpsespec.asp
pdf version available directly from:
http://builder.bham.ac.uk/documentation/interconnectivity/pdf/hlpsespec.pdf

This document has been added to a range of product documentation available
directly from the BUILDER Web site at:
http://builder.bham.ac.uk/productdocumentation.asp These working documents
aim to communicate transferable lessons which could be applied in other
contexts. Topics covered include: pilot electronic reserve/short loan,
online institutional past exam papers, induction and Web-based learning, and
digitisation issues and processes.

Hybrid Library Projects Search Engine is available at:
http://www.builder.bham.ac.uk/hls/

What is the Hybrid Library Projects Search Engine?

BUILDER developed the Hybrid Library Projects Search Engine to demonstrate
the potential for creating new resources by indexing a number of different
Web sites. The demonstrator also indexes a number of different document
types including HTML, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat PDF.
Results are presented as a single ranked list to the user and through an
interface designed by BUILDER.

What is its potential?

BUILDER has initially demonstrated the technology by indexing the five eLib
Phase 3 Hybrid Library Project Web sites (Agora, BUILDER, Headline, HyLiFe
and MALIBU). BUILDER plans to go on and develop the technology by looking at
the potential for creating learning resources by pulling together disparate,
useful Web sites which could be searched seamlessly via one interface.

What it is not
The Hybrid Library Projects Search Engine does not interrogate other search
engines. It isn't a search engine that searches search engines; neither does
it search library catalogues, electronic databases or other metadata
resources/indexes. BUILDER is not trying to replicate work carried out by
the eLib Phase 3 Clumps projects with this product.

Where is BUILDER going next with this product?
BUILDER aims to create some focused learning resources, using this
cross-searching facility. For example, there is potential to create a
specific search engine to support, say, a course in Medieval History that
searches Web sites defined by an academic member of staff or Liaison
Librarian. Any number of such focused search engines could be developed.

BUILDER aims to continue its development work with such technologies as
Z39.50, Cross(ROADS) and HTML scrapes. It is envisaged that such development
will provide the facility to cross-search library catalogues and other
electronic databases and metadata indexes.

What is BUILDER?
BUILDER is one of the 5 Hybrid Library Projects in JISC's Electronic
Libraries Programme (eLib) Phase 3. It has an institutional focus and is
based at the University of Birmingham. BUILDER's mission statement is:
'To develop a working model of the hybrid library within both a teaching and
research context, seamlessly integrating access to a wide range of printed
and electronic information sources, local and remote, using a Web-based
interface, and in a way which will be universally applicable'.

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Andrew Hampson, BUILDER Project Development Officer,
Main Library, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)121 414 7108 Fax: +44 (0) 121 471 4691
http://builder.bham.ac.uk



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