Libraries spend a considerable amount of money each year on subscriptions to proprietary databases of online information. The most efficient way to access these expensive resources is through a federated search tool, but due to a lack of speed and difficulty of use, some third party federated search products can leave both patrons and library staff dissatisfied. Solomon describes how OPLIN undertook the development of a federated search tool that is “Google-like” in nature and provides accurate results with fast response times. She shares the process used to create a unique tool that combines both open source and proprietary components that has resulted in significant increases in both searches and documents retrieved.

1. Federated Search: Growing Your Own Tools Laura Solomon Library Services Manager Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) [email_address] @laurasolomon

2. Google's patented PigeonRank™

3. databases

4. databases

5. databases = Ohio Web Library

6. A need for federated searching

8. Federated search since 2004

9. Ohio public librarians dissatisfied

10. First steps

14. First feedback

15. Fitting the pieces together

16. Still need a piece!

17. Launch date set

18. Making it user-friendly http://www.bugbash.net/comic/7.html

21. Results

22. Never done

23. http:// www.ohioweblibrary.org