Newsline from EDINA
April 2005: Volume 10, Issue 1
A new version of the GetRef cross searching (federated search) tool will be released this summer.
GetRef allows users to execute a simple search across many different databases.
The new version of GetRef offers improved useability, with an entirely new mechanism for presenting the search results from multiple databases. Accessibility has been paid great attention, and this version offers full functionality with non-visual browsers. GetRef is fully compatible with Athens, including single sign on (SSO) and devolved authentication (DA) mechanisms.
The key feature of GetRef is that it has been designed specifically to help users find out about the services to which their library subscribes: the user interface displays summary results for the target databases, allowing users to compare and contrast results sets from each.
GetRef offers links direct to the "native" interface of all databases, encouraging users with more advanced requirements to utilize the specialized facilities of each database.
Participating institutions are asked to nominate the databases they would like to access via GetRef, and to supply login credentials for those which are not Athens compliant (in the same way that access would be set up for a desktop client, such as EndNote).
Institutional branding may also be added to the GetRef user interface.
Institutions with an interest in GetRef should contact edina@ed.ac.uk; a free trial can be arranged, and GetRef can be used as a service without charge until at least summer 2006.