SFX and MetaLib

Hi there ! Happy April Fool....

SFX and MetaLib which are library automation solutions of the EX Libris.
MetaLib=>Meta Searching.
SFX=>Scholarly Linking

MetaLib conducts simultaneous searches in multiple, and often heterogenous, information resources such as library catalogs, journal articles, newspapers and selected quality Internet resources. MetaLib is often used in conjunction with SFX.

MetaLib is an information portal to library collections. It enables institutions to provide their patrons with access to information resources such as catalogs, reference databases, citation databases, subject gateways, and e-journals.

MetaLib offers MetaSearch™ capabilities across diverse resources- be they print or electronic, on-site or remote- and offers library patrons a variety of personalized services. The MetaSearch technology enables users to conduct federated searching- also known as simultaneous searching, cross-database searching, parallel searching, broadcast searching, and integrated searching. In this type of search process, a user submits a query to numerous information resources. They can be heterogeneous in many respects- for example, their location, the format of the information that they offer, the technologies on which they draw, and the types of materials that they contain. The user's query is broadcast to each resource, and results are returned to the user.

MetaLib provides users with a coherent and friendly environment for metasearching, and enables them to view retrieved results in a manageable, unified format.
MetaLib’s merged result lists are:
De-duplicated
Ranked by relevance
Grouped into topic clusters
Grouped by facets - author, date, journal, or other attributes

MetaLib helps libraries manage the vast universe of remote resources by providing a comprehensive knowledge base with preconfigured access to commonly-used resources. The knowledge base is updated frequently as part of the MetaLib maintenance service. In addition, libraries have access to an easy-to-use set of knowledge base tools that provide access to institution-specific resources.
With MetaLib, libraries within a consortium can take advantage of resource-sharing arrangements, while providing member institutions with local customization options that allow them to maintain an autonomous look and feel.

MetaLib is highly customizable, presenting libraries with various options for matching the most suitable information sources to specific user needs. Resources can be organized into pre-selected, searchable sets or grouped into library-specified categories. Resource descriptions can be customized to highlight various attributes of the information they contain.

MetaLib is tightly integrated with library and institutional services through the Ex Libris Patron Directory Services (PDS) module, providing a range of options for user authentication and authorization. These include integration with library or institutional proxy servers, LDAP directories, ILS patron files, and single-sign on systems such as CAS, as well as integration within a Shibboleth framework.

SFX:Scholarly Linking
SFX provides users with context-sensitive links to article full-text and other library-defined resources including the online public access catalog (OPAC) local holdings, preferred document-delivery suppliers, related Web-based resources and services, local information repositories, and a range of other services. Whereas MetaLib handles data discovery functions, SFX provides context-sensitive linking services that typically assist users in obtaining the actual material or expand upon the data already discovered. For instance, the SFX services for an article might provide the article's full text or direct the user to the library's print holdings; additionally, SFX might offer more information about the author (such as citation information or an e-mail address), the topic (such as relevant subject gateways on the Web), and the journal in which the article was published.

An SFX server facilitates the management of a library's interlinked electronic collection by providing libraries with an independent means of seamlessly interconnecting their ever-increasing collections of heterogeneous resources. Because SFX allows libraries to define the links between information resources, the resources become fully integrated in the overall library service no matter who hosts them- the library itself or external information providers.

SFX is tightly integrated with other Ex Libris™ products and many other library solutions. Plug-in integration with different information sources such as the library catalog enables institutions to optimize the use of local resources while minimizing setup and maintenance efforts.

SFX linking capabilities can be easily embedded into other library applications--portals and document delivery solutions--as well as other institutional applications such as course management systems.

SFX can be implemented as a managed, hosted, or local solution—allowing institutions to optimize IT and financial resources.

For library patrons, SFX means quick and reliable access to the resources they need.
Users obtain the most current and complete electronic content available by leveraging the industry's largest and most inclusive resource knowledge base.
Multiple access points—including an A-Z List and Citation Linker—streamline the information discovery process and provide patrons with an easy-to-use interface which can be customized by the library for a consistent look and feel.
SFX offers users a range of delivery options—full-text, print holdings, and e-books.

For librarians, SFX provides a complete set of tools with which to easily localize and customize access to resources, keep these resources up to date, and track their usage.
Extensive customization options allow libraries to provide solutions that best fit user requirements.

SFX also manages dead link too. A "dead" link can result from a number of situations, including server downtime, but typically occurs when an information provider has moved a Web resource to a new address or has changed protocols for linking to their service. A message that says "HTTP 404- File not found" is usually evidence of a dead link.In a dynamic linking environment such as SFX, links are created on the fly when requested by a user, and powerful algorithms determine the probability of the link resource's availability. In such an environment, links are not preprocessed or verified. For each service provider participating in the SFX framework, a single global template is modified in SFX to reflect changes at an information provider's site. Thus, when a change in address occurs and is identified, the distribution of global linking templates updates the entire SFX community. @Ex Libris.