Ovid Announces a new federated search solution called SearchSolver. According to the announcement, "Ovid SearchSolver is a federated search and resource discovery tool that allows organizations to simplify access to online information. With SearchSolver as a single point of access and authentication, users conduct one-step searches across hundreds of information sources. Unified results can further be edited and ranked as well as exported in research work tools." SearchSolver is offered at three pricing/product levels Basic Package, Mid-Tier Package, and Advanced Package.

SearchSolver's will allow users to:

-- Search an unlimited number of sources simultaneously
**Krafty's Question - Ok how does that deal with the whole controlled vocabulary thing in our medical databases? While databases like CINAHL and MEDLINE share some of the same terms they also have unique terms not in each other's database. So, does it treat the search like a keyword? If so then how do you deal with the plurals, synonyms, alternate spellings? Will somebody who types in Cancer get everything that is labeled Neoplasms?

-- Search across ALL types of sources from multiple vendors, including electronic journals, bibliographic databases, Internet portals, and OPACs
**Krafty's question- Is that by using Ovid's poor and non-user-friendly LinkSolver? LinkSolver and LinksatOvid (their freebie version) are some of the needlessly complex and time consuming OpenURL resolver systems. There is a reason why people are choosing Serials Solutions, SFX, Ebsco, etc. it is because they are user friendly, good customer service, and easy for librarians.

-- Display results, rank or export consistently across all interfaces in a single step

-- Refine and limit search results using the SearchSolver interface. Advanced query parsing allows users to search beyond keyword (also title, author, descriptors)

-- Explore a topic further using a specific database's native interface

-- Link out to external sources, using Ovid LinkSolver(TM) or other OpenURL resolvers
**Krafty's thoughts- Aaahh here is the dreaded reference to Ovid's link resolvers. I would be interested in knowing how other OpenURL resolvers work with this.

To read more about SearchSolver check out the press announcement or Ovid's SearchSolver page.

I don't think it is any coincidence that this announcement came just before we all leave for MLA. I am sure it will be prominently featured at the convention. I would be interested in hearing from anybody going to MLA who wants to check out SearchSolver. It will be discussed in their Sunrise Seminar and there will be In-Booth Theater Presenations on it as well. (Ovid MLA Invitatation) Please email me if you would like to check it out and report back to the blog about it.