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MetaLib, WebFeat, and Google: The strengths and weaknesses of federated search engines compared with Google

Xiaotian Chen (Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, USA)

Online Information Review

ISSN: 1468-4527

Article publication date: 1 July 2006

3334

Abstract

Purpose

Seeks to describe library federated search engines MetaLib and WebFeat as research tools by comparing MetaLib with WebFeat and by highlighting their strengths and weaknesses against Google and Google Scholar.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tested MetaLib and WebFeat from various libraries; attended vendor demos and asked vendors questions; reviewed literature; and interviewed system administrators of MetaLib and WebFeat.

Findings

MetaLib and WebFeat have fundamental differences between them. They cannot compete with Google in speed, simplicity, ease of use, and convenience, nor can they be truly one‐stop shopping. Their strengths lie in the contents they search as well as in the objective way they retrieve and display results. With the federated search engines, information literacy education is still relevant.

Originality/value

The comprehensive comparisons of MetaLib and WebFeat from the perspectives of both users and system administrators are original. It helps libraries make decisions when they select federated search engines, and it gives libraries realistic expectations of federated search engines compared with Google.

Keywords

Citation

Chen, X. (2006), "MetaLib, WebFeat, and Google: The strengths and weaknesses of federated search engines compared with Google", Online Information Review, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 413-427. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520610686300

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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