[Dtb-talk] Changed to the federated search web page

[Greg Kearney]

Hello;

I have added some improvements to the Federated Search page. Most notable is a method searching special libraries that have collections in the National Library Service.

For example the NLS servers hold information on over 1000 titles from the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind. When you click on the checkbox for for the NLS you will see below it a set of radio buttons for various libraries. Selecting one of these will limit the search to that libraries holding only.

The following library are currently listed:

Bookshare.org
Guild for the Blind (USA)
Horizons for the Blind (USA)
National Council for the Blind of Ireland
Perkins School for the Blind
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind
Xavier Society for the Blind

While this would seem to provide access to a number of libraries not currently offering z39.50 service there is, in fact, some issues that this technique raises. First and foremost is the question as to how current the holdings lists are. Some libraries like Xavier Society for the Blind keep there records very current others are somewhat unknown. In any event it is better to have a local z39.50 service running rather than relying on another entity to do so.

Gregory Kearney | Manager Accessible Media
Association for the Blind of WA - Guide Dogs WA
PO Box 101, Victoria Park WA 6979 | 61 Kitchener Ave, Victoria Park WA 6100
Tel: 08 9311 8246 | Fax: 08 9361 8696 | www.guidedogswa.com.au
Tel: 307-224-4022 (North America)
Email: greg.kearney at guidedogswa.com.au
Email: gkearney at gmail.com