Introduction to ZPORTAL
Prepared by Houeida K. ChararaElectronic Resources Librarian
LAU Libraries©2010
2
What is ZPORTAL?
ZPORTAL is a library portal or federated search engine. It offers to the LAU libraries the chance to layer a single / federated search environment across its catalogue, its e-resources and approved external websites, offering end-users an internet search engine feel, but with the safeguard of searching 'professional approved' content
3
In other words:
ZPORTAL allows you to:
Cross-search multiple resources at the same time
Use one single search interface Display results in a single presentation
4
Why to use ZPORTAL? (1)
Integration of widest possible collection of resources thanks to choice of compatible data harvesting tools
Non-searchable resources integrated into 'one stop shop' for users
Works with authentication services to control access to the most appropriate resources
5
Why to use ZPORTAL? (2)
Efficient and seamless access to full text without further authentication
Focused searching as resources are profiled to users' specific needs
Options for naive and advanced users, both with intuitive user interface
Range of personalization features including saved searches, saved lists, filtering, sorting and de-duplication
6
Resources currently searchable
Some Open Access Resources may be added to ZPORTAL in the future
Selective websites are covered
7
Signing In
The first screen that appears in ZPORTAL is the Standard Search
You MUST “sign in” in order to search the LAU Libraries resources
8
How to sign in
In the Sign In screen enter your LAU e-mail username (e.g. jsmith or john.smith) and password
You know you are signed in when a “Sign Out” option in the left pane is available
9
Standard Search Screen after Sign In
Name of the user
10
Profiles and Collections
Profiles are groupings of databases or catalogs, so called Collections
You can select or deselect individual catalogs/databases within these profiles for searching
User “private” Profile
Library “shared" profiles
11
Standard Search
On the Standard Search Screen select your profile, then enter your keywords in the search box
To submit your search click on GO Try to be very specific; use several keywords to narrow
down your search Don’t use general keywords
12
Advanced Search
This search is recommended ONLY if you have a certain field to be excluded or included otherwise the Standard search is preferable
13
Search Results
Your search results will be displayed in a brief record format in the Search Results Screen. (Results are returned in the order of the fastest collection)
Clicking on Details will bring up a full record
DON’T click on Get it!!!
Click on HTTP icon to have the fulltext
14
Search Status
It is very important to check the search status because NOT all resources are available at all times (due to overload, system crashes, etc.)
Error means database was NOT searched
Unsupported (Advanced Search) your search strategy is NOT supported
15
Record Details
Click on Electronic Resource to have the fulltext2 Options are available HTML and PDF according to the
database
N.B. If the field Electronic Resources is missing = NO Full text available
16
Journal/Article Finder
To find journals that are not available in the searchable collections, i.e., Other Collections
17
Personalization features
Sorting
Filtering
18
Personalization features
De-duplicationDon’t use big numbers: Merge 50 records at a time
Saved searches 3 options are available: Edit, Re-run and Delete
19
Building a new Profile You can create your own
individual profile if none of the profiles provided are suitable
Select the Search profiles link from the My Account menu, then click on create
20
Useful information
“Standard search” searches all the fields including the full text which explains why some records may look irrelevant
Use quotation marks for exact phrase searching Hits are retrieved according to the fastest collection,
therefore sorting, filtering, etc. are needed ZPORTAL is NOT a database, results will be taken from
the online databases as usual Saved lists and Search history will be cleared after signing
out Check your Search Status regularly
21
ZPORTAL BENEFITS USERS BY: (1)
“SAVING TIME – Users don’t have to search across a variety of interfaces to find the information they need
RELEVANT INFORMATION – Users are guided to appropriate resources which provide only quality information
IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO CONTENT – Users can go directly to full text, PDFs and e-journals
IMPROVED QUALITY OF DATA – All information has been filtered to provide only quality data
22
ZPORTAL BENEFITS USERS BY: (2)
UNDERSTANDING RESOURCES AVAILABLE – Users are only presented with collections relevant to their research or study
PERSONALISED FEATURES – Users can save and reuse searches in addition to setting up groups of favorite resources to cross-search
EASE OF USE – Users only have to learn how to use one interface and remember one password”.
23
Less advantageous
No Arabic support Security: It involves the opening of some ports
outside the university firewalls End-user overwhelmed with # of hits Continuous maintenance and update Unable to cover all licensed databases Unable to use each database’s features and
capabilities to the maximum
24
Need more info?
Contact the Electronic Resources Librarian
@
[email protected]. 1817
N.B. ZPORTAL benefits (slides 21-22) are taken from FDI’s ZPORTAL brochure for
Academic Libraries.
Top Related