ABSTRACT
Federated searching, also known as simultaneous or cross-database searching, has been widely publicized as the librarian's answer to Google. As is demonstrated by the most recent OCLC survey, 89% of college student information searches begin with a search engine, and the search engine of choice is Google (62%). 1 For years, library pundits like Lippincott have been urging libraries to respond to the Google threat and the needs of the Millennial generation. They want the search process to be simple and the results to come fast, something that is not the case in today's libraries “where students must make separate searches of the online catalog and every database of potential interest, after first identifying which databases might be relevant.” 2 As Luther trumpets in her article, “Trumping Google,” federated searching meets “the Google generation's” expectations in terms of the time and quality of results they are willing to accept. 3 Users type keywords in a Googlelike search box, yielding results from various full-text library collections. Many libraries have jumped on the federated search bandwagon, recognizing its potential to drive more users to library Web sites and its ability to dramatically increase usage of expensive electronic library resources.
