MetaLib, WebFeat, and Google: The strengths and weaknesses of federated search engines compared with Google
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
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited