Make your library searchable on the web for just $99. Add an optional password to restrict your audience. ResourceMate® Web Search is a great way to increase the awareness and accessibility of your library!

The ResourceMate® Web Search product is Perl CGI code that runs our sample web search. Upon purchase, you receive the code and implement the ResourceMate® Web Search on your web server. It can be installed on your web site, intranet, etc.

If you don't have a web site you may want to consider one of the many free web space providers on the web.

What do I need to make my library searchable on the web?

You need to have access to web space.  As mentioned above, this might be your organization's web site, your internal web (or "intranet") or you may want to consider free web space.

NOTE: You will need to check with your web site administrator to ensure that CGI scripts can be installed and run.

You will need to have at least one e-mail address if you want your users to be able to make borrow requests right from the Web Search results screen. You can turn this email feature on and off.

You can even customize the search field names to better reflect the nature of your collection. You can have up to 14 fields that can be optionally searched or displayed.

In ResourceMate® click on Utilities, Create Web Search File.

If you don't have ResourceMate® but already have your library data in an electronic format, ResourceMate® Web Search reads a tab delimited ASCII file that includes these fields: title, sub-title, series, author, 2nd author, 3rd author, publisher, category, call number, ISBN, subject1, subject2, subject3 and subject4.  If you can create this file, the ResourceMate® Web Search will allow you to make this information searchable on the web.

Tell me more about Web Search Inter-Library

Web search inter-library can search additional web search files (see above) for additional organizations whose web search file is either located on your web server or anywhere else at an accessible http:// style address.

All chosen libraries are searched. Results are displayed indicating which library the results were found in. E-mailed borrow requests are sent to the appropriate e-mail address depending on which library the requested item was found in.

You can try Inter-Library by clicking here and choosing "Inter-Library sample".

What does it cost?

Web Search is a one-time cost of $99. (Please specify either Windows NT/2000/2003 or UNIX server)

Benefits

• promote your library by taking it to the people instead of asking them to come to you
  
  
• your library will now be available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day allowing anyone in the world, who you have given your password to (optional), to search whenever convenient for them.
  
  
• curious "surfers" may drop by and search for their favourite subject or author, just to try out this new feature you have told them about.
  
  
• with Web Search Inter-Library many collections can be searched at once.

Practical Applications

• any organization can now offer inter-library loans.
  
  
• organizations that have always wanted to promote their library better, now can.
  
  
• churches can make their library available to other churches in their region or denominations.
  
  
• small rural churches can share their library resources with other rural churches in their area.
  
  
• non-profits, associations or special interest groups that have resources to share, can do so with other similar offices in their region or individuals in the community.
  
  
• training organizations can easily make resources available to their client base.
  
  
• corporations can go beyond ResourceMate's Patron Search Screen and have their resources available to all offices across the country.
  
  
• with Web Search Inter-Library all resources across many locations can be search at once to enable users to find resources anywhere within all locations. They can then request to borrow with the e-mail sent to the appropriate librarian.

How it works

Using the instructions we provide, install and configure the libsearch.cgi program file you'll receive after purchasing Web Search, into the desired location on the web. Then choose Create Web Search file from the Utilities menu in ResourceMate®, to create a data file that can be uploaded to the same web location (using FTP) where you installed and configured libsearch.cgi (Unix version), libsearch.exe in the case of the NT/2000/2003 version.  At regular intervals continue to use the Create Web Search menu option to refresh the web database so your users see your most current library holdings.

When a user visits your web site they will see a screen where they will login to your library:

They will then be asked to enter the password (optional) you have issued to them:

They will then search the library based on any combination of fields (field labels are customizable, searchable fields are customizable):

The results will be displayed.  If you have the e-mail feature turned on, the visitor can indicate any items they are interested in borrowing, enter their name and phone number or e-mail address and click on the "Request to Borrow Checked Items" button:

They will see a confirmation screen and you will receive an e-mail with their request. You will then decide whether they can borrow the item or not.  You can reply to them with your decision:

Conclusion

We are excited to be able to offer this Web OPAC product to users of ResourceMate®.  Even organizations using software other than ResourceMate® can take advantage of this technology to make their libraries available.

We believe this is the most economical way for libraries to make their resources available on the web.

Again, the price is just $99.

Some Frequently Asked Questions About Web Search

What type of program is Web Search?

Web Search is Perl CGI code that gets installed on your web server. (If your server is Windows NT/2000, the CGI code is compiled to an executable (".exe") file).

What kind of database software is necessary on the web server?

No database software is necessary. The information is stored in a tab-delimited ASCII file (see below).

What knowledge do I need to install web search on my web server?

You should be familiar with creating folders, uploading of files using an FTP program and assigning access “rights” to folders and files on your web site.

Must I install ResourceMate® on my web server?
Does the hard drive on which ResourceMate® is installed have to be accessible from the Internet?

No to both questions. ResourceMate® and Web Search are two separate products that run independently of each other. The connection between the two is made by creating the tab-delimited ASCII text file as described below and then publishing that data file to the web site using an FTP program.

How much space does web search take up?

Not more than approximately 5 megabytes.

How big is the web search CGI code file that is sent to me by email after I purchase?

1.25 megabytes.

Can I use a different graphic?

Yes. You can specify your own custom graphic in the Web Search configuration file.

Can the label names of the search fields be changed?

Yes. You can specify your own search field labels in the Web Search configuration file.

Can more than 7 fields be searched and displayed?

Yes. You can specify additional fields in the Web Search configuration file.

Can I search fields but not display them, or display fields that were not searched?

Yes. You can specify this in the Web Search configuration file.