A MAP for the library portal: through the labyrinth of online information sources

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the first year of implementation of the Innovative Interfaces Inc. Millennium Access Plus (MAP) portal at the University of Exeter Library, UK.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a description of the features of MAP and a case studyFindingsIn as little as 25 years, online information provision has been transformed. This has largely been uncontrolled, yet the resources now available offer rich returns for the data‐hungry end user. Increasingly, many users require their information immediately and really do not care where it is stored. Such demands, coupled with librarians’ natural tendency to apply order, have led to the development of library portals which aim to solve the problems arising from trying to navigate this labyrinth of information. The MAP portal is one such product. Using the NISO OpenURL standard, MAP offers three main elements – contextual linking via WebBridge, one step “multi” searching using MetaFind and resource authentication through Web Access Management (WAM). Use of this portal at the University of Exeter Library has made a considerable, positive impact on the recent use of online full‐text systems and services and the experiences undoubtedly point to a strong future for such interfaces everywhere.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is limited to experiences at the University of Exeter Library.Practical implicationsThe paper will inform the information community on the experiences of this innovative productOriginality/valueThis is an original description of a new concept and provides evaluative material.