OCLC Teams with Syracuse University and University of Washington to Build a Better Search Engine

OCLC, along with the information schools of Syracuse University and the University of Washington, have joined together in an international effort to create a more credible Web search engine based on the input of librarians around the globe. Funded through a $100,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the program is known as Reference Extract. When used to search for a key word or phrase, Reference Extract returns results that are weighted towards those sites most often used by librarians to retrieve data. The objective of the project, which is currently in the planning phase, is to provide maximum credibility of search results.

“We look forward to developing this credibility focused search capability which holds the promise of providing powerful new access to information based on professionally delivered library reference services,” said Jay Jordon, president and CEO of OCLC. “We are hopeful that this effort will lay the necessary groundwork for implementing a large-scale, general user service.”

Anyone wishing to provide input for the program, or in learning more, can visit the project Web site at http://digref.org