MuseSearch^TM Rated Best Common User Interface Product.

Federated search product review commissioned by National Library of New Zealand.

July 17, 2003

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - July 17, 2003 - MuseSearch^TM from MuseGlobal, Inc. received top scores in a field of eleven federated search software products in a study conducted by the School of Information Management at Victoria University of Wellington. Commissioned by the National Library of New Zealand, the study ranked products according to their features; additional study results evaluate product performance against weightings of the evaluation criteria developed by major academic and public libraries.

MuseSearch received the highest ratings in both raw product feature scoring as well as in the weighted results. Further, a comparison of next-release product features showed that MuseSearch should continue to retain its first-place ranking.

"This study confirms that MuseSearch provides the most advanced federated search technology with the richest available set of product features," said MuseGlobal CEO Kate Noerr. "The study also demonstrates that this type of information management solution is ready for broad adoption."

Graham Coe, Director of Electronic Resources for the National Library of New Zealand commented, "These products address the problem of searching the dozens of databases available in many libraries. The results of the study confirm the availability of quality solutions for implementing a common user interface across a wide variety of electronic information resources." The report concluded that common user interface software products are widely available and that many of the products reviewed are relatively mature.

The study was performed by Dr. Daniel G. Dorner and AnneMarie Curtis. Seventy nine product features were rated in the categories of searching, user interaction, customization, authentication, design, database communication protocols, after-sale support, and software platforms. Product offerings from Endeavor, Ex Libris, Follett, Fretwell-Downing, Innovative Interfaces, MuseGlobal, OCLC, SIRSI, VTLS, and WebFeat were evaluated.

The full study is available at the National Library of New Zealand's website at www.natlib.govt.nz/en/whatsnew/4initiatives.html#review.

For further information please contact: MuseGlobal Inc., Tel: (415) 896-MUSE (6873).