Soon browsing library Web sites could become as simple and streamlined a process as conducting Google searches, thanks to open-source software being developed at Oregon State University.

“It will mean that the vast information we provide will be more quickly and easily available to library users,” said Jeremy Frumkin, OSU Gray Family chair for innovative library services. “They can spend more time using the information instead of searching for it.”

OSU recently received almost $73,000 to develop the search tool. The money was part of more than $163 million in grants doled out by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to state library agencies. The Oregon State Library received about $2.2 million, which was divided among various Oregon library project proposals, including OSU’s.

The way OSU’s library Web site works now, users must search the library catalog, electronic journals, magazine and newspaper databases and other resources one at a time.

With the new software, one search will yield hits for a particular keyword across all available research tools.

Frumkin said the software will help students learn about databases they don’t know exist, and wouldn’t think to search individually.

Most of the grant money will go toward hiring a software developer. A preliminary version of the program should be available for use at OSU in about a month, Frumkin said, although the project won’t be completed until late May or early June 2007.

After being tested at OSU, the program will be shared with Deschutes Public Library, a partner in the project. After that, it will be free for any library to use.

“It’s great that OSU wants to develop something that can be used not just at their library, but that will be a benefit to almost any academic or public library — not just in Oregon, but even across the country,” said Jim Scheppke, Oregon State librarian.

Scheppke added that the committee evaluating grant proposals was particularly impressed that OSU’s open-source search tool was endorsed by the University of Oregon’s head librarian.

Mary Ann Albright covers higher education. She can be reached at maryann.albright@lee.net or 758-9518.