Index Data

In the summer of 2007 we began offering new generation metasearch software, both as an open source distribution -- Pazpar2 -- and as a hosted service-- MasterKey.

Open Source Distributions and Other Products and Services

Index Data works in a variety of development environments with technologies such as Ajax, Dublin Core, MARC, PHP, RSS, SOAP, SRU/SRW, XML, and Z39.50. We freely give away much of our software, including:

• Metaproxy : metasearching proxy front end server for integrating access to multiple back-end Z39.50-compliant databases
• Pazpar2 : metasearch middleware, capable of searching large numbers of databases simulteneously, providing on-the-fly metadata normalization, merging, ranking/sorting, and facet extraction. Interface-independent webservice-API
• YAZ : toolkit for building Z39.50/SRU/SRW applications which powers over half of all such applications worldwide
• YAZ Proxy : proxy server to improve IR access to large and heavily used databases such as the Library of Congress's catalogue. Includes caching and bandwidth management
• Zebra : high-performance, XML-based text indexing and retrieval engine used in ILS software and other demanding indexing applications
• IRSpy : registry of standards-compliant IR servers, with automatic testing of registered services.

Index Data derives revenue from these and other Open Source distributions through sponsored development, installation, and commercial support contracts. We also offer a broad range of consulting services and instructional workshops.

The company also developed YakPac, a kids OPAC front-end which incorporates chat and other patron-to-patron communication features. YakPac is marketed by our strategic partners, Care Affiliates and LibLime.

Strategic Partnerships

Libraries and library vendors are now embracing the advantages of open source software as never before. To enable more libraries and other information providers to take advantage of our open source software and hosted solutions, we have formed strategic relationships with two companies, CARE Affiliates and LibLime.

Like Index Data, LibLime is a library software vendor committed to open source solutions. The company installs and supports Koha and Evergreen, both of which are open source library management systems, as well as a variety of Index Data products and services. Koha Zoom is powered by Zebra.

CARE Affiliates, a new company founded by Carl Grant, provides consulting, selection, packaging, integration, installation, support, software as a service (SaaS, or hosting), and development services to libraries. Their solutions are based on open source software and open standards. CARE Affiliates will provide community building services for users of our products, and our two companies will share management and marketing expertise to advance the adoption of open source software and solutions in the library and information management professions.