Search platforms revisited – the end of “native” interfaces?

This paper aims to look at the user‐friendliness of search interfaces of different databases.Design/methodology/approach – Looks at the capabilities of different search engines and the flexibility they allow within databases.Findings – Libraries are increasingly offering multiple means of accessing the data contained in their products, and the era of a single search platform for all library resources is not that far off, and in some cases is already here (with varying degrees of success). Thus the burden on vendors to create ever better search experiences for their users has become all the greater, and the competition both for superior content and superior search interface designing has become a little more intense.Originality/value – This paper shows search capabilities that are available now, and what may be available in the near future.