OmniFind: Development of a Single Search Platform for Locally Stored Resources using VuFind® in a Closed Network Environment

Authors

  • Rehana Ummer
     ISRO Headquarters, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bengaluru - 560094, Karnataka
  • Iqbalahmad U. Rajgoli
     ISRO Headquarters, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bengaluru - 560094, Karnataka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2025/v62i5/171877

Keywords:

Intranet Library Services, Library Discovery System, Local Resources Indexing, OmniFind, VuFind®

Abstract

The article describes the development of OmniFind, a centralised, single-search platform developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation Headquarters (ISRO HQ) Library using VuFind®, an open-source tool. The aim was to simplify access for users to resources that were downloaded by Library staff in response to user requests but remained stored on staff computers, making them inaccessible to others on the Intranet. OmniFind solves this problem by bringing all local resources into a single search platform within the secure Spacenet network and addresses a critical gap in library resource discovery. The article documents a practical and replicable solution enabling the discovery of local resources by providing step-by-step instructions as to how metadata can be created manually using a CSV file, how local resources can be indexed using Apache Solr, and how the user interface can be customised to meet the institutional requirements. It also highlights the challenges and solutions in setting up the system, which can now serve as a model for other libraries with similar needs. Future plans include using tools like Zotero and JabRef for easier data entry and adding more content using publisher APIs.

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Published

2025-10-07

How to Cite

Ummer, R., & Rajgoli, I. U. (2025). OmniFind: Development of a Single Search Platform for Locally Stored Resources using VuFind® in a Closed Network Environment. Journal of Information and Knowledge, 62(5), 303–311. https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2025/v62i5/171877

Issue

Volume 62, Issue 5, October 2025

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Information and Knowledge

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

All the articles published in Journal of Information and Knowledge are held by the Publisher. Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science (SRELS), as a publisher requires its authors to transfer the copyright prior to publication. This will permit SRELS to reproduce, publish, distribute and archive the article in print and electronic form and also to defend against any improper use of the article.

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