Federated Search and Discovery in Maritime Education Implementation and Impact of Refread at Indian Maritime University

Resumen

Access to trustworthy academic content is crucial for the expansion of higher education and specialized research in a time when digital knowledge systems predominate. The smooth integration of various e-resources covering engineering, navigation, law, logistics, and environmental science is especially important for maritime education. However, efficient information retrieval is severely hampered by the fragmentation of e-resources across various platforms. The function of federated search and discovery services in enhancing access to maritime e-resources is examined in this paper. It assesses different technologies and tools, identifies issues unique to maritime organizations, and focuses on the Indian Maritime University (IMU) case study and its Refread Document Management Service implementation. Through analysis of IMU’s digital library landscape, user engagement patterns, and technical integration, the paper demonstrates how Refread has transformed e-resource discoverability and usability for the maritime academic community.