Apache Solr, an open source Java-based search engine, forms the core of many Library 2.0 products. The use of an index in place of a relational database allows faster data retrieval along with key features like faceting and similarity analysis that are not practical in the previous generation of library software. The popular VuFind discovery tool was built to provide a library-friendly front-end for Solr’s powerful searching capabilities, and its development provides an informative case study on the use of Solr in a library setting. VuFind is just one of many library packages using Solr, and examples like Blacklight, Summon, and the eXtensible Catalog project show other possible approaches to its use.
Recycled Materials Relational Database: Design and Implementation Aspects