Explorer at Los Alamos: a library for the future

Since 1993, Los Alamos National Laboratory has been developing World Wide Web (WWW) applications to facilitate access to vast quantities of information critical to the successful operation of a nuclear weapons facility. Explorer is a Web based tool that integrates full text search and retrieval technology, custom user interfaces, user friendly navigation tools, extremely large document collections, and data collection and workflow applications. Explorer's first major thrust was to enable quick access to regulatory and policy information used by Department of Energy facilities throughout the country. Today, Explorer users can easily search document collections containing millions of pages of information, scattered across Web sites around the country. Over fifteen large applications containing multiple collections are searchable through Explorer, and the subject areas range from DOE regulations to quality management related resources to technology transfer opportunities. Explorer has succeeded because it provides quick and easy access to stored data across the Web; it saves time and reduces costs in comparison with traditional information distribution, access, and retrieval methods.