BETHEDSA, MD – Visitors to the National Library of Medicine’s Web site should have their medical questions answered more quickly and with less fuss, thanks to the recent deployment of the Vivisimo Velocity search platform.

Pittsburgh-based Vivisimo today announced the deployment of its platform for the Bethesda, Md. facility, the world’s largest biomedical library. By adding spotlights of health topics that relate to each search query, the library gives searchers a consistent frame of reference for each query and enables them to navigate through its different supported collections, including Medline Plus and Online Exhibits.

“With Velocity, we accomplished our objective to provide a search experience that mirrors the quality that NLM users have come to expect,” said Joyce Backus, deputy chief of the library’s public services division. “NLM is proud to bring this search to site visitors so they can quickly find the most pertinent health information.”

Vivisimo also announced the deployment of Velocity at the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for Health Services. The Oslo-based NOKC’s Helsebiblioteket Web site provides nationwide access to medical journals, databases and other resources relevant to healthcare. Through Velocity, the NOKC now offers a toggle so that users can identify their role and navigate through search results, browsing by topics or targeting specific practice areas or sources. In addition, the information can be accessed in Norwegian, English or Dutch.

“Velocity empowered us with the flexibility to tailor the search experience for our site visitors, giving them quick and easy access to vital medical information,” said Kjell Tjensvoll, the NOKC’s consortium manager. “We anticipate a big increase in our usage statistics because we are making important information much easier to find.”

Founded in 2000 by three Carnegie Mellon University scientists, Vivisimo’s customers include Cisco Systems and Eli Lilly in the United States and the New Zealand State Services Commission, Organon, Interwoven and GuideStar UK abroad. The company maintains a headquarters in Paris as well as Pittsburgh.

“Vivisimo is proud to see Velocity contribute to the well being of thousands of users around the world through quick and easy access to medical information,” said Raul Valdes-Perez, the company’s CEO. “The Norwegian Knowledge Centre and the National Library of Medicine are thriving due in part to Velocity’s flexibility to meet the specific needs of each site’s visitors.”