BCS IRSG Informer (Medium)
Looking Back at Search Solutions 2025
Conference recap highlighting key moments from Search Solutions 2025, including accessibility-focused conversations relevant to academic search.
Read sourceOur Team, Research & Mission
Built by Academics, for Academia
Dilex Search started as a research project exploring how academic searchers manage complex, cross-session tasks. It has since grown into a production-ready platform designed to make library discovery more accessible, engaging, and effective.
Our Story
From Research to Reality
The journey of turning academic research into a tool that helps searchers and libraries.
2019-2020
Research Beginnings
Sebastian Gomes began developing Dilex Search as a research project during his Master's degree at the University of Regina, under the supervision of Dr. Orland Hoeber. With support from the University Library, they built an interface layer on top of Ex Libris Primo with a specific focus on supporting complex academic search tasks.
2021
CHIIR 2021
The team published a paper describing the key features of Dilex Search at the ACM SIGIR Conference on Human Information Interaction and Retrieval, the premier academic conference at the intersection of information retrieval and human-computer interaction. The positive reception from the academic community encouraged continued development.
2022
SIGIR 2022: User Study Results
A comparative user study between Dilex Search and the standard Ex Libris Primo interface revealed significant benefits in user engagement, especially when searchers needed to stop and resume tasks. These results were published as a full paper at the top worldwide conference on information retrieval.
2023
Dilex Search Corp. Founded
Working with Darren Widenmaier, an experienced tech startup executive at Quadrant Newmedia, Sebastian and Orland formed Dilex Search Corp. to transform the research prototype into a production-ready platform. The team was accepted into the Cultivator START accelerator program.
2024-2026
Deployment & ELUNA
With the support of the development team at Quadrant Newmedia, Dilex Search evolved into a fully featured, accessible, and mobile-optimized search interface. The team presented at ELUNA conferences in 2024 and 2025, connecting with libraries across North America and refining the product based on real-world feedback.
Our Team
The Minds Behind Dilex Search
SG
Sebastian Gomes
Co-FounderInitiated Dilex Search as a research project during his Master's degree at the University of Regina. His work on cross-session search interfaces was presented at SIGIR 2021 and 2022.
OH
Dr. Orland Hoeber
Co-FounderSupervised the original research that became Dilex Search. An internationally recognized expert in information visualization and interactive information retrieval at the University of Regina.
DW
Darren Widenmaier
Co-FounderAn experienced tech startup executive at Quadrant Newmedia who helped transform Dilex Search from a research prototype into a production-ready platform.
Research
From Research to Product Decisions
Dilex Search is informed by peer-reviewed research published at top academic conferences.
Supporting Cross-Session Cross-Device Search in an Academic Digital Library
Sebastian Gomes, Orland Hoeber
ACM SIGIR Conference on Human Information Interaction and Retrieval (CHIIR 2021), 2021
Described the key features of Dilex Search and its novel approach to supporting cross-session, cross-device academic search. Presented at the premier academic conference at the intersection of information retrieval and human-computer interaction.
View publicationA Study of Cross-Session Cross-Device Search Within an Academic Digital Library
Sebastian Gomes, Miriam Boon, Orland Hoeber
ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval (SIGIR 2022), 2022
Presented results from a user study comparing Dilex Search to the typical Ex Libris Primo interface. Found significant benefits in user engagement, especially when searchers needed to stop and resume tasks at a later date. Published at the top worldwide conference on information retrieval.
View publicationVisual Keyword/Result Linking: Using Interaction to Dynamically Reveal Relationships
Orland Hoeber, Abbas Pirmoradi Bezanjani, Sebastian Gomes, Baran Erfani, Zakiyyah Noorally, Yug Shah
CHIIR '24: Proceedings of the 2024 Conference on Human Information Interaction and Retrieval, 2024
Presented a novel approach to visualizing keyword/result relationships in search results. Found significant benefits in user engagement, especially when searchers needed to stop and resume tasks at a later date. Published at the top worldwide conference on information retrieval.
View publicationExternal Coverage
What Others Are Saying About Us
Independent mentions, conference write-ups, and third-party sources featuring Dilex Search.
Ex Libris
University of Regina: Primo VE and Dilex Search
Ex Libris customer story (May 2024) on how the University of Regina uses Primo VE with Dilex Search to support discovery.
Read sourceUpdates
Latest Updates
Conference notes, product news, and team announcements.
Photo coming soon
1 - 1:45pm ET
UpcomingConference
Dilex Search at ELUNA 2026
Join us at the ELUNA 2026 conference where we will be showcasing the latest advances in Dilex Search, including our Exploratory Discovery Journey.
Read moreabout Dilex Search at ELUNA 2026Photo coming soon
Conference
Highlights from ELUNA 2025
A recap of our experience at ELUNA 2025, where we presented Dilex Search and connected with library professionals from across North America.
Read moreabout Highlights from ELUNA 2025Photo coming soon
Conference
Dilex Search Debuts at ELUNA 2024
Our first appearance at ELUNA, where we introduced Dilex Search to the library community and shared our vision for accessible academic search.
Read moreabout Dilex Search Debuts at ELUNA 2024Have a question for us?
If you have questions about Dilex Search, our team, or how we can help your library, leave us a message.
Preview
1Previous-search visualization
2Recorded information from prior sessions
Step 1 of 11
Enter new search query
Type a new query and review indicators showing visualizations and details recorded from previous searches.
Pulsing Animation
Auto-Play