Data Research Associates, Inc., has successfully connected its online public access module with Gaylord and NOTIS Systems' online patron access catalog modules using the recently completed NISO Z39.50 search and retrieval standard. These may be the first Z39.50 links among commercially available integrated library systems.
While each pair of systems (DRA--Gaylord and DRA-NOTIS) were connected, MARC data was retrieved from the OPAC data base of each system via the OPAC module of the other, using the Z39.50 information retrieval protocol.
NOTIS also has interacted successfully with a test site at the University of California Department of Library Automation, and systems at OCLC, AT&T, UC Berkeley, Penn State, and MIT.
Z39.50 is an American National Standard developed and adopted by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) to facilitate information retrieval among different computer systems. A public access user at one system may search the Z39.50 compliant system, using the same search and retrieval protocols, regardless of the different hardware, software, and operating systems being utilized.
[Contact: Gaylord Information Systems, (800) 962-9560; Data Research Associates, (800) 325-0888; NOTIS Systems at (708) 866-0150; Fax (708) 866-0178.]
