3M has announced that it will grant permission for anyone to use the Data Transfer Protocol that 3M has developed for the 3M SelfCheck System. This will enable any self-service terminal to communicate with an automated library system's circulation module in a well-defined and standardized manner.
There are currently over 500 3M SelfCheck Systems in operation worldwide, and most major automated library system vendors have already implemented linkages to it. Upon request, 3M will provide a copy of the protocol document to other vendors or libraries. 3M does not provide technical support of the data transfer protocol to systems other than those interfaced to 3M SelfCheck Systems. 3M makes no guarantees about the data transfer protocol and reserves the right to make changes to the protocol, including modifications and/or extensions, without notice.
[Contact: 3M Library Systems, Data Transfer Protocol Administrator, 3M Center, St. Paul, MN 55144-1000; (612) 736-5376; fax (612) 736-2298.]
