NEW YORK, July 5, 1996 -- Auto-Graphics Inc., a leading supplier of information and database resource sharing systems, today announced enhancements to its Impact/ONLINE network system that includes capabilities to expand Internet search services offered by libraries to patrons.
Currently being exhibited at the American Library Association (ALA) conference here this week, the enhancements expand the capabilities of the Impact/ONLINE modular system beyond accessing library catalogs to accessing different kinds of international databases with a single Web interface.
"The Impact/ONLINE system creates friendly and powerful connections between people and information," said William Kliss, chief operating officer of Auto-Graphics. "This suite of tools provides intelligent management of cooperative, regional and state-wide union catalogs and other informational databases through Internet and World Wide Web.
Demonstrations this week showcase the first integrated access to government, commercial and Z39.50 standards-compliant databases, as well as Web access to SGML-based publications and the first seamless link between Impact/ONLINE and Impact/CD for electronic interlibrary loans.
Significant new enhancements to Impact/ONLINE WebPAC, the service that enables Web access to library databases by patrons from their home, school, office and in the library include more powerful search options and full integration with Impact/ACCESS and Z39.50.
Libraries and library consortia that subscribe to Auto-Graphics' Impact/ACCESS service can now provide access to the Government Printing Office's Monthly Catalog. Impact/ACCESS GDCS (Government Documents Catalog Service) includes the only online Web-based access to more than 400,000 catalog records for government publications from 1976-to-present, and gives the library patron the ability to click on a record's URL (Universal Resource Locator) and jump immediately via the Web to the full text source document.
The company also announced that seven Pierian Press databases are now online with information for general adult audiences, such as product information from Consumer's Index, the Directory of National Helplines and Media Review Digest, and children's information services, including stories, periodicals and student-oriented specially-edited fact files.
"We are continuously negotiating with database content providers to increase the range of information available with Impact/ACCESS," said Kliss. "By working with us, they can reach thousands of libraries through a single contact, and that is proving to be an attractive proposition."
Libraries can offer the database services to in-library patrons, as well as to patrons at home, school, or office via the Internet, he added.
Compliance with the Z39.50 ANSI/NISO interoperability search and retrieval standard facilitates access to a widening range of informational databases from content providers. The Z39.50 standard is integrated into Impact/ONLINE WebPAC allowing patrons to use the same interface to access consortium controlled and Z39.50-compliant resources.
In a step to assist library consortia members to transition from CD-ROM to ONLINE and also to help smaller CD-based libraries participate with an online interlibrary loan (ILL) system, Auto-Graphics is providing a gateway capability to link Impact/CD library sites with Impact/ONLINE consortia networks. Patron ILL transactions can now be treated equally within a consortium, even for CD-based sites.
Drawing on its extensive background as a database publisher, the company is demonstrating how its Web-based search engine can access publications that are created for their publishers in SGML format.
"These products can be viewed as independent tools for different areas of library management, yet together they reveal a convergence of services under the banner of online technology," Kliss said. "By continuing to integrate more functions, we can make the technology extremely easy for patrons of all ages, who need only learn one set of simple protocols to find local and worldwide information.
Company Information
Founded in 1950, Auto-Graphics, Inc. (OTC:AUGR) has capitalized on new technology as it becomes available, providing information publishing and database resource sharing systems to the publishing and library communities. Made up of two divisions, the Library Services Division and the Publishing Services Division, Auto-Graphics offers a wide range of products and services that are both cost-effective and innovative.
The Library Services Division has been committed to providing libraries and their patrons with user-friendly resource tools for 25 years. Always on the leading edge of library automation, Auto-Graphics began by developing printed book catalogs of library inventory. As technology advanced, Auto-Graphics developed new products ranging from fiche and film catalogs to, in recent years, CD-ROM catalogs. Today, Auto-Graphics is providing the latest in information access technology to libraries throughout the nation by offering access to online catalogs and databases. Over one million people per day use Auto-Graphics' software to access library information.
