St. Louis, January 4, 1994 To accommodate growing demand for its popular electronic resource-sharing network for libraries, Data Research recently enhanced its expanding Open DRANET service by moving several of its database servers to Digital Equipment Corporations 4000 Model 610 Alpha AXP computer. The new Alpha AXP server currently is host to Data Researchs LC MARC and Authority databases, and to Cambridge Scientific Abstract citation databases.
As part of its long-standing commitment to promote global resource sharing, Data Research has offered free access to its Library of Congress databases (now housed on the Alpha AXP machine) for more than three years. Via the Internet using TELNET or World Wide Web, users across the globe are taking advantage of this service at an average rate of approximately 800 sessions totaling 12,000 searches each day.
With the Alpha AXPs 64-bit addressing capability (compared to more standard 32-bit addressing) and 56 gigabytes of storage, total capacity is dramatically increased, and users are able to more quickly access and retrieve desired information. Upon subscribing to Open DRANET, any user on a Data Research System or on any other system with a Z39.50-compliant client can directly access the Open DRANET servers, including the Alpha AXP server.
Open DRANET, Data Researchs premier networking service, has helped more than 60 libraries in the United States and Canada improve their electronic information access and exchange. In 1992, Data Research began offering its Open DRANET service to all libraries, regardless of whether they have a Data Research System. As a result of the promotion, subscriptions have more than doubled over the past year.
With Open DRANET, libraries can enjoy cost-effective network access to citation databases from a continuously growing list of sources such as the Library of Congress, University Microfilms International, Information Access Corporation, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts and EBSCO Publishing. Updates are performed weekly rather than monthly, as is typical for libraries locally mounted databases ensuring information is up to date. A flat fee for unlimited access to individual citation databases also helps libraries plan their budget more effectively.
Access via Open DRANET to numerous other remote databases, the Internet and CompuServe enables libraries to share resources amongst each other and with other non-library information resources. Affordable access to the Internet is of particular value to many public libraries that are exploring ways to take advantage of this important resource. Through Data Research's leadership in the development of Z39.50-compliant clients and servers, Open DRANET is easy to access transparently, enabling searching with user-familiar menus and commands.
Data Research, based in St. Louis, is a leading systems integrator, providing its own proprietary information services software, as well as third party software and hardware, networking services and other related services to libraries and other information providers.
