Huntsville, AL (July 8, 1996) - Sirsi Corporation announced today the addition of their new Z39.50 client into VIZION, SIRSI's desktop Internet site manager for the Windows environment. "The Z39.50 standard is to text and research databases what the SQL standard is to relational databases," states Jim Young, CEO of SIRSI. "VIZION with Z39.50 solves the Internet community's need for uniform database access," continues Mr. Young. "It supports simultaneously searching across multiple databases, an efficient and time saving aid for online researchers, and enables librarians, information professionals, researchers, writers, and students worldwide to effectively explore the resources located in the hundreds of Z39.50 compatible collections on the Internet."

Z39.50 Client Features

Using VIZION's point-and-click interface, information seekers can easily create and execute simple or complex search statements and have them understood by the target server. Z39.50 standardizes the format of the messages exchanged between the origin and target systems. VIZION offers the desktop user a simple approach to configuring Z39.50 target servers. In VIZION, Z39.50 server configurations are locally stored and managed. This unique features enables users to custom select sites based on their support of the user's research requirements. A suite of preconfigured Z39.50 destinations is provided as a starting block for VIZION users.

In addition to allowing users to control Z39.50 site configurations and manage search attributes, VIZION's interface provides icons, buttons and separate function windows to make navigation, review, and manipulation of search results easy and efficient. Users can format searching parameters to conduct parallel searching, sorting, scanning, and record capture. Users can simultaneously access multiple Z39.50 databases, retrieving and reviewing search results from all requested sites in one common window environment. A search history and strategy window allows users to review, edit, and re-execute previously applied searches.

Once results are retrieved from the target server, related searches can then be launched by clicking on hypertext terms. If supported by the target server, cross references can be viewed and holdings searches conducted. VIZION lets users determine the order or rank in which to search selected sites. Once the user has finished reviewing search results, VIZION's Z39.50 client also supports sending the selected records to a local printer or file.

SIRSI's Application of Z39.50

SIRSI is registered by the Z39.50 Maintenance Agency (Library of Congress) as a Z39.50 implementor and produced in 1994 both a Z39.50 server, InfoBASE, and Z39.50 windowing and host-based clients. SIRSI is also a member of the Z39.50 Implementors' Group (ZIG), responsible for the development of versions 2 and 3 of the Z39.50 standard. Continuing SIRSI's commitment to the Z39.50 protocol, VIZION implements the latest, Version 3, of the ANSI standard officially accepted by the organization in July 1995. VIZION users are assured full support for the many sophisticated research oriented features provided by the standard.

Price and Availability

VIZION Pro with Z39.50 is $94.95 and can be downloaded from SIRSI's web site, http://www.sirsi.com. Users who have bought VIZION Pro and are interested in adding the Z39.50 functionality can purchase the client separately for $75.00. Site licenses are also available. Questions should be directed to VIZION Sales, 1-800-242-2233, Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm Central Standard Time or send an email to sales@sirsi.com.

Company Background

SIRSI, founded in 1980, is a privately held company with headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama. SIRSI develops, markets, and supports information software systems for libraries, businesses, and archives. Its products include WebCat ™ and VIZION™, Web information managers, Media Archives, and InfoBASE for data warehousing. With offices in major US cities, and subsidiaries in Canada, the UK and Australia, the company has established its Unicorn products as the leading UNIX-based client/server library automation systems in the world. For more information, please contact SIRSI via phone at (205) 922-9820, fax at (205) 922-9818, or the World Wide Web at http://www.sirsi.com.