In view of the upcoming eLib 'clumps' projects (virtual union catalogues
based on Z39.50), the following message may be interesting to you. I'm
sorry if you have seen it before.
----- Forwarded message from Terry Kuny -----
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 16:28:00 -0800 (PST)
From: Hodges Doug <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: FW: vCuc report/rapport vvCcc
The following message was posted by Carrol Lunau of the National
Library of Canada on the Virtual Canadian Union Catalogue (vCuc)
Listserv today. Those who are interested in the use of Z39.50 to
provide distributed access to library catalogues (and electronic networked
resources catalogued in those databases) may find this intriguing. For
further information, please contact Carrol Lunau at the address shown
below.
Doug Hodges
-------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask]
National Library of Canada
395 Wellington
Ottawa ON Canada K1A 0N4
-------------------------------------------
From: owner-vcuc-l
To: VCUC-L
Subject: vCuc report/rapport vvCcc
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 1997 2:38PM
Le francais en bas.
The call for participation in the vCuc pilot project was issued 15 months
ago in September 1996. The intervening months have been very busy and much
has been accomplished but much remains to be done.
Twenty one libraries responded to this call and indicated that they either
had implemented or expected to implement a Z39.50 target system. Of these
12 libraries have completed a series of interoperability and controlled
tests for typical monograph and serial records. Six have not yet been able
to implement their target system so these databases have not participated in
the testing.
Secondly, a group of 22 small libraries with little or no prior Z39.50
experience participated in a vCuc sub-project. These libraries used
borrowed client software provided by Sirsi Corporation and SeaChange
Corporation to search the vCuc targets.
Thirdly, the National Library has acquired a Z39.50 gateway from Geac
Canada. This gateway is currently being tested and has been configured for
23 targets providing access to 25 databases. As well a variety of regional
groupings have been created. These groups allow the user to simultaneously
search all of the targets in the designated region. When testing of English
and French versions of the gateway is completed, it will be made available
to libraries and patrons on the National Library web site.
Libraries participating in the project have indicated that they like using
vCuc for searching for cataloguing copy. Use for ILL has obtained mixed
reviews as holdings information is not always provided. By using a
Z39.50/WWW gateway or web-enabled client software, vCuc can expand on
traditional union catalogue functionality by accessing electronic
publications. Cataloguing records containing URLs in 856 allow direct
access to the 'publication' by means of vCuc. For example, PACS review can
be accessed directly from the University of Toronto cataloguing record. The
power of Z39.50 searching combined with the power of WWW.
An analysis of the test results indicates that the problems experienced by
the small libraries are the same as the problems experienced by larger
libraries. While these problems -- lack of holdings, difficulties in
configuring clients and targets, imprecise search results, and unreliable
search results to name a few -- may seem overwhelming, they are resolvable
and headway is being made on finding the solutions.
The Z39.50 Implementors Group is making progress resolving the problems
related to the transfer of detailed holdings and circulation information
using Z39.50. It is hoped that a consensus will be reached at their
upcoming winter meeting. The ball will then be in the vendors court to
implement solutions.
A vCuc technical working group has been formed from among the participants
which will address the technical issues identified during the project. The
first issue will be the transfer of summary holdings information.
As the pilot project nears completion, recommended for March 1998, we can
conclude that Z39.50 searching can emulate a union catalogue for
cataloguing
use now and for ILL use once the identified technical issues are resolved.
Project participants and vendors will be working diligently to resolve
these issues over the next several months.
*************************************************************
Carrol Lunau
National & International Programs
National Library of Canada
395 Wellington Street Phone: 613-996-3262
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4 Fax: 613-947-2916
Canada
email: [log in to unmask]
*************************************************************
En septembre 1996, il y a 15 mois, la Bibliotheque lancait un appel de
participation au Projet pilote vvCcc. Depuis, les activites n'ont pas cesse,
beaucoup d'etapes ont ete franchies mais il reste encore beaucoup a faire.
Vingt et une bibliotheques ont repondu a notre appel et nous informent
qu'elles ont mis en service des systemes cibles Z39.50 ou qu'elles ont
l'intention de le faire. Parmi les bibliotheques participantes, douze
bibliotheques ont realise une serie d'essais de controle et
d'interoperabilite de notices typiques de monographies et de publications en
serie. Six bibliotheques n'ont pas encore reussi a mettre en service leur
systeme cible et leurs bases de donnees ne sont donc pas accessibles a des
fins d'essai.
En deuxieme lieu, un groupe de vingt-deux bibliotheques modestes ayant peu
d'experience d'utilisation ou aucune experience prealable du serveur Z39.50
ont participe a un sous-projet vvCcc. Ces bibliotheques ont utilise un
logiciel client empruntee de la Sirsi Corporation et de la SeaChange
Corporation pour effectuer des recherches de cibles vvCcc.
Troisiemement, la Bibliotheque nationale s'est portee acquereuse d'une
passerelle Z39.50, obtenue de Geac Canada. Nous faisons actuellement
l'essai
de cette passerelle qui est configuree pour correspondre a 23 cibles
donnant
acces a 25 bases de donnees. Plusieurs groupes regionaux sont etablis. Ces
regroupements permettent aux utilisateurs d'interroger simultanement toutes
les cibles situees de la region. Lorsque la Bibliotheque aura termine les
essais des versions anglaise et francaise de la passerelle, celle-ci sera
mise a la disposition des bibliotheques et des usagers sur le site Web de
la
Bibliotheque nationale.
Les bibliotheques qui participent au projet ont declare se plaire a
utiliser
la vvCcc pour faire des recherches de double de catalogage. Les opinions
sont partagees en ce qui concerne son utilisation a des fins de pret entre
bibliotheques car l'information sur les fonds n'est pas toujours fournie.
En utilisant une passerelle Z39.50/WWW ou un logiciel client avec les
capacites du WWW, vvCcc peut elargir les capacites d'un catalogue collectif
en fournissant l'acces aux publications electroniques. Les notices avec
l'URL dans le zone 856 donnent acces direct a la publication par l'entremise
du vvCcc. Par example: on peut avoir acces au journal electronique Pacs
Review directement du notice de l'University of Toronto. La force du Z39.50
pour le recherche en combinaison avec la force du WWW.
L'analyse des resultats des essais revele que les problemes rencontres par
les bibliotheques modestes sont les memes que ceux rencontres par les
bibliotheques de plus grande envergure. Ces problemes -- manque de fonds,
difficultes de configuration relatives aux clients et aux cibles, resultats
de recherche imprecis et peu fiables, pour n'en mentionner que quelques-uns
-- peuvent paraitre insurmontables, mais il est possible de les resoudre
et
nous trouvons progressivement des solutions.
Le Groupe de realisateurs Z39.50 fait des progres marques pour ce qui est
des problemes de transfert de fonds detailles et de l'information sur la
circulation en utilisant le Z39.50. Il est a esperer qu'ils adopteront un
consensus au cours de leur reunion, qui aura lieu cet hiver. Ce sera alors
la responsabilite des distributeurs-fournisseurs de mettre en oeuvre des
solutions.
On a forme un groupe de travail technique vvCcc choisi parmi les
participants qui s'attaquera aux problemes techniques souleves au cours du
projet. Le premier probleme sera le transfert des fonds sommaires.
Alors que le projet pilote tire a sa fin, recommandee pour mars 1998, nous
pouvons conclure que la recherche Z39.50 peut se substituer au catalogue
collectif maintenant pour le catalogage et pour le PEB apres la resolution
des problemes techniques. Au cours des prochains mois, les participants et
les distributeurs-fournisseurs se consacreront activement a cette tache.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Carrol Lunau
Programmes nationaux et internationaux
Bibliotheque nationale du Canada
395 rue Wellington
Ottawa ON K1A 0N4
ce:[log in to unmask]
telephone: 613-996-3262
telecopieur: 613-947-2916
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
----- End of forwarded message from Terry Kuny -----
--
Chris Rusbridge
Programme Director, Electronic Libraries Programme
The Library, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Phone 01203 524979 Fax 01203 524981
Email [log in to unmask]
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