SCOPE, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR Z TEXAS:
The Texas Z39.50 Profile Project
Texas Z39.50 Implementors Group
October 2, 1998
SCOPE STATEMENT
ANSI/NISO Z39.50 is an international standard that makes it easier to
retrieve information from local and remote electronic databases, such
as library catalogs. The standard is implemented in software "clients"
(used to perform a search) and "servers" (which provide access
to the databases). For example, with a Z39.50 client on your local catalog,
a user could search the Z39.50 servers of other libraries' catalogs. To
the user it would appear as if the remote catalogs were simply extensions
of the local catalog.
For optimum results, Z39.50 clients and servers must be set up with a
common set of specifications, usually referred to as a "profile."
The Z Texas Profile Project is an effort by volunteers from all types
of libraries to develop a consensus on the Z39.50 features required to
share networked information resources in Texas. Z39.50 clients and servers
employing the Z Texas Profile will improve Texas users' results when searching
remote library catalogs.
The initial phase of the Z Texas Profile Project will focus on the requirements
and specifications for basic search and retrieval between online USMARC
library catalogs. Later phases of the Project will address requirements
for sharing other kinds of databases, such as those with full-text documents
or images. Eventually, the Profile will contain several levels reflecting
increasing requirements, with higher levels building upon the specifications
of the lower levels to maintain compatibility.
In addition to developing the Texas Z Profile itself, the Project will
also develop guides for procurement and implementation and encourage the
testing of the Profile specifications in actual Z39.50 client and server
implementations.
GOALS STATEMENT
*The Project will improve and broaden Texas citizens' access to networked
information resources in Texas and beyond.
*The Project will improve Texas librarians' understanding of Z39.50 and
their capability to acquire and set up Z39.50 clients and servers.
*The Project will establish one possible technical foundation for future
sharing of the information assets of Texas.
OBJECTIVES
1. Provide an ongoing, open, consensus-based, and phased development
of a voluntary Z39.50 Profile for both clients and servers in all types
of Texas libraries. The 1998-1999 phase will focus on the basic requirements
for searching online library catalogs which support USMARC. Subsequent
phases will address library catalog users' more exacting requirements
(such as searching archival libraries) and searching non-USMARC databases
(such as those with full-text documents or images) which may be provided
by other organizations.
2. Develop consensus among implementors by April 1999 on the first two
levels of the Profile. Level 1 will facilitate basic search and retrieval
by library patrons and reference staff. Level 2 will support the search
requirements of technical services and ILL staff. Present a final draft
of these two levels at TLA Annual Conference, and, if favorably received
by librarians there, publish and promote Levels 1 and 2 for general use.
3. Identify and publicize by October 1998 an interim set of client and
server specifications which libraries can use for RFPs which must be released
before April 1999.
4. Develop and publicize by April 1999 selection criteria for purchasing
Z39.50 clients that address the functional requirements which are not
covered by the Z39.50 specifications themselves (for example, the capability
of saving a retrieved record in USMARC format).
5. Encourage one or more libraries (and their vendors) to implement the
Z Texas Profile on their Z39.50 server and/or clients by 4th quarter 1999
so that other libraries can begin testing their own client implementations
of the Profile.
6. Ensure that the Z Texas Profile specifies Z39.50 rigorously enough
to meet Texas libraries' requirements without creating unnecessary barriers
to Z39.50 implementation by libraries or Z39.50 product development by
vendors.
7. Collaborate with international profiling efforts that address the
Texas requirements, harmonizing the Z Texas Profile with international
efforts to the extent possible to ensure the broadest utilization and
thus cost effectiveness of Z39.50 implementations in Texas.
8. Promote the consensus-based Z Texas Profile for voluntary adoption
by Texas libraries and educate librarians on the importance of the Profile
in resource sharing.
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