Z39.60 Standard Protocol
The Z39.50 standard protocol allows users to go beyond their own library's database to a virtual library that can span the world.
Using Z39.50 a user may redirect a search to another database as simply as switching to a new enquiry. Whether the user wants to search a SilverplatterT CD-ROM over a network or link to an overseas University, as long as the targeted database also supports the Z39.50 protocol, the search result will display according to the features of that user's Z39.50 client. This means that the user does not have to learn new and different terminology and confusing layouts.
The user can select the databases to be accessed from their workstation. Multiple sites can be selected to allow simultaneous searching, for example to check the resources of the Library of Congress, the National Library of Australia and the British Library in one go. If the user is uncertain of the precise details of an item, they may invoke a search query against one site, which will give a sorted list of the resources. The user can then select one or more search result sets for closer examination.
The results are shown according to the features of the user's Z39.50 client, with features available to treat the results as just another set of found items. These items may be stored, printed, or even e-mailed. The results from a Z39.50 search can be used on their own, or used with a set of items from the user's own library.
Altarama's support for Z39.50
Where applicable, Altarama's products are (or will soon be) Z39.50 compliant at both the client and the server level. We strongly support this standard for easy access to databases of many different types through a single search.
The Zserve module for RefTracker will soon enable the RefTracker knowledge database to be searched by Z39.50 clients.
RefTracker Zgate enables concurrent searching of multiple Z39.50 databases, with the user selecting some or all of the available databases.
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