How to connect via Z39.50
What is Z39.50?
Z39.50 is an international standard for communication between computer systems, primarily library-related ones. Z39.50 enables a user in one system to search and retrieve information from other Z39.50-enabled systems without using the interface of the other systems. Z39.50 can facilitate a wide range of library functions that require database searching, including cataloguing, interlibrary loan and reference. Another useful feature of the Z39.50 standard is that it also allows the simultaneous searching of multiple databases.
A good definition of Z39.50 is available from the Library of Congress, Official Z39.50 Maintenance Agency
How Does the ANU Library Use Z39.50?
ANU Library provides Z39.50 access to its library catalogue. Any other Z39.50-enabled system can connect to it this way. You can also use Endnote and similar desktop systems to access our catalogue.
Endnote Connect file for the ANU Library Catalogue
Important:The catalogue server only checks the keyword index when you do boolean searches (using AND, OR, NOT operators). The server ignores the search fields you've indicated in EndNote's Search window. For example, a search for "Haydn" in Author AND "concerto" in the Title will become a search for "Haydn" and "concerto" in the Keyword index. Searches with only one search item will use the designated search field.
You can get around this to some extent by searching for one field, for example: "Haydn" in author, download all the results, then search through your results for a title with "concerto" in it. Hint: You can search through your local library of downloaded results by un-checking the "search remote" checkbox in the search window.
Configuration information to access ANU Library Catalogue via Z39.50
To connect to the ANU Library Catalogue using Z39.50 you will have to configure your client with certain information. ANU Library runs the INNOPAC integrated library management system and its Z39.50 server and client.
Configuration details: access and initialization
Address: library.anu.edu.au
Port: 210
Authentication / Password: Not required
Database name (code): INNOPAC
Configuration details: services
Services Supported: Initialization, Scan, Search, Present
Type of requests:
USMARC (OID 1.2.840.10003.5.10) or OPAC (OID 1.2.840.10003.5.102)
OPAC - Brief data - bibliographic and holdings data
OPAC - Full data - bibliographic and holdings and item data
Type of query: 1
Result set naming: Not supported
Resource control: Not used
Attribute set: Bib-1
Configuration details
| Search type | Use field | Relation | Position | Structure | Truncate | Completeness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUTHOR | 1003 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| TITLE | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SUBJECT | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| WORD | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 100 | 1 |
Notes
- For record number searches, the user enters the record number without the check digit
- The Z39.50 standard does not cover Authority records and Z39.50 searches do not return Authority records. Therefore, searches done of Millennium / INNOPAC databases that contain Authority records will produce a different result set than the same search done using INNOPAC's native OPAC.
INNOPAC native searches report the number of "entries"retrieved. Included in this number asre entries for cross-references -- both "See" and "See also" references. INNOPAC's Z39.50 server will attempt to filter out these references, hence the Z39.50 server will report a different number of "entries" or "records" retrieved than INNOPAC's OPAC will. However, it is not able to filter out all of these references when the Z39.50 server reports on the entries retrieved, since it may be necessary to physically examine the individual records to determine whether they are references or Bibliographic records. This is particularly true when a large number of "entries" are retrieved. Thus, a request from a Z39.50 client for entries 1021-1028 out of a set of 1030 entries may not produce the expected eight Bibliographic records.
Z39.50 Information on the Internet
- Directory of Z39.50 Targets in Australia National Library of Australia
- Z39.50 - A Technical Briefing - Biblio Tech Review.
- Library of Congress Z3950 Maintenance Agency site
- The Z39.50 Information Retrieval Standard: Part I: A Strategic View of Its Past, Present and Future by Clifford Lynch
- List of Attributes for the Z39.50 Standard (the BIB-1 Attribute List)
- Z39.50 - The User's Perspective - A Study from Cornell University
