Incorporating a virtual union catalogue into the wider information environment through the application of middleware Interoperability issues in cross‐database access

To explore the use of middleware to provide access to a virtual catalogue via Z39.50, allowing its integration with other services. To consider issues arising from the cross-database search process and the problem of interoperability between systems. Middleware was used to establish a Z39.50 server...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of documentation Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 120 - 144
Main Authors: Cousins, Shirley, Sanders, Ashley
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Bradford Emerald 01.01.2006
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Subjects:
Academic Libraries
Access
Benchmarks
Catalogues
Data base management systems
Exact sciences and technology
Information and communication sciences
Information industry
Information processing and retrieval
Information retrieval. Man machine relationship
Information science. Documentation
Integrated care
Integrated systems
Interoperability
Keywords
Library catalogs
Middleware
Multiple database searches
National libraries
Online information services
Online union catalogues
Queries
Reaction time
Research process. Evaluation
Sciences and techniques of general use
Search strategies
Semantic relations
Semantics
Servers
Services
Test Results
Transformation
Value
Virtual reality
Z3950 protocol
United Kingdom
Europe
Union catalog
Project
Databases
Z39.50
Transmission protocol
Database
Information retrieval
Middleware
Information searches
Interoperability
Standards
Automated catalog
ISSN:0022-0418, 1758-7379
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Summary:To explore the use of middleware to provide access to a virtual catalogue via Z39.50, allowing its integration with other services. To consider issues arising from the cross-database search process and the problem of interoperability between systems. Middleware was used to establish a Z39.50 server for an existing virtual union catalogue, InforM25. The Copac physical union catalogue was used to carry out cross-database search tests, investigating the value of query transformation by the middleware and illustrating many of the issues associated with interoperability in cross-database searching. The test results demonstrate the viability and benefits of using middleware to allow the integration of virtual catalogues with other services. The results also illustrate the range of issues affecting the performance of the virtual catalogue, with supporting evidence from the use of the Copac physical union catalogue for cross-database searching via Z39.50. In particular the discussion highlights the issue of semantic interoperability, as well as emphasising the value of centralised virtual catalogue support. The research was limited to work on a specific virtual union catalogue, that is InforM25, but the results highlight issues with general relevance in the development of any virtual catalogue. The need for more work on response times in the virtual union catalogue is apparent, along with the related issue of result set post processing. This paper provides a practical demonstration of the issues important to those involved in making their local catalogue accessible to services, and individuals, outside their own institution, as well as those working on virtual union catalogue development.
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ISSN:0022-0418
1758-7379
DOI:10.1108/00220410610642084