WEB4LIB digest 301

[Rami Heinisuo]

> Date: Thu, 4 Jul 96 12:40:24 EDT
> From: Chip Barnett <cbarnett at leo.vsla.edu>
> To: web4lib at library.berkeley.edu
> Subject: Z39.50 vs. graphical interface
> Message-ID: <199607041640.MAA21597 at leo.vsla.edu>

Hello Chip,

Someone has probably suggested this to you already, but if the server you
are going to buy is a REAL Z39.50 server then you can use CNIDR:s Zgate as
the graphical Web interface.

CNIDR:s Zgate is basically a Z39.50 Client, which you can use over WWW
with the use of your favourite browser. In English: Zgate is a WWW to
Z39.50 stateful gateway. Zgate can be compiled and used on most
Unix based systems, probably WinNT also.

So if you buy the server, you don't have to buy clients, since there are
plenty available for free.

See:

http://www.cnidr.org/
http://dstc.edu.au/RDU/reports/zclients.html

PS I'm happy to give you further assistance also, if needed  

--------------------------------------------------------------
Rami Heinisuo                             City Library of Pori
Information specialist           Regional library of Satakunta
rami.heinisuo at pori.fi                   PB 200  FIN-28101 PORI
					               FINLAND
--------------------------------------------------------------

> 
> The subject of Z39.50 and the Web has been discussed here before
> (and I've read what's in the archives), but I have a question that
> I haven't seen addressed before.  My public library is in the
> process of setting up our own Web server; one of our primary goals
> is to make our Gaylord GALAXY OPAC accessible to the outside world. 
> We're also committed to Z39.50, and had planned to buy Gaylord's
> Z39.50 server software.  The problem is that we can't afford to buy
> both that and Gaylord's SuperBROWSE/OPAC software, which would
> provide a graphical interface for Web browsers.  (The two pieces of
> software cost about the same.)
> 
> Our plan was to put a telnet link on our home page, which would
> establish a telnet connection to our OPAC.  It would be a clunky
> text interface, but that's all we have inside the library anyway,
> and at least the functionality would be there.  However, I just
> learned that Netscape doesn't support telnet.  It's been suggested
> that we could add a link that would allow a user to download free
> telnet agent software; once they've configured it properly, they
> could telnet to our OPAC.  But I find it hard to believe that the
> casual user would take the time and effort to fool with the
> downloading and configuring, and I don't want to limit our OPAC
> only to power users.
> 
> So I have two questions: 1) How have other libraries dealt with
> this problem?  2) Which is more important: getting the Z39.50
> server or making our OPAC compatible with graphical browsers?
> 
> Thanks for any help you can give me.
> -- 
> Chip Barnett (cbarnett at leo.vsla.edu)	Rockbridge Regional Library
> (540) 463-4324				138 S. Main St.
> (540) 464-4824 (fax)			Lexington, VA 24450
> 
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> End of WEB4LIB Digest 301
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>