Volunteers for Z39.50 study

[Yaeger,Ericka]

This message is being sent to multiple lists.  Please forgive the cross
posting. 

Hi. I am a graduate student in the Kent State University Library and
Information Science program, which requires a research project for
graduation.  My focus of research paper is on the cross catalog
searching using the Z39.50 protocol, and I am looking for libraries to
participate in my study.  I work for OCLC with the Z39.50-based
SiteSearch software, but my research does not involve SiteSearch.  

First of all, I should tell you that NO WORK IS REQUIRED BY YOUR LIBRARY
to participate.  What I will be doing is asking for permission to search
your Z39.50-accessible catalog using a basic Z39.50 client to test how
searches are interpreted by your server.  It would also be helpful to
have access to a proprietary interface to your catalog or database
(i.e., telnet, etc.), IF one is available.   I'm hoping to have at least
one site with each of the major library automation vendors (Sirsi,
Ameritech Horizon, Ameritech Notis, Innovative Interfaces, Inc., Geac,
and DRA).

The GOAL OF MY STUDY is to examine the use of the Z39.50 protocol for
cross catalog searching.  Specifically, I hope to determine how simple
queries using Bib-1 use and structure attributes are interpreted by the
various Z39.50 servers, and how differences between the servers impact
search results compared to the native interface and compared to the
other Z39.50 servers.  For example, I will look at what fields are
included in the indexes each server uses for subject, author, and title
searches, and how the search is parsed.  Then I hope to identify the
differences in searching between servers and how these differences
effect consistency, precision, and recall for the user in cross database
searching.  

My paper will discuss the benefits of using the Z39.50 protocol, along
with any issues that need to be address to successfully use the protocol
for cross database searching. 

If you are interested in participating, I simply need the following
information about your site:

For your Z39.50 server:

Host address: 
Port number:
Database name(s): 
Password (if any): 
Z39.50 Server vendor: 

For your proprietary interface: 

Method for accessing (telnet, tn3270): 
Host address: 
Password (if any):

Contact name:
Email address: 


I would greatly appreciate your participation in this study.  I will be
happy to provide a summary of my findings (or the complete study) to
anyone who is interested.  

Sincerely, 


Ericka L. Yaeger

*	Ericka L. Yaeger					
*	Marketing Specialist, SiteSearch Marketing and Sales Support 
*	Online Computer Library Center, Inc. 	
*	ericka_yaeger at oclc.org \ 614-761-5248	
*	http://purl.oclc.org/SiteSearch/