Article dicsussing the Metadata Education and Research Information Commons (MERIC), a collaborative teaching and research initiative.

Final report for the Z39.50 interoperability testbed project, phase 2.

This document describes how the authors can extend a relational database of MARC documentation to store the appropriate information that will support the automatic generation of the special, diagnostic MARC records the authors will call radioactive MARC (RadMARC) records. The information contained in the database will also support the generation of the Z queries used in the interoperability testing.

This report discusses the Z39.50 interoperability testbed and serves as an interim report for the Z-Interop Project as of December 31, 2003.

This lecture script examines the nature and role of standards for the emerging 21st century library. Given the dynamic character of the networked environment, when are standards appropriate and how can they be developed in a manner consistent with the volatility of information technologies and changing library services? What are the roles and responsibilities of standards developing organizations, technology vendors, content creators, and librarians for standards? Do local practices of libraries threaten standards-based resource sharing and resource access technologies? Can local needs be balanced with broader library community responsibilities, and how do standards affect this balance? The speaker's assumption is that adherence to standards has never been more critical, yet his implementation experience with Z39.50 and MARC suggests that the commitment to national and international standards by librarians, technology vendors, and content creators are often an example of good intentions rather than actual practice. This standards disconnect threatens the emerging 21st century library's ability to deliver fundamental services in appropriate ways to their users.

This white paper introduces evaluation concepts and describes outcome-based evaluation. The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) logic model is described in the context of developing a program evaluation plan. Four case studies illustrate how outputs, outcomes and indicators can be used to produce programs results.

This is the project website for the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) Standards Committee AV on developing a U.S. national Z39.50 profile for library applications. It contains project documentation, committee member information, and additional resources.