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 document provides a status report on the Z39.50 Interoperability Testbed Project (Z-Interop) covering the period of January 1, 2003 through June 30, 2003. This document highlights activities and accomplishments to communicate to IMLS progress on this project since the last status report on January 1, 2003.

This document provides a status report on the Z39.50 Interoperability Testbed Project (Z-Interop) covering the period of July 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002. The previous status report covered a three-month period from April 1, 2002 through June 30, 2002. This document highlights activities and accomplishments to communicate to IMLS progress on this project since the last status report.

This paper discusses metadata utilization. This paper reports results of an analysis of a large sample of MARC 21 bibliographic records.