MetaLib - a tool for integration of electronic information resources and library portals development
Abstract
MetaLib offers a comprehensive tool for integration of local and remote information resources in libraries. MetaLib offers three access points for various purposes of use.
A WWW interface intended for end users (library patrons etc.) presents a unified working environment where users can simultaneously search many heterogeneous resources with single query language and get the results in unified format. Users can process the result sets in several ways and use relevant extended services in different information systems.
Z39.50 interface is designed for communication with other systems especially for retrieving and copy cataloging of bibliographic records (with utilization of wide portfolio of Z39.50 resources configured in MetaLib for sequential search). The third interface is the universal API.
With the API, various information systems are able to communicate and utilize MetaLib functionality independently of the native WWW interface.