JISC

The purpose of the project is to build on the Cheshire II zetoc prototype currently being developed by The British Library and Manchester Computing. zetoc is seen as a key part of The British Library’s strategy to open up access to its collections (in this instance its Electronic Table of Contents) through networked services. The area of content provision is one of the major strengths that The British Library can bring to initiatives such as the DNER.

Zetoc is part of Join-UP, a cluster of four projects (zetoc, Xgrain, Docusend and ZBLSA) which aims to realise the full potential of bibliographic services by informing users about the location of third-party services on the materials referenced therein and the means, where appropriate, to connect automatically to request and delivery mechanisms. Join-UP contributes to the Discover/Locate/Request/Access structure of the DNER.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the project is to develop an interoperable Web/Z39.50-compliant interface to The British Library’s Electronic Table of Contents (ETOC). The interface will encompass a current awareness alerting service, a document ordering interface and a reference linking mechanism.

The specific objectives are to:

• Develop a Web/Z39.50-compliant interface to an XML version of the Electronic Table of Contents
• Enhance the features available on the search interface
• Extend the functionality of the existing zetoc Alert service
• Develop a document ordering mechanism
• Explore the feasibility of reference linking
• Integrate zetoc with other systems developed in the Join-UP Cluster

Project design

The project aims to provide an operational service to the UK academic community. It will focus on the implementation of a range of service deliverables based on established and leading edge technologies and open standards. Each will be subject to rigorous performance measurement, constant monitoring and review based on user feedback.

Outcomes

The project will help progress the principal objective of The British Library’s DNER developments which is to satisfy the increasing demands from the UK academic sector for networked services. Its aim is to meet the detailed list of requirements generated as a result of the market research report compiled by Orbitel and Manchester Computing. The intention is that the project will address the needs of students, teachers and researchers within the UK academic environment and act in accordance with existing library services.