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n-1-3-020.20.1b
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N-1-3-020.20.1
"Virtual Library"
by (C) Billy Barron* <BILLY@vaxb.acs.unt.edu>
A virtual library, in its simplest definition, is an electronic
system that duplicates traditional library functions. If implemented
correctly, however, a virtual library is much more functional,
cheaper, and smaller than a normal library.
What does this have to do with the Internet? Well, virtual library
designers recognize that the Internet is an important part of the
virtual library. The Internet will allow materials to be shared much
more efficiently than InterLibrary Loan (ILL).
Fully developed virtual library software is still several years away.
The state of the art can be found in Gopher and the World Wide Web
(WWW). Neither of these systems have addressed all of the library
issues, but then again, they do not claim to. They are currently
missing functionality to handle some of the more complex copyright
issues, ILL, and a few other such things. However, these pieces of
software are still very useful in the applications they are designed
for, but should not be seen as a final solution for virtual library
software in their current state.
Several virtual library research prototypes are being developed. One
of the more exciting ones is the NASA BOOKS project. BOOKS attempts
to model a library. When you start it up, you see a reference desk, a
catalog, and the book shelves among other items. It is my guess that
a production version of the software will not be seen for 3 to 4
years. It is being designed as a complete virtual library solution.
For any of these virtual library systems to effectively work, it is
critical that the current Internet resource discovery problems be
solved. The IAFA (Internet Anonymous FTP Archives) Working Group
proposal in front of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) right
now is a first step in solving the problem. Resource discovery is a
hot area of research at the moment on the Internet so I expect we will
see quite a bit of progress in this regard.
Z39.50, the bibliographic control protocol, is a key technology that
must be deployed before virtual libraries will be able to communicate
with each other effectively. Several vendors are in the process of
developing Z39.50 systems so we should see movement in this direction
in the near future.
Probably in the end, the difficult issues will be licensing and
copyright, not technology. For any of this to work, it will require
librarians and computer professionals to work together.
*VAX/Unix Systems Manager, University of North Texas