Sustainability

This project will create an operational Z39.50 interoperability testbed for use during the grant period. Funding to establish the testbed will lay the groundwork for its future use. Once operational, the Principal Investigator will maintain the testbed for use beyond the grant period. Because of the importance of interoperability testing for assurance that Z39.50 products are usable by libraries and their users, the Principal Investigator will solicit support and resources from organizations such as NISO or CNI for ongoing use of the testbed. The results of this project will have ongoing utility by vendors, customers, and users of Z39.50 products.

To accommodate Z39.50 implementations as requirements evolve, the design of the testbed will allow its extensibility to respond to new configurations, data, and implementations. To address those new requirements, new test data sets and test scenarios will be developed. Successful solicitation for ongoing operations and extensions to the testbed will be based solidly on the success of this initial IMLS funding for this project.

Technical Knowledge

As described elsewhere in this proposal, interoperability between complex information systems in the networked environment is a complex challenge. The Principal Investigators, and contributors to the project (e.g., SIRSI and OCLC) bring a broad knowledge of Z39.50 technology, information retrieval systems, databases, and Z39.50 specifications reflected in the key Z39.50 profiles to be used in this project.

A critical success factor for the project is the ability to acquire needed expertise from the broad community of Z39.50 implementers to supplement the research team and contributing organizations. The Principal Investigator's previous and ongoing involvement in Z39.50 initiatives-nationally and internationally-positions him very effectively for this.

Project Proposal Pages

Contents of Project Proposal - Abstract - Statement of the Problem - Project Goals and Objectives - Background for the Study - Need and Justification- Project Foci and Activities - Impact and Benefits of the Project - Project Deliverables - Project Staff - Addressing IMLS Priorities and Criteria - National Impact - Adaptability - Design - Management Plan - Budget - Personnel - Evaluation - Dissemination - Contributions - Sustainability and Technical Knowledge -Summery- References

---

Previous Page - Next Page

 

---