[rak-list] (Fwd) LC announces new Web Authorities feature

[Bernhard Eversberg]

Lange erwartet, jetzt angekuendigt fuer 1.7.: der Zugriff auf die LC Authorities 
via Web.
Hier die Originalnachricht:

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Tue, 11 Jun 2002 20:36:02 -0500
From:           	Ann Della Porta <adel at loc.gov>
Subject:        	LC announces new Web Authorities feature
To:             	AUTOCAT at LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU

  The Library of Congress is pleased to announce the pilot of a new
feature, Web Authorities, that will provide access to LC authority data
via the Web.  LC will make this feature available on a trial basis
beginning July 1, 2002.  Name, subject, and title authority records,
(including series authority records) will be available to search, display,
and download at this address: http://authorities.loc.gov
  Due to the high volume of users in the LC Online Catalog, the Library
of Congress currently limits simultaneous access to the LC Database in
order to ensure system performance for public users and staff.  These
limits will also apply to users of the Web Authorities feature.  The LC
Online Catalog has proven so popular that it is often the case that all
connections are in use between 10:00am and 2:00pm (Eastern Time), Monday
through Friday.  We are aware how frustrating this is for our users and we
are working to increase the number of simultaneous external users.
  Not included with this release are Z39.50 functionality; the full MARC
21 character set for display and download of authority data; and the
approximately 2,300 subject subdivision records in the Library of Congress
Subject Heading file.  LC will collaborate with Endeavor Information
Systems, Inc., our ILS vendor, to add Z39.50 functionality and these other
features in a future release of Web Authorities.
  LC is eager to hear from users of this new feature and will consider
user feedback in evaluating the pilot.  Please send comments to:
ils at loc.gov

  This new feature will be demonstrated at the LC exhibit booth at the ALA
Annual Conference in Atlanta on Saturday, June 15, 1:30-2:00pm and again
on Sunday, June 16, 10:00-10:30am.

  The Library's Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS) will continue to
provide full MARC 21 authority records (new, updated, and deleted) through
the MARC Distribution Services, http://www.loc.gov/cds/mds.html , which
are used to update authority files in OCLC, RLIN, and many other vendor
services.  Also available from CDS is a new fee-based service called
Classification Web, http://www.loc.gov/cds/classweb.html , which provides
Web access to Library of Congress Classification and Library of Congress
Subject Headings.

Ann Della Porta
Assistant Coordinator
Integrated Library System Program Office
Library of Congress
Washington, DC  20540-4010
adel at loc.gov


Bernhard Eversberg
Universitaetsbibliothek, Postf. 3329, 
D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany
Tel.  +49 531 391-5026 , -5011 , FAX  -5836
e-mail  B.Eversberg at tu-bs.de