This PPT contain details of Z39.50 and useful for Library Science students. This protocol used for information retrieval and in the end list of different types of protocols are given.

1. Topic: Z39.50: Information Retrieval Protocol
BY
SUNILKUMARSINGH KUMPAWAT
MASTER OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE SEM-1
DEPT. OF LIBRARYAND INFORMATION SCIENCE
MAHARAJA SAYAJIRAO UNIVERSITY OF BARODA

2. Content
i. Meaning
ii. Definition
iii. Features and Facilities
iv. Benefits
v. Functions
vi. How Z39.50 works?
vii.Versions
viii.Attributes
ix. Z39.50 Profiles
x. Z39.50 in Libraries and Information
centres
xi. Z39.50 Globally
xii.Advantages
xiii.Disadvantages
xiv.Current & Future
xv. List of Different types of Protocols
xvi.Conclusion
 References

3. Meaning
 Z39.50 is an international standard protocol used by networked computer systems for
information retrieval. It enables information seekers to search different systems on a network
or the Internet through the use of a single user interface.
 Parent Agency: ANSI/NISO: American National Standard Institute/National Information
Standards Organisation
Websites: www.ansi.org, www.niso.org
 Maintenance Agency: Library of Congress
Website: https://www.loc.gov/z3950/

4. Definition
ANSI/NISO Z39.50 – is a protocol which specifies data
structures and interchange rules that allow a client machine (as
called an “origin” in the standard) to search databases on a
server machine (called a “target” in the standard) and retrieve
records that are identified as a result of such a search.

5. Features & facilities
1) Initialization
2) Searching
3) Presenting record
4) Maintaining Multiple Search Results
5) Browsing
6) Sorting Of Results
7) Controlling Access
8) Controlling Resources
9) Extended Services
10) Termination Facility

6. Benefits
Seamless access
Resource sharing
Increased productivity

7. Functions
 Main function is to provide information's to user’s by information retrieval.
 The basic function of Z39.50 is to negotiate a connection between the client and
server on two systems, execute a search, and return the formatted results to the
user’s screen. In a Z39.50 session, the Z39.50 client software that initiates a
request for the user is known as the Origin.
 The Z39.50 server software system that responds to the Origin’s request is called
the Target.

8. How Z39.50 works?

9. Versions
1. Version 1 was released on 1988 which was a standard way to provide bibliographic details i.e.
core services
2. Version 2 formalized the structure of information to be exchanged based on the ISO standard
data description language and encoding rules. Released on 1992
3. Version 3 the current version of the standard, builds on and includes version 2. Version 3 is
extremely powerful in its support for simple to highly complex applications. The current
version of the Z39.50 standard is formally known as ANSI/ NISO Z39.50-1995, Information
Retrieval—Application service definition and protocol specification.
4. Version 4 was released on 2003.

10. Attributes
Domain Specific Attributes
 Bib-1 - Bibliographic
 GILS - Government information locator service
 STAS - Scientific and technical
 DL - Digital library collections
 CIMI - Computer Interchange of Museum
Information profile.
 GEO - Digital geospatial metadata, etc.
Facility Specific Attributes
 CCL-1 - Common command language,
 Exp-1 - For use with an explain database,
 Ext-1 - for use with an extended service database.

11. Bib-1 - Bibliographic
1) Use attributes
2) Relation attributes
3) Truncation attributes
4) Completeness attributes
5) Position attributes
6) Structure attributes

12. Z93.50 Profile
A profile is a detailed specification of Z39.50 features and functions that an implementation will
support, improving interoperability by;
 Assisting customers in specifying requirements for Z39.50 products,
 Defining a core set of Z39.50 features to assist vendors in configuring their products,
 Increasing the market for Z39.50 products,
 Improving users’ success in information retrieval, and
 Leveraging local investment in Z39.50 by providing global access to resources.

13. Advantages & Examples
 It increases the reliability of results as a profile will define the attributes and attribute
combinations, which are supported by server.
 Profile will help in standardising the server configuration.
 Examples:
1. GILS profile: Government Information Locator Service
2. ATS profile: The Author-Title-Subject
3. WAIS profile: The Wide Area Information Server
4. CIMI profile: Computer Interchange of Museum Information profile.
5. DL profile: Digital Library Profile.
6. CIP profile: Catalogue Interoperability Protocol profile.
7. ZSTARTS profile: a Z39.50 profile for STARTS (Stanford Protocol for Internet Search and
Retrieval).

14. Z39.50 in Libraries And Information
centers
OPACS
Catalogues/Bibliographies
Union Catalogues
Inter Library Loan (ILL)
Selective Dissemination of Information
Web Searching and Filtering

15. Z-39.50 Globally
 Z39.50 is recognized worldwide as the international standard for networked information
search and retrieval. Internationally, many library software vendors, bibliographic
utilities, commercial sector, and government organizations have adopted Z39.50
functionality in their products. The broad range of accessible information includes;
 Bibliographic data
 Government information
 Scientific and technical data
 Geospatial data
 Thesauri and other taxonomies
 Digital library collections
 Arts and humanities data
 Museum information

16. Advantages
 Any database that is Z39.50-enabled may be searched by using a single search interface, a
single set of search commands and search strategies.
 Allows intersystem searching and record transfer irrespective of different software and
hardware.
 Multi-database searching using single search interface.
 Virtual union catalogue--a combined catalogue of several libraries on diverse systems (without
merging the catalogues) is possible.
 Interlibrary loans (ILL) process will be made easier.
 Records can be displayed in any flavour of MARC
 CD-ROM databases from various vendors could be searched with a single interface.
 The SDI or selective dissemination of information service could be set to run a saved search in
the catalogues of many different libraries regularly and automatically with results being sent to
the user by fax or e-mail.

17. Disadvantages
 Very complex.
 Levels of services supported within and between the particular
implementation depend on Z-client/Z-server and host library management
system.
 The differences between the facilities on Z-client and Z-server lead to poor
output.
 Multi-database searching leads to slow response time and information
overload.

18. Z39.50: current & Future
 ZING is the umbrella name that has been given to the whole set of experiments going on that
are attempting to look at what possible next generation versions of Z39.50.
 “ZING, "Z39.50-International: Next Generation", refers to a number of initiatives by Z39.50
implementors looking at evolving Z39.50 to a more mainstream protocol attractive to
information providers, developers, vendors, and users.
 Currently, there are experiments going on under the general ZING umbrella
 One ZING experiment, begun in the summer of 2001, is called the Search/Retrieve Web
Service (SRW). This approach uses standard web technologies including Extensible Mark-up
Language (XML), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Simple Object Application Protocol
(SOAP), and Web Service Description Language (WSDL) to create a lightweight information
retrieval protocol that fits in the context of web services.
 SRW retains several key Z39.50 concepts such as abstract access points using Z39.50 attribute
sets within a simple query structure called an experimental Common Query Language (CQL).
 ZOOM, the Z39.50 Object Oriented Model, is a separate ZING initiative. ZOOM is developing
specifications for application programming interfaces (API) to build any kind of Z39.50 client
or client-based service. It uses Perl, c++, java.

20. Conclusion
Z39.50 is protocol that is used for information retrieval from
various libraries, information centres, data centres, museums, and
to locate exact information from and to retrieve for the particular
users needs. The Z39.50 protocol not only rescues a librarian
from learning different search interfaces for different databases,
it also helps the librarian to improve resource sharing among
libraries by virtual union catalogue and ILL.

22. References
1. NISO Press. (2015, May 7). ANSI/NISO Z39.50-2003 (S2014) Information Retrieval: Application Service Definition &
Protocol Specification | NISO website. Niso.org. https://www.niso.org/publications/ansiniso-z3950-2003-s2014. Retrieved on
17th Dec. 2020
2. Protocols Z39.50 and libraries. (2015). Http://Eprints.Rclis.Org. http://eprints.rclis.org/8777/1/Z39.50_and_libraries.pdf
retrieved on 18th Dec. 2020
3. Meon, W. E. (2018). Conference on Bibliographic Control in the New Millennium (Library of Congress). Loc.Gov.
https://www.loc.gov/catdir/bibcontrol/moen_paper.html, Retrieved on 18th Jan. 2020.
4. Aruna, A. (2001). Z39.50: An information Retrieval Protocol. DESIDOC Bulletin of Information Technology, 21(6), 30–36.
https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.21.6.3548, Retrieved on 21st Jan. 2021.
5. Router-switch. (2020). types of network protocols. Www.Router-Switch.Com. https://www.router-switch.com/faq/types-of-
network-protocols.html retrieved on 18th Dec. 2020