At 09:42 AM 03/28/2008, Nicholas Bennyhoff wrote:
>I have a question about Z39.50 record downloading.
>
>Our library system recently made the decision to close down Z39.50
>access to our MARC records from our catalog. The primary reason
>being that in our system, about half the libraries are a part of the
>ILS system, and pay for our cataloging costs through the payment of
>their consortium fees. There are other libraries in our system,
>which are not part of the automated consortium, who would like
>access to our MARC records via Z39.50, but as they do not pay the
>consortium fees, we felt we needed to protect those records for the
>members of the ILS consortium.
Is there a concern that libraries that use the ILS system would cease
to use it if they could get access to MARC records even if they
didn't use the ILS? Is there a concern that libraries that might
consider using the ILS would not do so as long as they could get
access to its MARC records? Do members think they can get income
from charging for Z39.50 downloads?
Since there are many other sources of free MARC records, it does not
seem likely that any of these questions could be answered in the affirmative.
The only other economic impact I can think of is the added load on
the system from non-members searching for records to download for
copy cataloging. Is that even enough of a system resource factor to
have been considered? If it isn't, I don't see the logic of the
decision to deny Z39.50 downloads in your case.
Why is sharing "not economically feasible?" From the facts as you
present them, this does not seem to be an economic issue. Is it,
perhaps, an emotional issue? I may be way off base here, but could
it be that there is some resentment against the system members that
don't contribute toward the use of the ILS, and that this led to the
decision to deny them access to the MARC record?
David
>Since shutting down the Z39.50 access, we've had inquiries from 2
>libraries - 1 out-of-state, and 1 in our system (but not part of the
>ILS)- about no longer being able to download our records.
>
>In theory, I'm absolutely in favor of allowing the access to our
>records, but I understand that the system feels that it is not
>economically feasible to share the records.
>
>I know this issue has been discussed before, but I'd be interested
>in others' perspectives on the economic issues surrounding Z39.50 access.
>
>----------------------------------------------
>Nicholas T. Bennyhoff
>CMC Cataloger
>Lewis and Clark Library System
>2765 Goshen Rd.
>Edwardsville, IL 62025
>(618)656-3216 ext.107
>nicholasbennyhoff_at_lcls.org
>
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________
>Sent via the WebMail system at mailman.lcls.org
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Received on Fri Mar 28 2008 - 10:47:37 EDT