Apologies for cross-posting.

     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: [log in to unmask]

     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