From your 1997-98 OCLC Users' Council Delegates: Benard Strong Marcia Talley [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] ph: 202-287-9463 ph: 410-293-6905 > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > > FOR MORE INFORMATION: > Nita Dean +1-614-761-5002 > [log in to unmask] > > OCLC SITESEARCH 4.0 SOFTWARE FIELD TESTS COMPLETED > > DUBLIN, Ohio, April 2, 1998--Six library systems have completed field > tests of the OCLC SiteSearch 4.0 suite of software, paving the way for > an April release that will offer libraries increased flexibility and > expandability in integrating and managing electronic resources. > > Beta testing of the OCLC SiteSearch 4.0 software began in November > with > GALILEO, the Georgia Library Learning Online system, which continued > testing through March. > > EDINA National Datacentre (located at Edinburgh University, in > Scotland), SABINET Online (an online service provider for South Africa > and southern African countries), University of Arizona, University of > California at Berkeley, and University of South Florida conducted OCLC > SiteSearch 4.0 field tests from January through March. > > "We've been very fortunate to have these prestigious institutions test > OCLC SiteSearch 4.0 and assist us in its development," said Taylor > Surface, manager, OCLC Distributed Systems. "The testing process > gives > participating libraries an opportunity to use the new software and to > provide suggestions on how we can improve it. We have received > excellent feedback from these institutions, and we hope that feedback > will help us to meet or surpass the high expectations of our users." > > As part of the version 4.0 release, OCLC SiteSearch server components > have been rewritten in the Java programming language, which will > increase libraries' ability to extend the functionality of the OCLC > SiteSearch software to create unique features specific to local needs. > Additionally, local customization of WebZ interface functionality will > be easier using Java. > > "Over the years, the developers of GALILEO have requested a number of > changes, improvements and enhancements to the OCLC SiteSearch suite of > software," said Brad Baxter, information analyst, Library Automation > Group, University of Georgia. "By adopting the Java language as a > foundation, OCLC has developed a new version of OCLC SiteSearch that > is > meeting all of our requests and exceeding our expectations by giving > us > programmers almost complete control over the systems we develop." > > During the field test, OCLC sought feedback from the libraries on such > topics as the design of the interface and ease of configuration and > customization, as well as the ease of upgrading to the new Java > architecture. > > "It's been fun learning and working in Java," said Janet Garey, head > of > UNIX servers and applications, Library Systems Office, University of > California at Berkeley. "The new software also opens up a lot of > possibilities since it is so much more flexible and expandable. It > really feels like we can do whatever we need to now." > > SiteSearch 4.0 will offer expanded features such as enhanced > multi-database searching and browsing, and the ability to search > non-Z39.50 resources. > > "One of the best things about the new version--that comes right out of > the box--is the cross-database search capabilities," said Ms. Garey. > "It took very little effort for us to set up a group of databases to > search in one pass. I think the library users will like this feature > a > lot." > > The OCLC SiteSearch 4.0 suite of software is scheduled to be released > in > late April. > > A prototype of the new interface can be viewed > at<http://cypress.dev.oclc.org:19500>. > For more information on the OCLC SiteSearch suite of software, visit > the > OCLC SiteSearch Web site <http://purl.oclc.org/SiteSearch/>. > > Developed in 1992 by the OCLC Office of Research and Special Projects, > the OCLC SiteSearch suite of software helps libraries integrate and > manage their electronic library collections. More than 250 libraries > use OCLC SiteSearch to build electronic collections, offer access to > global and local resources, and extend access to information when and > where their users need it. > > With the OCLC SiteSearch suite, users view library catalogs, local and > remote reference databases, image collections, full-text resources and > more using one interface and one search process from users' > desktops--whether in the library, home or office. OCLC SiteSearch > provides libraries with features such as Web access to Z39.50 > resources, > the ability to maintain the state of a user's interaction with > resources, and the capability to create unique local databases. > > OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership, > computer > library service and research organization whose computer network and > services link more 26,000 libraries in 64 countries and > territories <http://www.oclc.org/>. (RJM) > > -30-