Protocol Z39.50 and Libraries

Z39.50 is a standard for client/server architecture in which a search engine and interface are divided into independent parts. If both the client and server conform to the standard then the Z39.50 client can search any brand of Z39.50 server. Widely dispersed databases on different native systems can be searched with the same local client or interface. It does not address the issue of what this interface should look like or how it should behave it is up to the user to choose an interface. The linkage of library sytems to the internet and the maturation of the Z39.50 protocol offered the prospect of accessing an ever-increasing array of bibliographic databases and full-text databases through the local automated system