(CLR) has awarded The Research Libraries Group (RLG) a grant of $394,886 for the next phase of the Linked Systems Project (LSP), called the "Standard Network Interconnection" (SNI).
The work to be performed will cover the design, development and implementation of a standardized telecommunications link among the systems at RIG, the Washington library Network (WLN) and the Library of Congress (LC).
Upon implementation of the SNI, users of either WLN or RLGs on-line bibliographic system RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network), and the Library of Congress will be able to access bibliographic resources of the other systems. The long-range implication of use of the SNI is that any computer system will be able to connect with any other computer system to create a nationwide bibliographic network.
The Linked Systems Project includes the ongoing work of the Linked Authority Systems Project (LASP), also funded by CLR, which has concentrated on the sharing of authority records. By early 1983, with the completion of the Standard Network Interconnection, the three linked systems will have a network in place upon which the cooperative creation and maintenance of consistent data bases, search and retrieval among systems, and exchange of freeform messages can be implemented. The existence of the link will allow, in addition to the exchange of authority data, the sharing of full catalog records, location and holdings data, and even the transmittal of interlibrary loan requests.
[Contact: RLG, Jordan Quadrangle, Stanford, CA 94305. (415) 328-0920.]
