The Kansas State University Library appears to be the first to receive invoices for their serials subscriptions electronically using EDIFACT, the international standard for electronic data interchange. The transfer occurred between Otto Harassowitz in Wiesbaden, Germany, and the Library's Endeavor system. The Library will soon begin using EDIFACT for all business transactions for both monographs and serials.
Similar online transfers can be made from any other subscription agency which supports EDIFACT to any automated library system which supports EDIFACT, and vice versa. While the majority of systems still conform to EDI, the U.S. standard, active EDIFACT development work is going on at most subscription agencies and automated library system vendors.
[Contact: Endeavor, 2200 E. Devon, suite 381, Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone 1-847-296-2200; FAX 1-847-296-5636]
