We are excited to announce that the next generation search protocol for web-based searches, Search/Retrieve via URL (SRU), is now available in the latest version of Libero.
SRU, initially published by the Library of Congress, is a further development of the Z39.50 protocol.
SRU is a superior replacement and combines several Z39.50 features, most notably the search, present, sort and scan services. The main difference between SRU and Z39.50 is the ease and simplicity of managing the communication via web services rather than complicated protocols. It has capabilities that Z39.50 cannot easily achieve, like searching for catalogue records across multiple fields, reviewing records prior to download and the ability to sort results prior to receiving the results list. Additionally, SRU has better support for records in Arabic, Hebrew and Greek.
SRU facilitates and accelerates metasearch and has become the preferred search tool of many libraries, especially in Europe.
With SRU, libraries can systematically search organisations databases such as the Library of Congress or the German National Library and subsequently import metadata into their own environment. Any library with a system that supports SRU can use this technology, enabling two-way communication with sites and access to a wide range of free resources.
Would you like to learn how to use SRU in your Libero system? Our Customer Success team has prepared an article in the Libero Exchange Portal on this topic in which they have outlined in detail how to set up an SRU connection. Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team.