Endorsement of the Bath Profile

The International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) announces its “Endorsement of the Bath Profile”.The Bath Profile is an international Z39.50 specification supporting library applications and resource discovery.Version 1.1 of the Profile, released in June 2000, with minor clarifications in February 2001, is endorsed as an ISO Internationally Recognized Profile (IRP).

In endorsing the Bath Profile, the ICOLC realizes that standards organizations, libraries, consortia, database vendors, and integrated library system vendors will need to work together to realize the potential of Z39.50.The international Bath Profile, if broadly adopted and incorporated into more detailed national, regional, provincial, and state agreements becomes a valuable part of the solution.

The complete Endorsement of the Bath Profile with endorsing library consortia and additional information about the ICOLC can be found at http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia .Support for the Bath Profile is already endorsed by 68 library consortia from around the world.More consortia endorsements will be added as received.

About the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC)

The International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) has been in existence since 1996.The Coalition is an international, informal group currently comprising over 160 library consortia in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa.The member consortia serve all types and sizes of libraries.ICOLC facilitates discussion among consortia on issues of common interest, and conducts two meetings per year in North America and one meeting per year in Europe.The organization is dedicated to keeping its members informed about electronic information resources, pricing practices of electronic publishers and vendors, and other issues of importance to consortium directors and governing boards.The Coalition also meets with the information provider community to discuss product offerings and issues of mutual concern.

More information about ICOLC can be found at http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia or contact Tom Sanville, Executive Director, OhioLINK, Suite 300, 2455 North Star Road, Columbus, OH 43221, Phone: 614-728-3600, ext. 322; tom@ohiolink.edu

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT: Endorsement of the Bath Profile, PLEASE CONTACT:

Tom Peters,Director, Center for Library Initiatives, Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC),302 East John Street, Suite 1705, Champaign, IL61820-5698, Phone: 217-244-9239; tpeters@cic.uiuc.edu