The National Agricultural Library Digital Repository Provides Convenient Access to Full Text of Selected United States Department of Agriculture Publications

May 1, 2006 – London - ZyLAB, an innovative developer of Information Access Solutions, and Systems Integration Group, today announcedthat The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has launched the NAL Digital Repository (NALDR) using ZyLAB’s ZyIMAGE system to provide access to the full text of selected United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) publications.  The new site is available at: http://naldr.nal.usda.gov

“ZyLAB worked with us to create a system that exceeded our original vision and expectations.  They built a system that integrated into our existing architecture, linking our catalog, AGRICOLA to the full text in the repository, and empowering users to find information they need rapidly,” said Carol Ditzler, Head of the Collection Services Branch.  “It is important that USDA publications are placed in a repository that is secure and in an open format so that future generations can access this information.  Online access to selected USDA publications is now just a click away!”

The NALDR utilizes the ZyIMAGE system, which includes optical character recognition processing, to convert images into searchable text and a Web interface to display and print/download documents.  ZyLAB’s ZyIMAGE system powers the NALDR by offering several features that facilitate searching and access.  These include:

• The scanned publications have been processed so that the text is fully searchable. Search keywords are highlighted wherever they are found in the full text display.
• Users can search for information via a basic search, advanced search, publications, or table of contents.  Information and examples of how each of these search criteria work is at: http://naldr.nal.usda.gov/NALWeb/Help.htm#agricola
• The image files are compressed for quick loading to the Web.  The first page loads and then the user has the option to view the complete publication or article.
• There is a printing/downloading option that converts the images to the commonly used Portable Document Format (PDF).

“With ZyLAB's efficient search and retrieval capability and nonproprietary approach to file management, I was confident that NAL's functional requirements would be met and that its long-term interests would be protected,” said Dan Pence, Vice President, Document and Imaging Services, Systems Integration Group.    “NAL's subsequent success in establishing its digital repository is a reflection of the dedicated teamwork and solid product provided by ZyLAB on this project.”

The NALDR contains a wide variety of publications that have been digitized by NAL.  One example is the Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture, which was published from 1864 to 1992.  The Yearbook provides statistical information and comprehensive surveys of particular subjects important to agriculture and in its later years covered more popular topics of interest to both urban and rural audiences. 

The volumes for 1894 through 1914 are currently available in the repository and the remaining volumes will be added later in 2006.  Publications are added on an ongoing basis--check the Spotlights section of the home page for information on new additions.

“It is always exciting to be part of an initiative that improves the way historical information is made available to the public, such as the NALDR,” said Dr. Johannes Scholtes, president of ZyLAB North America LLC.  “This is the second major government information repository we have helped launch in the last eight months.  ZyLAB offers Federal organizations with a solution that benefits both internal and external users.”

About ZyLAB
For 25 years, ZyLAB has provided commercial and government organisations around the world with award-winning information access solutions. TheZyIMAGEInformation Access Platform is a complete XML-based system that provides a secure foundation for the long-term archiving, management and retrieval of information, from digitisedpaper documents, to electronic files, to e-mail and attachments, to multimedia. 

With over 7,500 installations and 350,000 users worldwide, ZyLAB has a wealth of experience and knowledge across a variety of industries and business applications. ZyIMAGE is a critical business tool of hundreds of banks, legal firms and insurance and financial services companies, including Coutts, Rabobank, Bank of Ireland, Ecclesiastical Insurance, Digby Brown and the forensic accounting departments of KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. ZyIMAGE is also used by many UK public-sector organisations, such as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Metropolitan Police, Serious Fraud Office and the University Hospital of Wales. Leading manufacturing and service companies which rely on ZyIMAGE include BMW, Moy Park, Radisson Edwardian Hotels, BBC, Shering-Plough, Haden Young and Balfour Beatty, to name just a few. For more information visit: www.zylab.co.uk