SilverPlatter Announces General Release of its Electronic Reference Library
(ERL) Technology

December 7, 1994 -- ERL - a technological framework for a Worldwide Library
enabling access from multiple software and hardware platforms,
opportunities for collaboration, and new publishing possibilities

ERL (Electronic Reference Library) is SilverPlatter's technology for
enabling Wide Area Network access to all major databases. Utilizing an
open systems design, ERL offers librarians the ability to create an
electronic library by collecting, organizing and distributing increasing
amounts of electronic information across institutional and
cross-consortium networks, including the Internet, via TCP/IP. Based on
client/server architecture, ERL Technology has two software components:
the ERL Retrieval Clients (user interface) and the ERL Server Software
(search engine). SilverPlatter's Data eXchange Protocol (DXP) standardizes
the communication between ERL clients and servers.

Server Software for SCO UNIX and Solaris

SilverPlatter's first release of ERL Server software supports a SCO UNIX
server on an Intel platform. This server software has been installed at
over 40 customer sites worldwide for several months and is now in general
release.

SilverPlatter has also developed ERL Server software for a Sun Solaris
server for SPARC. The Solaris Server software has undergone extensive
testing and is already in use at 15 sites worldwide. SilverPlatter is
releasing the Solaris ERL Server software to additional sites over the
coming months.

Retrieval Clients for Multiple Platforms

SilverPlatter's ERL Retrieval Clients (user interfaces) offer the same
functionality as their standalone SPIRS software. Currently, clients are
available for Windows, DOS and Macintosh platforms. UNIX-SPIRS, a UNIX
character-based client which will support VT-100 terminals as well as
others, terminal emulation packages and telnet access, will be available
to interested sites in the coming months.

Sharing Technology

SilverPlatter has designed ERL Technology so that software and OPAC vendors
can write clients or develop gateways from existing clients to access
ERL-compliant databases. By sharing its technology, SilverPlatter is
working with others in the industry to build a Worldwide Library with ERL
as the technological foundation. Collaboration between SilverPlatter and
Ameritech Library Systems, Academic Division (formerly NOTIS Systems) has
resulted in the first example of a Z39.50 third-party client to access
ERL-compliant databases. From this collaboration, the next release of
SilverPlatter's ERL Server software will enable Z39.50 clients to display
MARC-formatted records.

Increasing Publishing Opportunities

In addition to expanding the access channels with ERL technology,
SilverPlatter, in working with information providers, is increasing the
electronic information collection that is ERL-compliant. SilverPlatter
already offers over 200 ERL-compliant databases, and expects to
dramatically increase this collection by extending publishing options
which enable others to publish ERL-compliant data on their own. By
providing tools, technology and training, opportunities for publishing
data electronically will be made available not only to traditional
publishers, but also to those who previously were unable to take advantage
of it. SilverPlatter will formally introduce this program in 1995.

For further information about ERL, contact:

SilverPlatter Information, Inc.
100 River Ridge Drive
Norwood, MA 02062-5043
Tel: 1-800-343-0064 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-617-769-2599
Fax: 1-617-769-8763
Internet: info@silverplatter.com

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