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The emergence of Open Systems Interconnection protocols, as specified within the U.S. Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile (GOSIP) Federal Information Processing Standard (FTPS), provides both an opportunity for, and a means of achieving, interoperability within multi‐vendor networks. The GOSIP can easily benefit inexperienced users, yet provides the flexibility to serve more sophisticated users. The standard mandates specifications that will be met by a multitude of vendor products, with initial offerings already available. While meeting a useful set of initial networking needs, the FTPS will evolve to include new applications, improvements to the initial applications, new network technologies, and major new functions. GOSIP will permit government agencies to gain better control over their computer network procurements, accruing greater and greater cost savings as the number of government computer networks increases.

The need for standards allowing computer‐to‐computer communication, and examples of technical issues are discussed. The framework of the Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model, consisting of seven layers, each performing a distinct and defined function, is explained and illustrated. Sidebars feature: 1) public data networks and X.25, 2) OSI standards, and 3) the OSI layer functions. A glossary is included.

This special “theme” issue of Library Hi Tech is devoted to Open Systems Interconnection. The editor is Ray Denenberg, of the Library of Congress. Eleven articles cover the basic OSI platform, applications, support areas, and implementation. The basic OSI platform consists of protocols for the seven layers, including support for file transfer and message handling. Three articles describe network applications and the corresponding OSI services and protocols. “Information Retrieval as a Network Application” describes the ANSI Z39.50 protocol. Another article describes the interlibrary loan protocol, which incorporates the sequences of messages that occur in distributed interlibrary loan transactions. An article about electronic data interchange describes the edi conceptual model being developed by ISO, and its relationship to OSI. Network management and directory services are two of the most important OSI support areas; individual articles cover these two topics. Implementation topics include profiles, testing, and products.

The Linked Systems Project, directed toward implementing computer‐to‐computer communications, consists of two major program components. One component is the development of the Standard Network Interconnection. The other is the creation of a practical application —Authorities Implementation—which was discussed in the preceding article. This discussion of the Linked Systems Project covers the design and implementation of the Standard Network Interconnection. The article on “Open Systems Interconnection” in Library Hi Tech, No. 9, should be read as an introduction to this topic (and article).

Humans have had to communicate with computers since the latter were invented but now it is also becoming important for the computers to be able to talk to each other. One way of providing these computer to computer links is to follow the developing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) standards. Several organizations in North America have been developing initial links between their systems using these standards. This development has the general title of the Linked Systems Project (LSP).

The Linked Systems project (LSP) is directed towards implementing computer‐to‐computer communications among its participants. The original three participants are the Library of Congress (LC), the Research Libraries Group (RLG), and the Western Library Network (WLN, formerly the Washington Library Network). The project now has a fourth participant, the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). LSP consists of two major components. The first component, Authorities Implementation, is described in Library Hi Tech issue 10 (page 61). The second component, the Standard Network Interconnection (SNI), is the specification of the LSP protocols, and the implementation of these protocols on the participant systems. Protocol specification was a joint effort of the original three participants (LC, RLG, and WLN) and was described in Library Hi Tech issue 10 (page 71). Implementation, however, has consisted of individual efforts of the (now) four participants. This four‐part report focuses on these individual implementation efforts.

This article provides a broad overview of telecommunications and network‐related technologies. Topics covered include identification and review of network elements, analog and digital signals, synchronous and asynchronous transmission formats, transmission media and equipment, transmission techniques and characteristics, multiplexing, network types, access technologies, network architectures and topologies, local‐area network technologies and attributes, protocols and protocol issues, gateways, internetworking, local networking alternatives, equipment certification, and various aspects of network management. It is intended to provide the practicing professional in the field of library and information science with a broad, up‐to‐date technical review that might serve to support and facilitate further investigation of current developments in networks and networking. Although the broad range of topics is not treated in depth, numerous references are provided for further investigation.

Vendors who are implementing the Standard Network Interconnection (SNI) protocols for computer to computer communications can now test their implementation against the LSP/SNI Test Facility, which has been developed by the Library of Congress. The facility is intended to verify the correct functioning of the SNI protocols for the Open System Interconnection (OSI) layers. The development and use of the Test Facility are discussed.

MARC format is a well‐established syntax for transmitting bibliographic records between heterogeneous computer systems. On the other hand, relational databases are the leading technology for the design of the computer systems. Unfortunately, there seem to be some incompatibilities between the two. A solution is presented here, in accordance with the more recent standards about Open System Interconnection (OSI) and based on a real experience in an active library computer system.

The Directory (CCITT X.500/ISO 9594) is an international standard, which was ratified jointly by ISO and CCITT in December 1988. The standard describes the structure and services of a global, logically centralized but physically distributed, electronic network directory that will support the evolving telecommunications environment. Directory pilot projects are underway in both North America and Europe and commercial implementations of the Directory standard are becoming increasingly available. As the bibliographic community becomes more dependent on the use of networks, it is essential that library professionals understand the capabilities of this powerful new standard.