The Electronic Journals Library (EZB): An international internet service with features for the integration into the scientific information environment

Abstract

The Electronic Journals Library - in German called the Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek, abbreviated to EZB - is a cooperative library service for the effective use of scholarly and academic e-journals. The EZB has been developed and managed by the University Library Regensburg in Germany since 1997. The Regensburg University Library provides the technical and organizational infrastructure of the EZB and is responsible for further developments of this service. Currently the EZB is used by more than 570 libraries in Germany and nine other European countries.

One of the most important developments is the possibility to connect the EZB with other scientific information systems. There are different ways to integrate the EZB into other information portals. One option is the XML interface provided by the EZB. Using the XML interface, the EZB can be integrated as a module for the comfortable use of e-journals within other information portals.