Web services: What they are and their importance for libraries

This paper introduces the main ideas and concepts underlying Web services, and their potential for a new generation of Internetbased distributed applications. A summary of the key standards that are the foundation of Web services technology and its underlying basic model is provided, exploring the potential for interoperability among independently managed systems. This is of special importance for libraries, along with the advantage of reducing the development and deployment costs of distributed applications, and of leveraging the value of IT and data legacy assets. The paper explains developments in Web services technology in the library field and underlines its significance for changes in the library information systems paradigm.