Fretwell-Downing, Inc. and
Minnesota's statewide virtual library
provide electronic access to a multitude of resources

By partnering with Fretwell-Downing, Inc., Minnesota's statewide virtual library has connected the online catalogs of 20 library systems with selected commercial databases. Users of the virtual library, called the Minnesota Library Information Network (MnLINK), can now simultaneously search the State's resources and identify the holding libraries through a single source of information. 

Ken Behringer, the MnLINK Executive Director, explains why both Fretwell-Downing's ZPORTAL and VDX software products were selected for this online catalog unification process. "The ZPORTAL software runs the web-based linking service while the VDX software helps the libraries manage their interlibrary loan activity, which we anticipate will expand dramatically in this new environment." Another key feature offered by the VDX software, according to Behringer, is its ability to allow users to initiate interlibrary loan procedures throughout the state.

"Fretwell-Downing, Inc. won this job," Behringer said, "because we were impressed by their effort to understand the MnLINK structure and the objectives of the project. This enabled them to assist us in evaluating how their ZPORTAL and VDX software could be best implemented and further developed to meet the specific needs of our libraries and their users.  Fretwell Downing, Inc. has also demonstrated its commitment to interlibrary loan software based upon existing and developing national and international standards." 

The MnLINK provides Minnesota residents with easy access to all the resources contained in the libraries for the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and the Minnesota State Agencies. Other participants include several private colleges, public libraries, K-12 school libraries, and special libraries.

For more than ten years, Fretwell-Downing, Inc. (FD Inc.) has been a global leader in the evolution of digital libraries. Delivering unmatched service and flexibility, FD Inc. offers libraries a seamless choice of standards-based solutions. Building toward a solid vision of a "library without walls," FD Inc. boasts the unique ability to integrate with disparate electronic library systems, as well as creating and managing entirely new digital systems.