EndNote connection files use an old library protocol called Z39.50 – it is little used now, offers poor search functionality and often does not return a full set of results.  I’ve felt for a couple of years that we should abandon it – we have a connection file to our catalogue called ‘U Canterbury.enz’ which seems little used.

I’ve been prompted to revisit this because Digital Services have identified our Z39.50 server as a security risk. Working with (the then ITS) a couple of years ago, we tried to improve its security but were unable to do so.  So we can’t fix this and the server will be shut down. Our EndNote connection file will no longer work from the end of August.

Out of interest I have just checked all other NZ Universities. None offer connection files to their catalogues – all just rely on same export, download and import method we recommend for Multisearch. Actually, none of them offer custom connection files to anything.

I also checked the 16 connectors we have on our N: drive, and that we offer as a downloadable package on our EndNote guide. None of these, except for Project Muse, still work.  So I’d like to remove this package from our EndNote guide. I have removed the EndNote guide page for Te Puna which used Z39.50 years ago but hasn’t been available since they moved their catalogue to OCLC.

Any concerns or questions, let me know.

Peter