Library Management

Z39.50 Server Directory for Koha Copy Cataloging

Comprehensive directory of Z39.50 servers you can add to Koha for efficient copy cataloging from libraries worldwide.

June 20, 2021 6 min read

This comprehensive directory lists Z39.50 servers you can add to your Koha installation for copy cataloging. All servers listed are publicly accessible and provide MARC records.

Major Library Databases

Library of Congress

The most comprehensive source for bibliographic records in North America.

Name: Library of Congress
Hostname: lx2.loc.gov
Port: 210
Database: LCDB
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: MARC-8
Authentication: None (public access)
Coverage: 18+ million bibliographic records

Best For: General cataloging, authority records, comprehensive coverage

WorldCat (OCLC)

The world’s largest bibliographic database with records from libraries globally.

Name: WorldCat
Hostname: zcat.oclc.org
Port: 210
Database: OLUCWorldCat
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Authentication: May require OCLC membership
Coverage: 500+ million records

Best For: International materials, comprehensive coverage, rare materials

Note: Full access may require OCLC membership. Check with your library consortium.

National Libraries

British Library

Name: British Library
Hostname: z3950cat.bl.uk
Port: 9909
Database: BLAC
Syntax: USMARC
Encoding: MARC-8
Coverage: 14+ million records

Best For: UK publications, British authors, European materials

National Library of Australia

Name: National Library of Australia
Hostname: z3950.nla.gov.au
Port: 7090
Database: Voyager
Syntax: USMARC
Encoding: MARC-8
Coverage: Australian and Pacific publications

Best For: Australian materials, Pacific region publications

Library and Archives Canada

Name: Library and Archives Canada
Hostname: amicus.collectionscanada.gc.ca
Port: 210
Database: NLC
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Canadian publications

Best For: Canadian materials, bilingual records (English/French)

National Library of Germany (DNB)

Name: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Hostname: z3950.dnb.de
Port: 210
Database: dnb
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: German-language publications

Best For: German publications, European materials

Academic Library Networks

Yale University Library

Name: Yale University
Hostname: z3950.library.yale.edu
Port: 7090
Database: Voyager
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Academic materials, rare books

Best For: Academic materials, special collections

Harvard University Library

Name: Harvard Library
Hostname: hlz39.harvard.edu
Port: 210
Database: hollis
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Extensive academic collection

Best For: Academic and research materials

MIT Libraries

Name: MIT Libraries
Hostname: library.mit.edu
Port: 9909
Database: MITILS
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Science and technology focus

Best For: Technical materials, scientific publications

University of California

Name: UC System Melvyl
Hostname: z3950.cdlib.org
Port: 210
Database: MELVYL
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Multi-campus UC system

Best For: Academic materials, California publications

Specialized Databases

OCLC FirstSearch

Name: OCLC FirstSearch
Hostname: newfirstsearch.oclc.org
Port: 210
Database: WorldCat
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Authentication: Required (subscription)

Best For: Academic research, comprehensive coverage

CARLweb

Name: CARLweb
Hostname: carlweb.clo.uottawa.ca
Port: 210
Database: UNICORN
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Canadian academic libraries

Best For: Canadian academic materials

COPAC (UK/Ireland Academic Libraries)

Name: COPAC
Hostname: copac.jisc.ac.uk
Port: 210
Database: COPAC
Syntax: USMARC
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: UK and Irish academic libraries

Best For: UK academic materials, research publications

Government Libraries

National Agricultural Library (NAL)

Name: USDA National Agricultural Library
Hostname: agricola.nal.usda.gov
Port: 7090
Database: Voyager
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Agricultural and biological sciences

Best For: Agriculture, biology, food science

National Library of Medicine

Name: NLM
Hostname: locatorplus.gov
Port: 210
Database: LCDB
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: MARC-8
Coverage: Medical and health sciences

Best For: Medical materials, health sciences

Public Library Systems

New York Public Library

Name: NYPL
Hostname: catalog.nypl.org
Port: 210
Database: INNOPAC
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: MARC-8
Coverage: General collection, special collections

Best For: General materials, NYC-specific content

Los Angeles Public Library

Name: LAPL
Hostname: catalog.lapl.org
Port: 2200
Database: LAPL
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: General public library collection

Best For: Popular materials, multilingual resources

International Resources

National Diet Library (Japan)

Name: NDL Japan
Hostname: z3950.ndl.go.jp
Port: 210
Database: OPAC
Syntax: MARC21
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: Japanese publications

Best For: Japanese materials, East Asian publications

Bibliothèque nationale de France

Name: BnF
Hostname: z3950.bnf.fr
Port: 2100
Database: BNF-SECO
Syntax: UNIMARC
Encoding: UTF-8
Coverage: French publications

Best For: French materials, European publications

Setting Up Z39.50 Servers in Koha

For detailed setup instructions, see our guide: How to Add Z39.50 Servers in Koha

Quick Setup Steps

Navigate to Administration → Z39.50/SRU servers
Click New Z39.50 server
Enter server details from the directory above
Save and test the connection

Testing Your Configuration

After adding servers:

Go to Cataloging → New record
Click New from Z39.50/SRU
Search using ISBN or title
Verify results appear

Best Practices

Server Priority

Configure servers in this priority order:

Library of Congress - Most authoritative
National libraries - Regional authority
Academic networks - Scholarly materials
Specialized databases - Subject-specific

Search Strategy

For best results:

Start with ISBN - Most accurate identifier
Try multiple servers - Compare quality
Check for updates - Authority records change
Verify data - Always review before importing

Maintenance

Test quarterly - Servers change configurations
Remove inactive - Clean up non-responsive servers
Update settings - Keep current with server changes
Document changes - Note when servers are added/removed

Troubleshooting

For a full diagnostic guide covering all common Z39.50 errors — connection timeouts, authentication failures, encoding problems, no results, and more — see:

Z39.50 Connection Troubleshooting Guide

Quick reference for the most common issues:

Problem	Most Likely Cause	First Thing to Try
Server won’t connect	Wrong hostname or port	Double-check the details listed above
Authentication error	Missing credentials	Check if server requires institutional membership
No results returned	Syntax or encoding mismatch	Verify MARC21 vs UNIMARC setting matches the server
Results look wrong	Character encoding issue	Change encoding to UTF-8 or MARC-8 as appropriate
Server worked before, now doesn’t	Server config changed	Recheck details with the host institution

Additional Resources

How to Add Z39.50 Servers in Koha — Step-by-step setup guide
Z39.50 Connection Troubleshooting — Comprehensive diagnostic guide
Copy Cataloging Workflow — Advanced Guide — Maximize cataloging efficiency
What is Z39.50?
MARC Record Basics
Z39.50 Protocol Specification

Need Help?

Our cataloging team can:

Configure Z39.50 servers for your installation
Troubleshoot connection issues
Set up batch cataloging workflows
Train staff on copy cataloging

Last Updated: May 2026

Note: Server configurations may change. Always verify current settings with the host institution. If you discover outdated information, please let us know.

Next Steps

After Deployment

Post-Installation Setup

Recommended

Security Best Practices

Keep It Running

Monitoring & Maintenance

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