Search/Retrieve Web Service

Ralph LeVan's SRW/SRU Open Source database interface is now available. It includes support for DSpace's Lucene implementation and OCLC's Pears and Newton databases. An open source product, it is released for download.

LC describes SRW/U as:

SRW is the "Search/Retrieve Web Service" protocol, which aims to integrate access to various networked resources, and to promote interoperability between distributed databases, by providing a common utilization framework. SRW is a web-service-based protocol whose underpinnings are formed by bringing together more than 20 years experience from the collective implementers of the Z39.50 Information Retrieval protocol with recent developments in the web technologies arena.

Looks like this is related to ZING, Z39.50 International, Next Generation.