Ruby/ZOOM provides a Ruby binding to the Z40.50 Object-Orientation Model

 Ruby/ZOOM provides a Ruby binding to the Z39.50 Object-Orientation Model
 (ZOOM), an abstract object-oriented programming interface to a subset of
 the services specified by the Z39.50 standard, also known as the
 international standard ISO 23950.
 .
 Z39.50 is a client-server protocol for searching and retrieving
 information from remote computer databases. It is covered by ANSI/NISO
 standard Z39.50, and ISO standard 23950. The standard's maintenance
 agency is the Library of Congress.