Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Wed, 9 Sep 1992 15:40:57 CDT
From:         Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Library Automation--Comments & Questions

5 Messages, 135 Lines
1) LAN Service
2) Personal Book Database
3) Bibliographic Software-Response
4) Bibliographic References Over Internet-Response
5) Software for MARC

Please respond directly to the authors, not PACS-L.  Thanks, Dana
*-----

From:         GRFG117@TWNMOE10
RE:           LAN Service

I am interested in the experiences or problems any library
has encountered with implementing a flysheet twin-cpu system
for local area network to exercise regular LAN service for
office work as well as to provide users the online information
resources from the net and cd-rom LAN. We are wondering if
this arrangement will really improve the management of our
existing cd-rom LAN system and enhance the other regular LAN
functions by using a server combining a new twin-cpu system.
Any feedback on this is welcome and greatly appreciated.
*-----

From:         "Harry M. Kriz" <KRIZ@VTVM1>
Subject:      Personal book database

I'm looking for suggestions for a database package for IBM-compatible
computers to handle a book collector's personal library of about 1,000 books.
I use askSam myself, but the person who asked me has not used
databases before, and I'm leary of recommending such a quirky package
despite its power. An inexpensive package written specifically for
a collector would be ideal. Otherwise, we'll probably fall back
on one of the flat-file packages such as PC-File. Sophisticated
searching is not a requirement. The usual fields for a citation,
along with fields for source of the purchase, general class in
which the collector groups his books, and some notes about the book
will be adequate.

Please send comments directly me. I'll acknowledge all suggestions
if I'm not totally swamped. Also, I'll summarize for the list
if appropriate, without directly quoting anyone.

Thanks very much.

Harry M. Kriz            KRIZ@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU  PHONE: (703)231-7052
Automation Librarian     University Libraries
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Blacksburg, VA, 24061-0434
*-----

From:         Will Stuivenga <VSGA1001@SMUVM1>
Subject:      Re: Re2: Library Automation

On Fri, 4 Sep 1992 09:53:28 CDT Research SW Design, D Goldman,PRT
in a discussion of bibliographic software (Papyrus, BibTex, etc.) said:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Allowing separate databases in order to correlate multiple versions of an
>author's name, multiple versions of a conference title, etc is a good idea. As
>you point out, though, this might not be a terribly useful addition right now
>if each end-user has to enter this information her/himself.
>
I'm sure you must be aware that library OPACs and in fact, the OCLC OLUC
(Online Union Catalog) provide this through means of what is called an
authority file.  Each unique individual or other named entity has a record
which lists the established form of the name, plus added fields listing
known variants.  (This is especially useful when dealing with transliterated
names from languages using other alphabets, e.g. Russian, Chinese, etc.).
When one searches the database using one of these listed alternate forms,
one is directed to the correct form of the name.  The authority record may
also contain additional information such as a citation to the source of the
established form, such as a standard biographical source, or a published
work by the individual.  For individuals with identical names, birth and
death (when appropriate) dates are used to distinguish between them.

Will Stuivenga <VSGA1001@SMUVM1> or <VSGA1001@VM.CIS.SMU.EDU>
Database Services Reference Librarian, Fondren Library
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX  75275
(214) 692-3666  fax ((214) 360-0609
*-----

From: (Dirk Herr-Hoyman) <dhoyman@fammed.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Library Automation--Comments & Questions

>> >I would also emphasize that a bibliographic database is most useful
>> >when it can be directly used to incorporate citation in documents,
>> >which is precisely the purpose of the BibTex/Refer format. However,
>> >they become unmanageable when the database becomes large.
>>
>  The best solution I see is a global bibliographic database service,
>that would be maintained and kept correct with the help of all users.
>and would contain all the bibliographic info. All of it preferably on
>internet.
>
While not addressing all of the concerns in this line of discussion, let me
point out something relevant here.  It is possible to make bibliographic
references available over the Internet via WAIS.  This involves creating
the references in refer format, which fits into this discussion thread.

I have created such a WAIS database.  It started with references entered
into Endnote on a Macintosh.  Then, I exported these in the refer format
(which Endnote can import/export) and moved the file to my WAIS server, a
Sun.  The WAIS package on the Sun can index the refer format files
directly.  The entire process took just a few minutes for 2000 entries.

If anyone wishes to query this WAIS database, here are the details:

WAIS server: sparky.fammed.wisc.edu
WAIS port: 210
WAIS database: stats

Try doing a query with these keywords: missing multivariate.

The only bad thing is that you must retrive the entries one at a time.

Dirk Herr-Hoyman                              |      Are we
University of Wisconsin-Madison               |      kinder and gentler
Dept. of Family Medicine and Practice         |      yet?
dhoyman@fammed.wisc.edu                       |
(608) 262-6368   voice                        |
(608) 263-5813   fax                          |
*-----

From:         Priscilla Caplan <COTTON@HARVARDA>
Subject:      software for MARC

I'm posting this question for Marc van der Noordaa, who is with the
RARE Secretariat in Amsterdam.  Please respond to him directly, at
noordaa@rare.nl.  Thanks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Does anyone know of software available for Mac or DOS microcomputers
which generates MARC-format-templates and which as basic database
facilities like sorting, searching and browsing, and which also has
the standard options (by a report-generator) of writing both MARC and
non-MARC format output (e.g. ISBD)?
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU