From: LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET (Public-Access Computer Systems Forum)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Subject: Welcome to PACS-L (Revised)
Date: 4 Nov 92 21:34:13 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU


                   (PLEASE SAVE THIS MESSAGE)

         Welcome to the University of Houston Libraries'
              Public-Access Computer Systems Forum


Overview

The Public-Access Computer Systems Forum (PACS-L) is a
computer conference that deals with all computer systems that
libraries make available to their patrons.  Utilizing PACS-L,
users discuss topics such as CD-ROM databases, expert systems,
hypertext programs, microcomputer labs, locally-mounted databases,
network-based information resources, and OPAC's.

The conference does not deal with staff-oriented functions in
integrated library systems (e.g., acquisitions, cataloging,
circulation, and serials control), staff-oriented microcomputer
use (e.g., spreadsheets and word processing), or mediated online
searching.

While many users are librarians, PACS-L also serves computer
specialists, faculty members, and others.  The conference was
founded in June 1989 by Charles W. Bailey, Jr.  Currently,
there are over 4,970 users in 46 countries.  The conference is
moderated by Dana Rooks and Jill Hackenberg.  The Information
Technology Division of the University of Houston provides
technical support for the conference.

Messages sent to PACS-L are reviewed by the conference
moderators, who distribute messages on appropriate topics to
conference participants.  Normally, PACS-L users receive
5-15 messages per day.  Please do not send messages longer than
about 250 lines; break long messages up into multiple shorter
messages.

The University of Houston Libraries provides PACS-L as
a public service.  It does not verify the accuracy of submitted
messages nor does it endorse the opinions expressed by message
authors.  Authors of PACS-L messages are solely responsible
for content of their messages.

All messages to the conference are automatically archived.
Users can search the message database for specific information
using complex Boolean queries.  The most reliable method
of searching the database is to submit batch search jobs
to the list server via e-mail messages.  Search features include
nested Boolean expressions, search limitation by date and time,
and SOUNDEX searches.

An electronic journal, The Public-Access Computer Systems
Review, was established in September 1989.  The first issue was
published in January 1990.  The journal became refereed
in November 1991.  Articles are stored as individual files
on the list server, and an annotated table of contents
for each issue is sent out as an e-mail message to all
PACS-L users.  After looking over the table of contents,
users can retrieve article files of interest.  Libraries are
authorized to add the journal to their collections at no
cost.  The journal is cataloged on OCLC and RLIN.  For further
information, contact the Editor-in-Chief, Charles W. Bailey, Jr.,
LIB3@UHUPVM1.

An electronic newsletter, Public-Access Computer Systems News, is
also distributed on PACS-L.  The first issue was published in
March 1990.  Issues are sent out as messages on PACS-L.
Back issues are stored on the list server.  Libraries
are authorized to add the newsletter to their collections at
no cost.  The newsletter is cataloged on OCLC and RLIN.
For further information, contact the Co-Editor Dana Rooks,
LIBL@UHUPVM1.

The Library Technology Watch Program at the University of
California, Berkeley distributes its electronic newsletter,
Current Cites, on PACS-L.

A second list, PACS-P, was established in January 1991 for users
that want to receive PACS-L publications, but do not want to
receive messages from PACS-L users.  PACS-P serves over 660 users
in 35 countries.

Selected Commands

To join PACS-L, send the following e-mail message to
LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: SUBSCRIBE PACS-L First Name Last Name.
(The UH list server also has an Internet address:
LISTSERV@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU.)

To receive the PACS-L publications only (no messages from PACS-L
users), send the following message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1:
SUBSCRIBE PACS-P First Name Last Name.  Do NOT subscribe to both
PACS-L and PACS-P; PACS-L users receive all publications as part
of their subscription.

To sign off PACS-L, send the following e-mail message to
LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: UNSUBSCRIBE PACS-L.

To stop PACS-L mail when you go on vacation, send the following
e-mail message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: SET PACS-L NOMAIL.

To resume PACS-L mail delivery, send the following e-mail
message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: SET PACS-L MAIL.

To determine what your PACS-L distribution settings are,
send the following message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: QUERY PACS-L.
This is a useful command to try if you stop receiving PACS-L
mail.  The moderators may have had to set you to NOMAIL because
of problems with your e-mail account.

To send a message to the PACS-L, send your e-mail message to
PACS-L@UHUPVM1.

To obtain a list of PACS-L users, send the following e-mail
message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: REVIEW PACS-L F=MAIL.

To receive full documentation about searching the message database,
send the following e-mail message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: INFO
DATABASE.   (A brief tutorial is also available.  Send the
message GET SEARCH DOC F=MAIL to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1.)

To see what files are available, send the following e-mail
message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: INDEX PACS-L F=MAIL.

To retrieve a file, send the following e-mail message to
LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: GET File Name File Type.

To have a file sent via e-mail instead of via file transfer,
add "F=MAIL" after the GET command.  For example, to retrieve
CONTENTS PRV2N1 via e-mail, send the following e-mail message to
LISTSERV@UHUPVM1: GET CONTENTS PRV2N1 F=MAIL.

To retrieve an issue of the Public-Access Computer Systems News,
send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1 containing the
appropriate command based on the issue's volume and number:

    GET PACSNEWS V1N1 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V1N7 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V1N2 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V1N8 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V1N3 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V1N9 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V1N4 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V1N10 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V1N5 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V1N11 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V1N6 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V1N12 F=MAIL

    GET PACSNEWS V2N1 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V2N7 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V2N2 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V2N8 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V2N3 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V2N9 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V2N4 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V2N10 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V2N5 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V2N11 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V2N6 F=MAIL

    GET PACSNEWS V3N1 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V3N7 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V3N2 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V3N8 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V3N3 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V3N9 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V3N4 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V3N10 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V3N5 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V3N11 F=MAIL
    GET PACSNEWS V3N6 F=MAIL    GET PACSNEWS V3N12 F=MAIL
                                GET PACSNEWS V3N13 F=MAIL

To retrieve the table of contents file for an issue of The
Public-Access Computer Systems Review, send an e-mail message to
LISTSERV@UHUPVM1 that contains the appropriate command based
on the issue's volume and number:

    GET CONTENTS PRV1N1 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV1N2 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV1N3 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV2N1 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV2N2 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV3N1 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV3N2 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV3N3 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV3N4 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV3N5 F=MAIL
    GET CONTENTS PRV3N6 F=MAIL

To retrieve an issue of Current Cites, send an e-mail message
to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1 containing the appropriate command based on
the issue's volume and number:

    GET CURRENTC V3N1 F=MAIL    GET CURRENTC V3N7 F=MAIL
    GET CURRENTC V3N2 F=MAIL    GET CURRENTC V3N8 F=MAIL
    GET CURRENTC V3N3 F=MAIL
    GET CURRENTC V3N4 F=MAIL
    GET CURRENTC V3N5 F=MAIL
    GET CURRENTC V3N6 F=MAIL

For More Information About PACS-L

Bailey, Jr., Charles W.  "Electronic (Online) Publishing in
Action . . . The Public-Access Computer Systems Review and Other
Electronic Serials."  Online 15 (January 1991): 28-35.

Bailey, Jr., Charles W.  "The Public-Access Computer Systems
Forum: A Computer Conference on BITNET."  Library Software
Review 9 (March-April 1990): 71-74.

+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Dana Rooks                         Voice: (713) 743-9807   |
| Assistant Director For             FAX:   (713) 743-9748   |
| Administration                     BITNET: LIBL@UHUPVM1    |
| University Libraries                                       |
| University of Houston                                      |
| Houston, TX 77204-2091                                     |
|------------------------------------------------------------|
| PACS-L Moderator (PACS-L@UHUPVM1)                          |
| Associate Editor, Communications, The Public-Access        |
| Computer Systems Review                                    |
| Co-Editor, Public-Access Computer Systems News             |
+------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Jill M. Hackenberg                 Voice: (713) 743-9761   |
| Physical Sciences Librarian        Internet:               |
| University of Houston              LIBJ@JETSON.UH.EDU      |
| Houston, TX 77204-2091                                     |
+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Associate PACS-L Moderator  (PACS-L@UHUPVM1)               |
+------------------------------------------------------------+
Revised 11/2/92
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU