HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Tue, 28 Jul 1992 16:01:58 -0300
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was daviss@DAVIS.CUL.COLUMBIA.EDU
From:         Stephen Davis <daviss@CUNIXF.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU>
Subject:      New 5.0 citation software available

We have written for our own use a new version of BIBLIO that handles NOTIS 5.0
screens.  (We're referring to it as BIB-5.0, rather than BIBLIO, since the
code is entirely new.   We'll probably call it "CLIOcite" here at Columbia, to
harmonize with our OPAC name, CLIO.)   As with BIBLIO, BIB-50 is a DOS utility
for formatting NOTIS screen dumps into a standard bibliographic citation
format.

We have now made the source code (Pascal 5.5) available on an "as-is" basis
from NOTISPRO as "bib-50.pas".   In addition, the compiled version is
available by anonymous ftp as follows:

ftp to 		: watsun.cc.columbia.edu (128.59.39.2)
user		: anonymous
id   		: [your email address]
directory	: /bibliographic
files (2)	: bib-beta.txt
		: bib-beta.exe

NB: "bib-beta.exe" is a self-extracting archive file.  Please read "bib-
beta.txt" before executing.

We cannot offer any support for this program; however, local systems staff
with basic microcomputer programming experience and access to Turbo Pascal 5.5
should find it easily modifiable, e.g., to accommodate varying 5.0 screen
displays.

BIB-50 uses as input downloaded Kermit screen dump files, and we have included
a copy of Kermit in the archive file stored on watsun.  BIB-50 has four output
format options:

	SHORT =  bibliographic description only
	BOOK  =  bibliographic description and subject headings
        ITEM  =  bibliographic description and locations
        FULL  =  bibliographic description, subject headings, and locations

We have also bundled in a utility that allows online browsing of the ascii
input and output files.

As mentioned in the "read" file accompanying the software, we have also
completed most of the work on a MAC version of this software.  We no longer
have local MAC programming expertise at this point, however, and would be
interested in working on the user interface with an experienced MAC programmer
at another site.  In addition, we have done preliminary analysis of adding to
the DOS version the option of creating comma-delimited output--for importing
citations into commercial database programs such as dBASE--but don't know at
present when we'll get around to completing this.


PS: Many thanks to Brian Nielsen who brought us the original BIBLIO.
==============================================================================
Stephen Davis				email:  daviss@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu
Ass't Director for Library Systems 	voice:  (212) 854-4744
219M Butler Library 	   		fax:    (212) 222-0331
Columbia University
New York, NY 10027
==============================================================================
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Fri, 24 Jul 1992 16:53:54 PDT
From:         "Kathleen Matthews" <LSYS1@UVVM.UVIC.CA>
Subject:      PPQ5555:no fix for recall fine problem
Comments: cc: Marnie Swanson <YYMCS@UVVM.BITNET>

I an unsure of the protocol with this "flame" business, but here goes:

(A description of our experience with the recall fine problem follows this
"flame" about NOTIS's position as of July 24/92, re problem PPQ5555.)

<FLAME ON>
NOTIS, (Carol Norris, Manager of Customer Support Services) has just
firmly and finally advised the University of Victoria, that despite the
high priority the CSRC (Customer Support Review Committee) has assigned this
problem, the problem will neither receive an interim 5.0.2 fix, nor will it
be fixed in 5.1. UVIC has been advised to contact the CIRC SIG to ensure that
term loan overdue recall fine functionality (that was working in 4.6.1) is
included in the 5.2 rewrite specs.  For us this means that until we install
5.2 we will be unable to collect fines on overdue recalled term loan items
for two (? plus) years !!! (Most of our collection circulates under a term loan
subject to recall policy). Perhaps I am naive, but I remain incredulous that
NOTIS will not restore functionality that is basic to its product and that
worked in the previous releases.  Can I incite an "electronic" sit-in or
something ???? <FLAME OFF>

A description of our experience with this bug follows:
.......................The problem(PPQ5555)..........................
Fines are not calculated on term loan items (fixed due date) that have
been recalled and are discharged overdue.  For example, an item is
charged and the term loan due date is August 25th. The item is recalled and
a recall due date (7day recall policy) of June 19th is calculated.  The
item is returned after June 19th but before August 25th. The system does
not calculate any fines. This worked in 4.6.1. We have lost this
functionality in 5.0.2. When the item is discharged the discharge screen
simply advises us to place the item on the HOLD shelf and incorrectly informs
us that the item was due August 25 rather than the recall due date. Notices and
item records correctly note the recall due date but the discharge function
ignores the recall due date and does not charge fines.(We have not tested this
to see if this also occurs on our two week loans which would also be subject to
 recall with a recall due date that is earlier than the original two week due
date.)

**********************************************************************
KATHLEEN WEBSTER MATTHEWS (LSYS1@UVVM.UVIC.CA)
Systems Librarian, McPherson Library
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, VICTORIA, B.C., CANADA.
(604) 721-8219
**********************************************************************
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Tue, 28 Jul 1992 14:33:23 PDT
From:         "Kathleen Matthews" <LSYS1@UVVM.UVIC.CA>
Subject:      Re: Circulation Problems
              28 Jul 1992 13:25:00 -05 from <DOWNESH@AUDUCADM.DU C.AUBURN.EDU>

Sheri....University of Victoria also has many hoops to go through to
change its loan policy.  We have a Library Senate Committee that must
approve any loan policy changes and it would take us a year to restructure
and get approval for a different policy.  We circulate most of our items
on a term loan to grads, undergrads, faculty and staff so most of our
patrons are affected if we cannot use a recall/fine strategy that has some
bite to it. Thank you for your plea to NOTIS to reverse its decision
regarding PPQ5555.  (If NOTIS is not going to fix any circ problems why
do they bother assigning us PPQ numbers and establishing a priority..a
bit of a hoax don't you think?)

**********************************************************************
KATHLEEN WEBSTER MATTHEWS (LSYS1@UVVM.UVIC.CA)
Systems Librarian, McPherson Library
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, VICTORIA, B.C., CANADA.
(604) 721-8219
**********************************************************************
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Thu, 30 Jul 1992 10:57:15 EDT
From:         Gerard Philippe Menos <gpmenos@FIRESTONE.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Assembler/ Was Chat: Enhancements
Comments: To: NOTIS/DOBIS discussion group list <NOTIS-L@VM.TCS.Tulane.EDU>

[I hope this gets through, this time...]

I very much appreciated Michael Stephen's remarks, which included the
following:

> From: "Michael J. Stephens"
> <VB7R0007%SMUVM1.bitnet@VM.TCS.Tulane.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: Chat: Enhancements
>

> Programming Systems (OOPS) have been introduced to help
> this (C++).  Any system programmed in assembler is going
> to have a tough time of after several generations of
> maintenance.  Oh darn, I've got to cut this short and go to a
> meeting.  Some of you are sighing with relief, I'll bet

An assembler programmer, however, took issue with this viewpoint,
claiming that the language used is not as relevant as the quality of
the systems design.

I do not argue the importance of systems design.  Nor do I denigrate
the considerable accomplishments of assembler wizards.  But it is not
accurate to say that assembler can compete with modern, higher-level
languages in the realm of programmer productivity.  Just count the
number of lines of code the same application requires in assembler
versus C or C++, etc., and it's easy to see why an application
written in assembly takes longer to produce and is more costly to
develop and to maintain.

Assembler was once necessary to ensure an efficient application.  The
compromise in software development was necessary to accomodate the
hardware of the past.  But advances in hardware now allow us to get
the apps we need more quickly and more cheaply with high-productivity
development environments, without compromising on performance.

Phil Menos
Princeton University Libraries
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Tue, 21 Jul 1992 09:36:14 EST
From:         Frank White <FWHITE@UCC.UWINDSOR.CA>
Subject:      Enhancement Process - Clarification Requested
Comments: To: notis-l@vm.tcs.tulane.edu

1. Although I have not seen this explicitly stated anywhere, am I
correct in my understanding of this year's enhancement process, as
follows?:

Phase 1: SIGs send their lists of enhancement suggestions to LIB1s who
         coordinate their institution's reponses. The task is to select
         the top 10 and rank them top (1), low (10) in order. These are
         to be returned to the SIG chairs by Aug. 3.

Phase 2: Based on returns from Phase 1, NOTIS will compile an official
         enhancement ballot to be sent out around Aug. 21. (I'm not sure
         what the selection or rating procedure will be for this ballot.
         Does anyone know?)

2. There have been so many enhancement lists appearing on NOTIS-L
recently, I have lost track of who's what, or what's who, or what's what.
I would be grateful if SIG chairs would confirm, via this forum, that
their "official" enhancement list has/has not already been posted. That way I
can check to ensure that I have received them all and acquire any that
I do not have.

3. Finally, am I correct in assuming that *all* enhancement communication
will be done via NOTIS-L and we shall *not* be receiving lists via regular
post?

Sorry for being somewhat thick about this. At first I thought it was just me
until I checked with a couple of other people who were just as fuzzy
in their understanding of this year's process. Thanks.


**********************************************************************
Frank White,    Automation Librarian      |
Leddy Library, University of Windsor      |        NOTIS 5.0
Windsor Ontario   CANADA     N9B 3P4      |        MVS/SP
Phone:    (519) 253-4232 ext 3163         |        GTO 3.0
Fax:      (519) 973-7076                  |        CICS 1.7
Internet: fwhite@ucc.uwindsor.ca          |
**********************************************************************
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Wed, 29 Jul 1992 14:20:21 CDT
From:         "AMIGOS Bibliographic Council, Inc" <AMIGOS@UTDALLAS.BITNET>
Subject:      Job announcement - Reference & Technical Support Manger
Comments: To: PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET, NOTIS-L@TCSVM.BITNET,
              ACRLNY-JOBS@NYUACF.BITNET

This message is also listed on NOTIS-L and ACRLNY-JOBS.

MISC JOBS

REFERENCE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT MANAGER:
AMIGOS offers an opportunity for an energetic, self-starting, service-oriented
librarian with appreciation for both public and technical services to manage
reference hardware and telecommunications support, training, and marketing in
an exciting, high-quality network environment. Duties include program
management, supervising staff, providing user support, and training.

QUALIFICATIONS:
ALA-accredited M.L.S.; five years of progressively responsible professional lev
el experience in public service, training and development, and/or telecommunica
tions including INTERNET; experience with OCLC reference systems and micorcompu
ters; three years of supervision; excellent verbal and written communcation ski
lls.

STARTING SALARY: to mid-30s based on experience and background;
Send letter of application and three professional references to:
AMIGOS Bibliographic Council, Inc., 12200 Park Central Drive, Suite 500, Dallas
, Texas 75251, ATTN: Human Resources. Information received by August 18, 1992
will be given first consideration. EOE
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Thu, 30 Jul 1992 15:44:51 EDT
From:         Gerard Philippe Menos <gpmenos@FIRESTONE.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Chat: Enhancements
Comments: To: NOTIS/DOBIS discussion group list <NOTIS-L@VM.TCS.Tulane.EDU>

With reference to the improved apps gained more quickly from modern
development platforms (hardware and software) than from
assembler-based systems, Gerald Snyder, of FCLA, writes:

>      How many sites can afford to upgrade hardware everytime a
> vendor increases the function/resource load of its
> software ? Good design improves performance in any
> language. Good design also improves maintainability.
> Putting in the effort for a well designed, efficient
> system is part of the reason that software work gets
> concentrated into a central companies.

Sure, good design is important.  No one argues that.

The question really is:  how many sites can afford not to upgrade
their hardware, given the lower startup and maintenance costs of the
newer systems, for both hardware and software.

That's the way the computing industry as a whole is evolving, and not
just in the library world.  It's called downsizing.

That's why NOTIS is moving to UNIX --not just because it's a great
environment for the communications-intensive apps we have in
libraries, but because of the efficiency and effectiveness of the
development environments.


I know, from reliable sources, that total starup and maintenance
costs for some of the newer open library systems are *less* than the
total annual maintenance budgets on an equivalent NOTIS system.  And,
they require less staff time in maintenance.

I agree that it's not feasible to upgrade systems with every marginal
change in information systems technology.  But there are a lot of
sites that are a couple of generations behind in technology, and
these sites could save significant sums of $$$ by investing in
upgrades.  Not to mention the fact that systems staffs would be
liberated from the drudgery of maintaining bug fixes to more creative
work in developing and configuring improved functionality, like GUI
interfaces, sorting results (OPAC), Image (and, even, sound and
video, for multimedia) databases...  the stuff of dreams in the
assembly environment, where one struggles just to stay afloat.

Assembly is being phased out.  Just look around.  The question is not
if, but when.

Sorry.   I don't mean to offend or bum you out, but just to describe
what's going on right in front of us.  Business is business, and if
it costs too much, it won't survive.

With all best wishes,
Phil Menos
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Wed, 22 Jul 1992 10:10:16 -0400
From:         Marju Drynan <drynan@MCMAIL.CIS.MCMASTER.CA>
Subject:      Re: NOTIS/VSE SIG Membership Updates Needed
Comments: To: NOTIS/DOBIS discussion group list <NOTIS-L@VM.TCS.Tulane.EDU>

Merry Lee:

I am sorry that your message has come at a time when so many of our people
are on vacation.  I would like very much to ensure that our site is
entered on your list (even though we're past your deadline), but am unsure
whether our Lib 1(Marju Drynan) or our Tech 1 (Vince Wade) should be the
designated member.
Since both Marju and Vince are away this week, may I simply enroll
McMaster University Library and promise to send the appropriate member
name and the technical details as soon as possible?

Marju Drynan per Sheila Pepper (Lib 2)

P.S.  Should you wish to contact me directly, my own e-mail address is
 pepper@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca

---------------------------------------------
Marju Drynan, Associate University Librarian
McMaster University Library, MML Rm. 207
1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ont. L8S 4L6, Canada

E-Mail Address: DRYNAN@MCMAIL.CIS.MCMASTER.CA
Fax: (416) 546-0625
Voice: (416) 525-9140 ext. 4356
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-VMS-To: IN%"notis-l@tcsvm.bitnet"
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Thu, 30 Jul 1992 20:37:18 +1200
From:         LBR_CIW@AUKUNI.AC.NZ
Subject:      Cat/Auth enhancement ballot

Thanks to those NOTISlanders who replied so promptly to my request for
Margaret Rohdy's e-mail address, and also sent me the Cat/Auth ballot.
Now I know you're all real people out there!!. All assistance greatly
appreciated.
Chris Wilson
University of Auckland
LBR_CIW@AUKUNI.AC.NZ
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Mon, 27 Jul 1992 11:31:26 PDT
Comments:     Resent-From: Kathleen Matthews <LSYS1@UVVM.UVic.CA>
Comments:     Originally-From: <Postmaster@MAIL.CASI.NASA.GOV>
From:         "Kathleen Matthews" <LSYS1@UVVM.UVIC.CA>
Subject:      PPQ5555:no fix for recall fine problem

I am unsure of the protocol with this "flame" business, but here goes:

(A description of our experience with the recall fine problem follows this
"flame" about NOTIS's position as of July 24/92, re problem PPQ5555.)

<FLAME ON>
NOTIS, (Carol Norris, Manager of Customer Support Services) has
firmly and finally advised the University of Victoria, that despite the
high priority the CSRC (Customer Support Review Committee) has assigned this
problem, the problem will neither receive an interim 5.0.2 fix, nor will it
be fixed in 5.1. UVIC has been advised to contact the CIRC SIG to ensure that
term loan overdue recall fine functionality (that was working in 4.6.1) is
included in the 5.2 rewrite specs.  For us this means that until we install
5.2 we will be unable to collect fines on overdue recalled term loan items
for two (? plus) years !!! (Most of our collection circulates under a term loan
subject to recall policy). Perhaps I am naive, but I remain incredulous that
NOTIS will not restore functionality that is basic to its product and that
worked in the previous releases.  Can I incite an "electronic" sit-in or
something ???? <FLAME OFF>

A description of our experience with this bug follows:
.......................The problem(PPQ5555)..........................
Fines are not calculated on term loan items (fixed due date) that have
been recalled and are discharged overdue.  For example, an item is
charged and the term loan due date is August 25th. The item is recalled and
a recall due date (7day recall policy) of June 19th is calculated.  The
item is returned after June 19th but before August 25th. The system does
not calculate any fines. This worked in 4.6.1. We have lost this
functionality in 5.0.2. When the item is discharged the discharge screen
simply advises us to place the item on the HOLD shelf and incorrectly informs
us that the item was due August 25 rather than the recall due date. Notices and
item records correctly note the recall due date but the discharge function
ignores the recall due date and does not charge fines.(We have not tested this
to see if this also occurs on our two week loans which would also be subject to
 recall with a recall due date that is earlier than the original two week due
date.)

**********************************************************************
KATHLEEN WEBSTER MATTHEWS (LSYS1@UVVM.UVIC.CA)
Systems Librarian, McPherson Library
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, VICTORIA, B.C., CANADA.
(604) 721-8219
**********************************************************************

**********************************************************************
KATHLEEN WEBSTER MATTHEWS (LSYS1@UVVM.UVIC.CA)
Systems Librarian, McPherson Library
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, VICTORIA, B.C., CANADA.
(604) 721-8219
**********************************************************************
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Organization: University at Buffalo
X-Envelope-to: NOTIS-L@TCSVM.BITNET
X-VMS-To: IN%"NOTIS-L@TCSVM.BITNET"
X-VMS-Cc: IN%"unlkh@ubvm",IN%"lsys1@uvvm.uvic.ca",ULCJH
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.notis-l
Date:         Wed, 22 Jul 1992 10:11:00 EST
From:         "JUDITH HOPKINS AT SUNY BUFFALO" <ULCJH@UBVMS.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: usage stats for inhouse periodical use
Comments: cc: unlkh@ubvm.BITNET, lsys1@uvvm.uvic.ca

   As one part of work on a CLR grant the libraries of the State University
of New York at Buffalo are engaged in a journal use study.  The count of
in-house use is purely a manual process.   We affix a label to each issue
of each periodical as it is received.  It contains pre-printed instructions
and a sequence of numbers (from one to fifteen).  Each person who uses an
issue is asked to check off the next in the sequence of numbers.  Similar
labels are attached to the bound volumes.    The work will come at the end
of the study period when staff will have to make a sweep through the
periodicals area to capture the data.

  For more detailed (and probably more accurate information) I suggest you
contact Kate Herzog, Director of the Science and Engineering Library at UB,
who is master-minding the journal use study.  Her BITNET address is
UNLKH@UBVM;  INTERNET   UNLKH@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU

===================================================================
Judith Hopkins                          Voice:  (716) 636-2796
Tech Srvs Research & Analysis Officer   FAX:    (716) 636-5955
Central Technical Services               (as of 8/15/92: 645-xxxx)
State University of NY at Buffalo       BITNET: ulcjh@ubvm
Buffalo, NY  14260              Internet: ulcjh@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu
===================================================================
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU