Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Wed, 8 Apr 1992 11:14:25 CDT
From:         Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Mail Manners

2 Messages, 161 Lines
*-----
From: EWLADAS@SCU.BITNET
Subject: Mail Manners

Following the advice in Robert Bocher's message, I requested from
LISTSERV@BITNIC a copy of its MAIL MANNERS (mind you, not that I
would need them!). As I sent the message, I got distracted from my e-mail,
but I was able to see my message sent out and the copy of the file was
sent back to me all in a span of about 90 seconds!

Now, THAT is what I call Mail Manners!

Edward Wladas
Orradre Library
Santa Clara University
ewladas@scu.bitnet
*-----

From: mperkins%library@sdsu.edu (Mike Perkins)
Subject: recent flames and whining

I second Bob Bocher's comments regarding the recent fraying of the civil
fabric on PACS-L, and hopw those involved with follow his advice.  In
addition to the recent flames, I have also been disturbed by the whining
nature of some of the comments regarding the difficulty of "finding out"
about the internet and its uses, and complaints about the lack of help
from campus computing centers.

Isn't "finding out" at the core of our profession?  Some of these
comments remind me of students who come to the reference desk and ask
"Why doesn;t the library buy photocopy machines that don't break down?"
A guileless, but un-answerable question!

There are many newsletters and articles out there that can both help get
you started, and keep you informed of changes in and/or additions to the
features available on the INTERNET.  Many other respondents have
identified these, so I won't repeat them here.  However, there is one
tool that no one seems to have mentioned, and which I think is a great
resource for those just starting to learn the ropes.  It is the hypertext
version of the RASD document entitled "Library Resources on the Internet"
by Ernest Perez.  I have included a copy of the announcement and download
instruction sent out a few months ago.

Here at SDSU I have loaded "Library Resources on the Internet" onto my
colleague's PCs, and all have commented on how easy it is to use, and how
they like being able to familiarize themselves with a topic or feature
without having to go around asking for help.  It lets you learn at your
own pace, and takes nothing for granted.  Everything is presented as if
the user knows nothing about the INTERNET except its existance.  But
don't let this put off those of you who are reasonably familiar with the
INTERNET.  Since it is hypertext you can jump around to just that part of
the document you need, to answer a quick question, or to refresh a
memory.  Try it; I think you'll like it.

+-------------------+---------------------+---------------------+
|Michael J. Perkins |University Library   |INTERNET:mperkins@   |
|Business Librarian |San Diego State Univ.| ucselx.sdsu.edu  OR |
|VOICE:(619)594-6743|San Diego, CA        |mperkins@library.    |
|FAX:(619)594-2700  |92182-0511           | sdsu.edu            |
--------------------+---------------------+---------------------+

                  LIBRARY RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET
                       HYPERTEXT VERSION, V1.0

          ------------------------------------------------
                            Ernest Perez
                       eperez@utdallas.bitnet

The RASD/MARS "Library Resources on the Internet: Strategies for
Selection and Use," edited by Laine Farley, is now available in an
MS-DOS hypertext edition. I have made a minimum of textual or content
changes, mainly restricted to "chunking" and restructuring the
document for hypertext format. Laine Farley reviewed the hypertext
beta version and made suggestions and comments, incorporated into the
released version.

The RASD/MARS document has previously been electronically posted in
ASCII text and WordPerfect formats. I am adding my hypertext version
to those earlier "electronic editions." I hope it will be a useful
information dissemination tool and a practical hypertext demonstration
for librarians and end users.

The runtime hypertext engine is "Hyplus," another MaxThink, Inc.
hypertext product, similar to their memory-resident "HyperRez"
version. HyperRez is the program which Peter Scott used for the
popular HYTELNET guide to Internet OPAC access.

Hyplus trades power features in return for losing the memory-resident
convenience of HyperRez. It adds features like: selective printing,
"mark and save" to ASCII text files, easy "bookmarking," fast
string-searching within displayed text, an online glossary/KWOC index
facility, easy display of the link trail, and a simple full-text
search utility. With Hyplus, you can also easily call up your own
ASCII editor to use for making your own notes, adding links, and other
personal customizing of the hypertext system.

This hypertext system is available by downloading two files by
anonymous ftp from:

     ftp.unt.edu

in the "library" subdirectory. The files are LIBINET.DOC and
LIBINET.EXE. The first is an ASCII text file with instructions for
installing and initially using the hypertext system. The .EXE file is
a "self-extracting" ZIP or compressed file, When decompressed, it
contains about 140 files, of approximately 480K in size.


I have below further adapted Peter Scott's adaptation of Roy Tennant's
concise instructions for retrieving files via anonymous ftp. The
following describes how to obtain LIBINET version 1.0 from Billy
Barron's (University of North Texas) ftp site (thanks Peter, thanks
Roy, thanks Billy):

TO RETRIEVE LIBINET:
--------------------
When you receive the Name prompt, enter:   anonymous
When you receive the password prompt,
            enter your Internet address:   eperez@utdallas    [for example]
              At the ftp> prompt, enter:   cd library
                             Then enter:   get LIBINET.DOC
         At the next ftp> prompt, enter:   binary
                             Then enter:   get LIBINET.EXE
 After the transfer has occurred, enter:   quit

Then you will be back to your own host command mode.

(A BIT OF EXPLANATION: the ftp program defaults to ASCII text
transfer, for the LIBINET.DOC file. The "binary" command changes the
transfer type to binary for the LIBINET.EXE binary file.)

TO DOWNLOAD IT TO YOUR PC:
--------------------------
There are many PC communications and "protocol transfer" programs, and
I will not attempt to give step-by-step instructions here. Check your
software instructions for for downloading *binary* and *text* files
from your Internet account to your PC. You might want to to check
first with your computer center staff to get time-saving pointers.
(They get Reference Desk assignments, too.)

TO UNCOMPRESS LIBINET.EXE:
--------------------------
Make a new directory on your hard disk (e.g., mkdir hytelnet)
Copy LIBINET.DOC and LIBINET.EXE into the new directory.
Make sure you are in that directory, then enter:
   libinet
The self-extracting ZIP file will automatically decompress into the
hypertext runtime files.

Please print and read LIBINET.DOC for further installation tips and
instructions on how to use the hypertext system.


PROBLEM-SOLVING CAVEAT: I am neither an Internet nor ftp expert, I've
myself basically just been a follower of clear instructions, like Roy
Tennant's, in the past. The variety of systems and installations and
problems/quirks is apparently endless. If you have problems with
ftp-ing or downloading, please check with your local computer center
staff or friendly neighborhood network power user.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU