bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Emerging World‐Wide Information Economy
Authors: Rogers Rubin Michael
Published: February 2008

The creation, handling and distribution of information is fast becoming a major economic activity for all nations of the world, be they rich or poor, developed or less developed. Even in countries where there is little production of information goods or services, employment in information related activities is often high. The definition and size of the information producing and knowledge worker labor force in the United States are reviewed and compared to that in other countries. Changing patterns of international trade in information goods and services is also discussed.
Desktop Publishing: New Right Brain Documents
Authors: Williams James B. , Murr Lawrence E.
Published: February 2008

Laser printers and powerful word processing, desktop publishing, and graphic arts software for micro‐computers make it possible, and easy, to communicate graphically as well as textually. Research indicates that textual communication is processed primarily in the left lobe of the brain, and graphic communication is processed in the right lobe. The combination of textual and graphic elements produces a powerful communications structure that facilitates simultaneous multichannel processing by both the left and right lobes of the brain. As a result, communications techniques that combine both textual and graphic elements produce effective results.
The RFP—Request for Punishment: or A Tool for Selecting an Automated Library System
Authors: Matthews Joseph R. , Salmon Stephen R. , Frye Williams Joan
Published: February 2008

A request for proposals (RFP) may be required by purchasing laws and regulations of a local jurisdiction. A library may choose to use the RFP to determine the capabilities and limitations of a number of possible systems. However, the RFP can be badly conceived, constructed, and applied, resulting in few responses by vendors and disappointment, lost time, and wasted resources for the library. Advice is presented on when to use the RFP, how to construct it, and how to use it to achieve maximum success: selection and implementation of the product that best meets a library's specific needs.
Common Sense Wordworking III: Desktop Publishing and Desktop Typesetting
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

Desktop publishing may or may not be the “hottest” topic in current microcomputing, but it certainly is one of them. Being a hot topic means being the subject of wildly optimistic market predictions, large amounts of hype and hoopla, unrealistic claims for benefits, and the usual tendency to ignore drawbacks. But all the nonsense does not mean that the topic is wholly worthless. The author, Library Hi Tech's resident computer grouch and proponent of the trailing edge, argues that the term desktop publishing is nonsensical and that the new field is promising but tricky. He discusses some aspects of desktop publishing and goes on to discuss his own experience with a lower‐technology alternative he calls desktop typesetting.
Responding to an RFP: A Vendor's Viewpoint
Authors: Kington Robert A.
Published: February 2008

A typical vendor of library automation systems cannot, and most likely will not want to, respond to all requests for proposals (RFPs) that it receives. Certain “elimination factors” contribute to the decision to bid or not bid. These include: 1) specifications for the use of computer equipment not employed by the vendor; 2) required features not provided by the vendor's software; 3) performance requirements not met or performed differently by the vendor; 4) a “wired” RFP based on a competitor's system; 5) the size and complexity of the RFP itself; and 6) competition for a vendor's time, such as posed by numerous other previously‐received RFPs that must be answered.
Telecommunication Considerations in an Automated Library Network: An Introduction
Authors: Buck Dayna E. , Krois Jerome W.
Published: February 2008

According to the Dictionary of Data Processing, telecommunications is the transmission and reception of signals over long distances by means of radio, telephone, or telegraphy. Telecommunications can take place across the room, across town, or across a state. When data are transferred between remote locations, telecommunications equipment is necessary in addition to the usual computer hardware. The equipment creates a host of considerations other than those encountered in a single building automation project. In fact, in an automation project with disbursed sites, telecommunications, rather than computer hardware and software, may become the major source of problems. A number of basic telecommunications concepts are presented as an introduction to the technology and associated issues.
The Vendors' Corner—The Request for Proposal
Authors: Sugnet Chris
Published: February 2008

The library, the vendor, and the consultant have their own roles to play in the RFP process. The library is responsible for identifying its objectives and needs. These must be clearly understood and stated. The vendor's responsibility is to develop a creative solution to the library's particular needs, based on the information provided in the RFP and the functionality currently available. The responsibility of the consultant is essentially to educate. In order to get the system it needs, the library must not abdicate from the decision‐making process. The RFP is only one step in the process of locating a vendor and a system that meet the library's needs.
Parallel Processing Creates a Low‐Cost Growth Path
Authors: Shekhel Alex , Freeman Eva
Published: February 2008

A parallel‐processor computer contains multiple CPUs that share such system resources as memory and disk storage. A parallel‐processor computer is expanded not by adding another computer, but by plugging another CPU into the computer. This technology offers expandability, compact size, high performance, high reliability, and moderate cost. The Sequent Balance Parallel‐Processor Computer is described in some detail. A fully configured Balance 21000 can execute 21 MIPS (million instructions per second). It implements the UNIX operating system, which has been widely adopted. As a result, many software packages for word processing and other applications are available from third‐party vendors. Performance tests conducted by CLSI, Inc. indicate that twenty concurrent users on a parallel‐processor system can perform CPU‐intense functions up to seven times faster than on a single‐processor system.
DOBIS and NOTIS: A Contrast in Design
Authors: Juergens Bonnie , Blake Ruth
Published: February 2008

NOTIS and DOBIS are both designed to be technically and functionally integrated. The online catalog is the heart of each system, and all functions interact with a single set of bibliographic files. Both systems are mutually dedicated to the use of similar equipment and standard IBM software products. Apart from these similarities, however, the two systems vary fundamentally in design, each reflecting its distinctive origins. NOTIS was developed in the United States at a time when MARC tape distribution service was already well established. DOBIS was developed in Europe, where machine‐readable bibliographic resource sharing had not yet been established. The design objectives of the two systems emerged logically from these environments.
Electronic Information Delivery Systems: Reports on Five Projects Sponsored by the Fred Meyer Charitable Trust
Authors: Ferguson Douglas K.
Published: February 2008

The Fred Meyer Charitable Trust, Division of Library and Information Resources for the Northwest, has funded five research projects that will demonstrate the potential of various techniques and new technologies to facilitate communications and resource sharing in the Northwest. The experience and information derived from these projects will be of value to all libraries and information centers, not just those conducting the research. The techniques and technologies being evaluated include: simultaneous remote searching, which uses inexpensive terminals and modems; a mini‐computer‐based union list and resource sharing network (INFONET); networks using facsimile machines; networks that transmit documents that have been optically scanned into bit‐map image files; and use of optical character recognition equipment to capture ASCII machine‐readable information that can be broadcast by television stations to user‐sites. Contributors of reports are: Verl Anderson, Linda Brander, Millard F. Johnson, Jr., Bruce Morton, and Steve Smith. Summary observations are provided by Joseph R. Matthews.
Vendor Viability
Authors: Monahan Michael
Published: February 2008

The library automation marketplace is unstable and immature. Numerous vendors are attempting to enter the market by taking market share from the more established vendors. Profit margins are small or nonexistent for most of the vendors. The majority of vendors are selling products in the market for the first time; the companies, themselves, generally are younger than the anticipated life cycle of the technology they are producing. The lack of experience supporting technology through a full life cycle will contribute new, future challenges for vendors. The combined instability, immaturity, and unprofitability of the marketplace pose significant risks for both vendors and their library customers.
ACCESS PENNSYLVANIA: A CD‐ROM Database Project
Authors: Epler Doris M. , Cassel Richard E.
Published: February 2008

A statewide program that benefits all libraries, ACCESS PENNSYLVANIA is structured around school libraries. The major objectives were, and continue to be, 1) the production of a union catalog that will facilitate resource identification and retrieval, and 2) development of automated support‐capabilities within the libraries served by the project. The union catalog has been mounted on CD‐ROMs, and distributed to all project libraries. The libraries have experienced an average increase in circulation to their own constituents (from their own resources) of 300 percent or more, due to the powerful searching capabilities of the CD‐ROM catalog. Cooperation among libraries has been greatly increased as a result of the development of the union catalog.
Vendor Viability
Authors: Drabenstott Jon
Published: February 2008

The library automation marketplace is characterized by five significant realities. The first is the changing status of vendors in the marketplace. The development of capabilities and the support of installed systems compete for the same corporate resources, resulting in an evolution in the leadership position of vendors. Second, the market is polarized, containing experienced institutions that are replacing systems and institutions that are entering the market for the first time. Communication within the marketplace is intense, which can contribute to the success of a project; the peer network also can increase the chances of replicating older, proven technologies while making it more difficult for new vendors to enter the marketplace. The institutions that comprise the marketplace are extremely slow to develop their plans and commit their resources. The library automation marketplace is also very small and relatively poor. Library automation vendors must recognize and contend with these realities.
Risky Business: Financial Viability of Systems Vendors
Authors: Sugnet Chris
Published: February 2008

Companies that supply libraries with automation technology are part of the computer‐industry marketplace. However, vendors that serve the library component of this marketplace face problems not typical of the industry as a whole. Significant and unique problems include the protracted selection processes employed by libraries, the very slow and drawn‐out payment cycles, the dependence of the libraries on vendors, and the adversarial relationships that frequently exist between the libraries and vendors. These, and related issues, are discussed by representatives of eight prominent automation firms: Joseph R. Matthews (INLEX), James J. Michael (Data Research Associates), Harry Porteous (Geac), Gene Robinson (CLSI), Stephen R. Salmon (Carlyle), Stephen Silberstein (Innovative Interfaces), Phyllis Bova Spies (OCLC Local Systems), and Harriet Valázques (Utlas).
Common Command Language for Online Interactive Information Retrieval
Authors: Klemperer Katharina
Published: February 2008

Because the Common Command Language was designed primarily with the end‐user in mind, many of the now commonly accepted principles of user‐interface design were applied in its development. A terse but English‐like syntax and vocabulary were chosen, with a verb‐object structure. This was chosen in preference to a natural language because it can express an instruction briefly, clearly, and precisely, in contrast to the often verbose ambiguity of English. The benefits of the Common Command Language are discussed, as are remaining problems that will be encountered in cross‐system searching.
Infomart: Intelligent Design, Intelligent Use
Authors: Downing Jeff , Koelker June
Published: February 2008

An intelligent building incorporates two key components: automated building control systems and information management control systems. Automated building control systems include energy management systems, automated security and fire systems, and network life‐support systems. Information management control systems include telecommunications, data networking, local area networks, and other short and long haul networks. When these systems are linked together with common wiring and central controls, the building becomes intelligent. The integration of these components in Infomart, a high‐tech facility located in Dallas, Texas, is described. The usage of these components by tenants, and their possible application to library buildings are discussed.
The Forgiving Building: A Library Building Consultants' Symposium on the Design, Construction and Remodeling of Libraries to Support a High‐Tech Future
Authors: Novak Gloria , Dahlgren Anders C. , Kapp David , Lucker Jay K. , Kaser David , Beckman Margaret , Kelsey Donald G.
Published: February 2008

The most serious barrier to achieving a “forgiving building” is the cost of its special building systems. The library is increasingly becoming a “hi tech” and “smart” building. A sophisticated facility is required to support current collections and the emerging electronic and optical technologies that will occupy (and perhaps dominate) the future library. It is far less expensive to provide the capacity to support future components at the time of initial construction than to subsequently renovate a building to provide needed capacities at a later date. The real challenge for librarians is to convince those who fund library construction that the “forgiving building” is the least expensive alternative in the long run.
Steps Toward a National Research Telecommunications Network
Authors: Bell Gordon
Published: February 2008

In response to provisions in Public Law 99–383, which was passed 21 June 1986 by the 99th Congress, an inter‐agency group under the auspices of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET) for Computer Research and Applications was formed to study the following issues: the networking needs of the nation's academic and federal research computer programs, including supercomputer programs, over the next 15 years, addressing requirements in terms of volume of data, reliability of transmission, software compatibility, graphics capabilities, and transmission security; the benefits and opportunities that an improved computer network would offer for electronic mail, file transfer, and remote access and communications; and the networking options available for linking academic and research computers, including supercomputers, with a particular emphasis on fiber optics. Bell reports on the process and recommendations associated with the committee's work, and suggests a means for accomplishing the network objectives addressed by its report.
Managing Automation: A Process, Not a Project
Authors: Hoffmann Ellen
Published: February 2008

When library systems are managed as a continuing process rather than as discrete projects, they are managed by the same people who guide other library activities and not by specialists. The ongoing management of automation should reflect the style and philosophy of the library. The management issues associated with hardware, software, databases, staff, and the institutional environment are discussed.
The Unicorn Collection Management System: Its Structure and Features
Authors: Young Jacky
Published: February 2008

The Unicorn Collection Management System, developed by Sirsi Corporation, is an integrated library system consisting of the following modules: bibliographic and inventory control; circulation; enhanced public access with Boolean, truncation and adjacency searching; academic reserves; acquisitions; serials control; authority control; materials booking; and electronic mail. The system stores and displays records either in a short form, full‐MARC, or library‐designed format. Online and offline interfaces to biblio‐graphic services such as OCLC are available. Written in C for use with the UNIX or XENIX operating systems, Unicorn can be acquired as a total turnkey system or as software only. A sidebar describes the installation and use of Unicorn at Nashville Tech.
NETWORKS: A Review of Their Technology, Architecture and Implementation
Authors: Learn Larry L.
Published: February 2008

This article provides a broad overview of telecommunications and network‐related technologies. Topics covered include identification and review of network elements, analog and digital signals, synchronous and asynchronous transmission formats, transmission media and equipment, transmission techniques and characteristics, multiplexing, network types, access technologies, network architectures and topologies, local‐area network technologies and attributes, protocols and protocol issues, gateways, internetworking, local networking alternatives, equipment certification, and various aspects of network management. It is intended to provide the practicing professional in the field of library and information science with a broad, up‐to‐date technical review that might serve to support and facilitate further investigation of current developments in networks and networking. Although the broad range of topics is not treated in depth, numerous references are provided for further investigation.
User Interfaces for CD‐ROM PACs
Authors: Bills Linda G. , Helgerson Linda W.
Published: February 2008

The user interface, in broad terms, is the medium through which the user and the information come together. The types of searches a public access catalog (PAC) can perform are defined by the indexing strategy and retrieval software. The way the user's interest is communicated to the retrieval software and the way the results are communicated to the user is, by a more narrow definition, the interface software. Both the kinds of searches that can be performed by a variety of CD‐ROM PACs and how their workstations are used to accomplish the searches are considered.
MULTILIS: A Description of the System Design and Operational Features
Authors: Kelly Glen J.
Published: February 2008

MultiLIS is an integrated library software product that can be purchased on a modular basis or as a turnkey system encompassing both hardware and software. Acquisitions, cataloging, online public access, circulation, book exchange, local policy management, management and statistical report modules, and a report generator are currently available. An enhanced serials management module will be released in 1989. The software is written in PASCAL and C languages, and is available in either VMS or EUNIX V operating system versions. The VMS version is designed to run on Digital VAX computers, while UNIX V will run on a wider range of machines, including NCR Tower machines. MultiLIS features a strong network option, as well as a low cost annual software support agreement, providing users with telephone support services and all software updates.
Common Sense Personal Computing Today, or Is Common Sense Computing Possible in 1988?
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

Personal computers continue to grow in power and come down in price, but the field has become much more confusing since April 1987. The author considers events of the last year, compares prices and power in January 1988 with previous views of the marketplace, and discusses the shattered state of “industry standards” in personal computing.
ILLINET Online: Enhancing and Expanding Access to Library Resources in Illinois
Authors: Sloan Bernard G. , Stewart J. David
Published: February 2008

ILLINET Online (IO) is an automated library system consisting of two components: 1) the Library Computer System (LCS), which has been operational as a statewide resource sharing network since July 1980, and 2) the Full Bibliographic Record (FBR) system, which has been operational at the University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign (UIUC) since the summer of 1984. Membership in the LCS community now stands at 29 libraries, including 14 privately supported colleges and universities, 13 state supported universities, and two publicly supported community colleges. These libraries have converted records for 10 million titles and 17.5 million volumes to machine‐readable form. The FBR database contains 1.8 million MARC records and 4.5 million authority records. The history, operation, and future of the system are discussed.
Automation in Small Massachusetts Public Libraries
Authors: Dugan Robert E. , Ouderkirk Jane
Published: February 2008

In the early 1980s, driven by the economics of trying to sustain library operations in stringent financial times, maintain labor productivity, and respond to user demands for informational resources, public libraries in Massachusetts began to seek more efficient and effective ways to function internally while maintaining services for users. Automated technologies provided a partial solution to these library needs. The design, financial support, organizational structure, and evolution of a program to support the automation of libraries and promote resource sharing among libraries are detailed. A sidebar by Governor Dukakis expresses his views on the roles and importance of libraries.
The Emerging Role of Workstations in the Library Environment
Authors: Bauer Michael
Published: February 2008

Recent developments in workstations and software that make it possible to extend the utility of existing library systems are discussed. These developments provide an excellent foundation on which to base future library automation, especially in the context of a research library. Further, this technology suggests that the concept of a “scholar's workstation” is technically feasible. Some experiences with the use of this technology to explore ideas central to the development of a scholar's workstation are also reported.
Common Sense Conversion: Can You Read Me?
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

No single word processing program suits everybody equally well. The same can be said for spreadsheets, databases, drawing packages and even computers. Different people prefer to use different tools to create and manipulate machine‐readable data, and sometimes people need to share data with others or move data from one application to another. Not only is it silly to re‐enter data already in machine‐readable form, it may not be necessary. The author discusses categories of file and data conversion, with some examples of techniques available for conversion. He also discusses “interoperability,” an awful word for the useful ability to operate on the same data from more than one program—not merely convert data, but use and modify it without conversion. The author includes a sidebar on The Trailing Edge, his new column that will appear in Library Hi Tech beginning with the next issue.
Planning an On‐Premise Telecommunication System: The University of Michigan Case Study
Authors: Southwick Leslie B.
Published: February 2008

The University of Michigan has installed one of the largest private communications switches in the world. The switch and supporting network are designed to meet the voice, data service, security, and video transmission requirements of the university into the next century. The processes of defining needs, selecting a vendor, and implementing the system are discussed.
Evolution of the Research Libraries Information Network
Authors: Richards David , Lerche Carol
Published: February 2008

The Research Libraries Group, Inc. (RLG), a nationwide consortium of research institutions, operates the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN), an information system and communications network that supports RLG's cooperative programs as well as the technical processing and public services requirements of research libraries. Changes in communications technology, in the regulatory environment, and in user requirements have led RLG to redesign its communications network. The goals, topology, hardware, software and protocols, deployment, and related matters are discussed. Sidebars address current RLIN communications technology and the integrated RLIN network.
CD‐ROM Catalog Production Products
Authors: Bills Linda , Helgerson Linda
Published: February 2008

Laser disk databases containing MARC records that can be retrieved, edited, and used to print cards and labels and/or to produce machine‐readable catalog records in some transferable form are compared for seven vendors: Gaylord Information Systems, General Research Corporation, The Library Corporation, OCLC, Solinet, Utlas, and the Western Library Network. Major areas of exploration include: database characteristics, access, display, editing, new records, hard copy products, hardware, and price.
Selecting a Relational Database Management System for Library Automation Systems
Authors: Shekhel Alex , O'Brien Mike
Published: February 2008

As the heart of a computer system's software, the database management system is the key to the maintenance of data and effective management reporting. Since it is involved in virtually every transaction, it is also critical to robust system performance. CLSI, Inc. recently evaluated five relational database management systems, selecting Ingres, Version 6.0, around which to develop its next generation of functionality. The criteria for selecting Ingres, Version 6.0, are discussed.
The Trailing Edge: Gurus, Guides, and Ghosts
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

Microcomputer consultants can help a library install and use a complex software package but different styles of consulting will have different results. The first section of this column discusses two common styles of consulting, when each might be appropriate, and the dangers of using one type of consultant. The second focus of this column is the ghost of software (or hardware) future, vaporware, and the debilitating effect that vaporware has on users and vendors alike. Vaporware damages the library automation field as well, although perhaps not quite as much as it damages the microcomputer software field. This quarter's literature watch includes several printer reviews, reviews of improved project management software and a raft of personal information management software, several reviews of portable computers, and the remarkable suggestion that every computer user needs a $6,000–$12,000 computer!
Developing Managerial Competence for Library Automation
Authors: Miller William , Rowe Richard R. , Gosier L. James , Luce Richard E. , Nielsen Brian , Dougherty Richard M.
Published: February 2008

While there exists a small and perhaps growing cadre of mature library managers skilled in automation, not enough new MLS holders are being educated to support and extend the potential of automation within libraries. The result in too many libraries is the hiring of a non‐librarian to cope with the myriad technical details involved with setting up equipment and interacting with academic and administrative computing, county governments, and business office operations, with the hope that in time this person somehow “will become one of us.” However, something will be lost in future interactions if the librarian‐managers themselves do not know enough to participate knowledgeably in such interactions. Developing new educational initiatives is an important challenge facing those who wish to improve our managerial competence in the automation area.
Those (In)destructible Disks; or, Another Myth Exploded
Authors: Osborne Larry N.
Published: February 2008

The characteristics of the ubiquitous 360K 5 1/4 inch floppy disk are described. Based on personal experience, and subsequent related experiments, the author details steps to be taken to salvage disks which have been damaged by spilled substances such as coffee with cream and sugar, Classic Coke, hamburger and french fries, and hand cream.
Computer Room Air Conditioning
Authors: Price Bennett J.
Published: February 2008

This article discusses the basics of computer‐room air conditioning, an important component of the special environment required by mainframe computers and many mini‐computers as well. Computer room air conditioners differ in some significant ways from “comfort” air‐conditioners, which are designed for the comfort of people rather than machines. These differences make it less than ideal to use air conditioning systems designed for human comfort for computer cooling. The author describes several different types of air‐conditioners, considerations related to the construction of a computer room, and factors that determine air‐conditioning requirements.
More Than You Know: Justifying That New Computer
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

Do personal computers make sense? Do the benefits outweigh the costs? That's something you need to determine before you buy a computer (or add to your existing supply). A few years ago, many organizations underestimated the costs of computers and overestimated their benefits. Now, the prevailing wisdom may be going too far in the other direction. Our trailing‐edge skeptic notes some of the absurd projections of earlier years, showing the simple math that undermined the business plans. Going on to discuss some reasons why earlier cost‐benefit equations were seriously off in one direction, he proceeds to the current situation. Finally, notes from the literature cover four months (December 1988 through March 1989) with few startling developments but many worthwhile articles and reviews.
Linking Library Automation Systems in the Internet: Functional Requirements, Planning, and Policy Issues
Authors: Lynch Clifford A.
Published: February 2008

Historically, library catalogs have been rather insular, often based on specialized hardware and/or operating systems lacking industry‐standard networking capabilities. Network access was not a major consideration in the design or selection of these specialized systems. But when library automation systems are attached to the network as an afterthought, they often display unsatisfactory functional characteristics; libraries now face the realities of the wired campus environment and the collision between library automation tradition and the new world of networks.
Writing Effective User Manuals: Basic Guidelines and Tips
Authors: Webb Donna R.
Published: February 2008

With the proliferation of automated systems in libraries comes a growing need for good user documentation. Due to staffing constraints, often the person responsible for producing this documentation has no related background or experience. This article offers that writer a few simple guidelines and tips.
Evaluating Vendor Documentation
Authors: Wood Nancy W.T.
Published: February 2008

The documentation provided with an automated system should outline all necessary procedures; answer questions; help with staff training; and provide a comprehensive and detailed view of the purchased system. Good documentation does not offer irrelevant information, nor does it present too much detail when inappropriate, or too little when required. The hazards of inadequate documentation are many—it can be misleading, erroneous, and confusing. Good documentation cannot make up for a poor system; and poor documentation is not likely to result in a good system being rejected by a potential purchaser. However, in addition to training staff and end‐users to effectively use a new system, good documentation can help decision‐makers understand the features, functionality, and advantages of a good system.
Fear of Buying
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

Whether you are buying your first personal computer or considering an upgrade, you face a confusing marketplace that is unlikely to become simpler. You must plan your uses and consider your needs, so that you will know what type of computer you want. Knowing what you want is not enough, however; knowing the marketplace may be equally important. Traditional preferences for purchasing methods may no longer make sense—but none of the alternatives are foolproof. It is easy to make a mistake and some mistakes are more disastrous than others. The author discusses his own mistakes, how those mistakes were resolved, and what they might mean to you. The article concludes with some highlights from personal computing magazines published during April‐June 1989.
The Alice‐B Information Retrieval (IR) System: A Locally Developed Library System at Tacoma Public Library
Authors: Mischo Lare
Published: February 2008

The Alice‐B system at Tacoma (WA) Public Library supports a variety of public service and reference features. The system database is distributed on CD‐ROMs, which are attached to numerous PC workstations. The workstations are linked to an online circulation system to determine copy status and facilitate related functions. Special emphasis is given to authority control as well as keyword access. Powerful information handling techniques and contemporary interface designs are incorporated in the system.
Bar Coding Projects: Preparation and Execution
Authors: Gatten Jeffrey N.
Published: February 2008

Massive bar coding projects require a great deal of planning and preparation, and usually involve most of a library's staff. The swift and efficient execution of the project is paramount. While a large‐scale bar coding project can be intimidating, detailed planning can prevent hours of anxiety and the need for crisis management. This article attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the relevant issues for a successful bar coding project. Selecting bar codes, planning and structuring a project, calculating time estimates, and maintaining staff morale are presented in detail. A selected bibliography provides access to more information.
Moving to the Next‐Generation System: A Case History of a Vendor's Approach
Authors: Feuer Sam
Published: February 2008

In 1983, Utlas International, a major bibliographic utility and a vendor of a range of automated services and systems for the library community, reached a point in its corporate development where massive technological change was unavoidable. Feuer details the procedures adopted by Utlas to migrate to a next‐generation system. The process involved three major stages: planning, system conversion, and implementation. He notes techniques employed to keep sub‐tasks manageable, to maintain a schedule, to instill a sense of accomplishment in staff members, to facilitate communications among project teams and all individual staff members, and to extract that most necessary and elusive component of a major development effort—documentation. The experiences in this case study are relevant to libraries that are implementing new systems, and particularly to those libraries that are migrating to next‐generation technologies.
Online User Assistance: A Symposium
Authors: Kaplan Denise , Matthews Joseph R. , Horton William , Markey Drabenstott Karen , Hildreth Charles R. , Klemperer Katharina , Mischo Lare , Noerr K.T. , Winiarski Marilee
Published: February 2008

Most second‐generation online catalogs give libraries some capability to customize help messages, screen displays, and system prompts. Microcomputer applications designed or mounted locally may offer even more flexibility. Commercially available information systems offer the user some type of assistance, even when not totally profitable. The librarian has become an active, if not always willing, participant in the design of his or her system's user interface. Knowledge of both patrons and collections can have direct bearing on the structure and effectiveness of the library's automated system, its interface, and online help features.
THE EDUCOM'89 Infonet
Authors: Whiteman Cole
Published: February 2008

The University of Michigan's Information Technology Division, with the help of 21 corporate partners, created a city‐wide multivendor information network to support the EDUCOM'89 conference. This article discusses the origins of InfoNet; describes the system as the users experienced it; looks behind the scenes at how it was developed; and summarizes what was learned from creating the system on a tight timeline.
Content‐enriched access to electronic information: Summaries of Selected Research
Authors: Van Orden Richard
Published: February 2008

With the continuing increases in computer processing and storage capabilities, the barriers to and benefits of electronic access to more information content are becoming serious issues in information science research. The experiments described in this article, which address the value of content‐enriched access, are important to continued progress in information retrieval. Well‐selected content components and full‐text materials in electronic systems must be linked with improved search methodologies, better computer interfaces, and greater understanding of the structure and use of knowledge. Content‐enriched records, augmented by these other developments, will enhance the probability of users identifying the information they require.
Retrieval effectiveness of enhanced bibliographic records
Authors: Dillon Martin , Wenzel Patrick
Published: February 2008

OCLC recently completed a research project to measure the contribution to retrieval effectiveness of adding abstracts and tables of contents to bibliographic records. The most accepted evaluation measurements in information retrieval research are recall and precision. Recall is the percentage of relevant documents in a collection that are retrieved for some query. Precision is the percentage of retrieved documents that are relevant. The Findings indicate that the addition of content‐bearing information in bibliographic records will improve the overall retrieval effectiveness of library catalogs. However, the improvement is primarily in terms of recall. Precision will suffer as more content‐bearing information is added to records.
Computer Room Water Protection
Authors: Price Bennett J.
Published: February 2008

Water can enter computer rooms from numerous sources: air conditioners; roof, floor, and wall leaks; backed‐up floor drains; fire sprinklers; and so on. While insulated power and signal cables may not be affected by water, splices in such cables as well as computer components may be seriously affected. A wide range of water monitoring and signaling equipment is available for subfloor and ceiling installation to detect and warn of water problems.
Beyond courier: Good writing deserves good typography
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

Words on paper: that's the end result of most personal computing, at least in library related fields. The author revisits a topic covered extensively in his earlier articles, but takes on a very different aspect this time around: typographic options for word processing. Content may be the crucial objective of written communication, but good typography can't hurt and frequently helps, while bad typography can get in the way of communication. The author notes some major options for desktop typography, discusses some of the issues involved in making the choices, and reviews Swfte Glyphix, a lesser‐known system for generating any size typeface, as needed, while using Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. January‐March 1990 brought more of the same in PC magazines; the most interesting new development for library PC users might be the introduction of the Hewlett‐Packard LaserJet III, which has been used to “typeset” this issue of Library Hi Tech.
Open systems interconnection: A special issue of Library Hi Tech
Authors: Denenberg Ray
Published: February 2008

This special “theme” issue of Library Hi Tech is devoted to Open Systems Interconnection. The editor is Ray Denenberg, of the Library of Congress. Eleven articles cover the basic OSI platform, applications, support areas, and implementation. The basic OSI platform consists of protocols for the seven layers, including support for file transfer and message handling. Three articles describe network applications and the corresponding OSI services and protocols. “Information Retrieval as a Network Application” describes the ANSI Z39.50 protocol. Another article describes the interlibrary loan protocol, which incorporates the sequences of messages that occur in distributed interlibrary loan transactions. An article about electronic data interchange describes the edi conceptual model being developed by ISO, and its relationship to OSI. Network management and directory services are two of the most important OSI support areas; individual articles cover these two topics. Implementation topics include profiles, testing, and products.
X.400: The standard for message handling systems
Authors: Swain Leigh , Tallim Paula
Published: February 2008

X.400, one of the first OSI Application layer standards to be ratified, has generated considerable interest in the computer and telecommunications industry. Software vendors and network service providers are now marketing X.400‐based products. Message handling systems based on X.400 support interpersonal electronic mail services and also provide a generic mechanism for the exchange of information between computer systems. This ability to support information transfer between computer systems is the real contribution of X.400. Telecommunications based on this standard can be applied to library operations such as interlibrary loan, acquisitions and document delivery.
Information retrieval as a network application
Authors: Lynch Clifford A.
Published: February 2008

The nature of information retrieval applications, the Z39.50 protocol, and its relationship to other OSI protocols are described. Through Z39.50 a client system views a remote server's database as an information resource, not merely a collection of data. Z39.50 allows a client to build queries in terms of logical information elements supported by the server. It also provides a framework for transmitting queries, managing results, and controlling resources. Sidebars describe the Z39.50 Implementors Group, the Z39.50 Maintenance Agency, and international standards for OSI library application protocols.
Network directory services
Authors: Planka Daniela
Published: February 2008

The Directory (CCITT X.500/ISO 9594) is an international standard, which was ratified jointly by ISO and CCITT in December 1988. The standard describes the structure and services of a global, logically centralized but physically distributed, electronic network directory that will support the evolving telecommunications environment. Directory pilot projects are underway in both North America and Europe and commercial implementations of the Directory standard are becoming increasingly available. As the bibliographic community becomes more dependent on the use of networks, it is essential that library professionals understand the capabilities of this powerful new standard.
Environmental information resources and electronic research systems (ERSs): ECO‐Link as an example of future tools
Authors: Weiskel Timothy C.
Published: February 2008

As the amount of information on environmental issues expands rapidly, librarians and researchers require innovative techniques to keep abreast of it and manage it effectively. While numerous periodical and annual environmental publications are now available to help in this task, perhaps the most efficient means of gaining access to and managing timely information on the environment now lies in deploying various forms of electronic technology. After mentioning some of the major printed works with current environmental information, this article explores some of the most useful electronic sources for environmental research and describes an Electronic Research System (ERS), called Eco‐Link, that the author devised to conduct global environmental research at the Rockefeller Foundation where he was a Warren Weaver Fellow during 1989–90.
Digital diversions: Taking a break from productivity
Authors: Crawford Walt
Published: February 2008

Can you become more comfortable with your PC (and thus more productive) by playing with it? Probably—and, in any case, we all need a break now and then. Fun and games for the PC come in all varieties; the most widely reviewed programs require dozens of hours and your full concentration. Those programs aren't the topic of this column. The author writes about momentary pleasures or digital diversions: programs that can be fun on a fifteen‐minute break—although some of them, to be sure, can easily take up full days. If you have a VGA monitor and wonder where all those colors are, you'll find some answers here. If you want to sharpen your skills for a trip to Nevada—that's another kind of play, covered here as well. And if you've ever heard of the Game of Life (not the board game) or cellular automata and wonder what they're all about, read on: the answer is intriguing and can be incredibly time‐wasting. The usual notes from the literature follow, including this year's printer roundup and reviews of a remarkable number of top‐of‐the‐line 80386 computers.
Library automation consultants: Current realities and issues
Authors: Cortez Edwin M. , Michael James J. , Salmon Stephen R. , Sybrowsky Paul K. , Fessler Vera , Pope Nolan F.
Published: February 2008

The reasons for using the services of a library automation consultant are numerous, but the key reason is to obtain help—expertise—not already available in the library staff. When a decision to use a consultant is made, the consultant should be identified, selected, and hired through a careful review process. Not all consultants are equal in ability or share the same areas of expertise. Once a consultant is hired, the library must continuously evaluate the consulting process and provide feedback to the consultant so that necessary adjustments can be made. This symposium presents the related insights and perspectives of both librarians and library system vendors.
Text files in libraries: Present foundations and future directions
Authors: Price‐Wilkin John
Published: February 2008

Libraries must actively support humanities text files, but we must remember that to focus exclusively on texts tied to specific systems is to put ourselves in opposition to the needs of the researchers we intend to serve. A working model of the sort of system and resource provision that is appropriate is described. The system, one put in place at the University of Michigan, is the result of several years of discussions and investigation. While by no means the only model upon which to base such a service, it incorporates several features that are essential to the support of these materials: standardized, generalized data; the reliance on standards for the delivery of information; and remote use. Sidebars discuss ARTFL, a textual database; the Oxford Text Archive; InteLex; the Open Text Corporation; the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI); the machine‐readable version of the Oxford English Dictionary, 2d edition; and the Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities.