bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current requirements and future prospects for systems librarians
Authors: Muirhead Graeme A.
Published: February 2008

Many library and information workers — the majority, even — use technology in some way or other. Only a relatively small number, however, have come to regard IT management or library systems administration as a full‐time specialism. The terms used to designate these posts are many and varied, but perhaps the job title which has gained the widest usage is ‘systems librarian’. Chan (1987) defines systems librarians as ‘the people responsible for managing computerised library systems.’ However, it is possible to differentiate between staff for whom this is the principal responsibility and those who carry out the function of systems management as one task among many, and whose main duties are elsewhere. In practice there is often no clear dividing line, but for the purposes of this article the former category only will be considered to be systems librarians. The latter group, in so far as they are discussed at all, will be referred to as ‘system administrators’ or ‘system managers’.
Management information and library management systems: an overview
Authors: Fisher Shelagh , Rowley Jennifer
Published: February 2008

Management information facilities transform the library management system into a much more effective management tool. Three levels of management can be identified — operational, tactical and strategic — and each of these has its own unique management information needs. Earlier work on the use of management information in libraries and the development of management information systems demonstrates that progress in these areas has been slow. Management information systems comprise three components: facilities for handling ad hoc enquiries; facilities for standard report generation; and management information modules, or report generators that support the production of user‐defined reports. A list of standard reports covering acquisitions, cataloguing, circulation control, serials and inter‐library loans is provided. The functions of report generators are explored and the nature of enquiry facilities reviewed. Management information tools available in library management systems form a valuable aid in decision making. These should be further exploited and further developed.
OPTIC — multimedia product information for the construction industry
Authors: O'Leary Ruth , Crawford Marshall
Published: February 2008

The OPTIC (Optical Product and Technical Information for Construction) multimedia system is being developed as an aid to specifiers in the construction industry. It is based on the European EPIC (European Product Information Cooperation) project to develop a new classification scheme for the building products used in construction and civil engineering, and which also has relevance to the building product modelling projects currently underway. This classification scheme is used as a basis for the system, which displays textual and graphical information on construction products. Two sorts of image are shown for each product — a picture of the product in use and a CAD image. Information on the manufacturers producing this project is also given; hyperlinks connect the system. Although still at the development stage, OPTIC will eventually be published on CDROM.
Effective information delivery systems: what's the secret?
Authors: Kirkham Sandi
Published: February 2008

This paper takes the view that the design of information systems which both do the job they were designed for and are culturally acceptable is rare, and that the problem does not lie squarely at the door of unreliable technology or bad systems design. The number of methodologies available which are intended to enable us to design and build information systems has grown rapidly over the last decade or so; one of the outcomes of this is a number of highly structured and mechanistic formulae which assume that people know from the outset what information they want, where they want it to go and how they want it to be delivered. This paper argues that this general assumption is false and has resulted in inadequate and inflexible information systems which quickly assume dinosaur status, or which are rejected by users. A common prerequisite of such methodologies is that a problem has been defined (which the eventual system will solve), and that the organisational and cultural context within which the problem exists is agreed and understood. This is of course sometimes the case but it should not be assumed to be generally true. The view is taken here that more effective information systems are designed when some time is spent at the beginning of the analysis exploring the environment in which the system will operate, and account is taken of the possibly different views of this which may be held by people who work within the situation. Additionally, distinctions need to be made between what information is needed and how it will be delivered. This could be viewed as an important distinction between information and communication systems which has to be understood before organisations can make expensive procurement decisions about communications technology and hardware. The outcome of this process would be an analysis of information requirements using models which were closer to agreed views of the situation. It could also of course usefully generate debate about desired changes to current systems and therefore would be more likely to result in the design of information systems which matched organisational strategy and development. Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology is examined as a useful methodology to use in this context. Its fundamental features are described and examples of models are shown to demonstrate how the methodology can facilitate analysis of communication requirements.
New technologies, new sources, new users — or only new words?
Authors: Dusoulier Nathalie
Published: February 2008

For some twenty years now, the world of information, communications and publishing has been preparing itself for a new era — an era of technological advances, where the wildest dreams can come true. One of these dreams is to obtain reliable, collated and relevant information as fast as possible at an acceptable cost; or, even better, to provide it free to all those who need it. Although some of these dreams are becoming reality — at least in part — the changes involved are having a profoundly disconcerting effect on professionals and users alike.
‘Documentics’: the electronic management of technical documents
Authors: Ferretti Marc
Published: February 2008

How can technical documents be managed without actually having physical access to the data contained in them, and yet provide a means for updating this data and distributing it in a manner that suits me various work environments (i.e. design departments, commercial departments, manufacturing, etc.) for which it is intended? The answer: through the use of computers that make it possible to retrieve each technical document rapidly and easily. Computers can simultaneously manage both the data contained in each document and the document itself, by means of documentary references adapted to me configuration of the documentation.
Librarianship — Swedish‐style
Authors: Stjernvall Gunnel
Published: February 2008

The invitation to write a Guest Editorial for The Electronic Library came at an opportune time for me, as it enables me to share some of the thoughts that have recently been in my mind.
Creation of a database of references using CDS/ISIS
Authors: Amba S. , Meenakshi R. , Subba Rao S.
Published: February 2008

CDS/ISIS was used to develop a database of references for publications of the Central Leather Research Institute. This database is to serve not only as a bibliographic tool but also as a component of an information system for management. The problems encountered in the development of the database are described in this paper.
A review of qualitative and quantitative measures in collection analysis
Authors: Ephraim P.E.
Published: February 2008

While not dismissing the raging debate on whether quantitative measures are more efficacious than qualitative in collection analysis, this paper posits that a mix of the measures is safer ground, such that the strengths of one approach will level out the weaknesses of the other. Consequently, the paper is almost exclusively devoted to considering cases where a combination of these measures was profitably applied. There is also a discussion of a wide range of versa tile software packages with broad appeal which are available on the market today for purposes of data manipulation.
Compact high‐capacity hard disks
Authors: Falk Howard
Published: February 2008

Just a few years ago, the primary reason for purchasing a high‐capacity hard disk was to store huge data files. At that time, 200 million byte hard disks were thought to be high‐capacity units, and prices for disks larger than 200 million bytes ranged from about $4 to $10 per million bytes (the best price for a one gigabyte (Gb) disk was about $6000).
GENESIS — a new beginning or a new generation
Authors: Rowley Jennifer
Published: February 2008

GENESIS, from SCG, the supplier of the well established library management system BookshelF (sic), is one of the first library management systems to run as a Windows product with a graphical user interface (GUI), and as such is one of the front runners of the next generation of library management systems. The article commences with a brief review of the characteristics of GUI‐based systems and proceeds to examine the characteristics of GENESIS. GENESIS is based on a new database environment but retains the same package of modules as BookshelF: Catalogue, Circulations, Thesaurus, System Definitions, Acquisitions, Serials, Management Reporting and System Administration. The GUI interface is simple and easy to use. GENESIS has many of the features that will characterise a new generation of library management systems.
Will new information technology destroy copyright?
Authors: Rosenberg Victor
Published: February 2008

New information technologies will destroy copyright as we currently know it. Once it is simple to send articles in image form anywhere on the Internet to one or many colleagues, people will begin doing it. No amount of litigation or intimidation will stop the practice, since it facilitates the use of information in a productive way. In addition, much that is now published by publishers will be published by authors on the various networks that will be available to them. Publishers must begin now to plan for a complete restructuring of the information economy.
Continued power with full‐text CDROM
Authors: Reid Harold T.
Published: February 2008

Full‐text CDROM is a powerful tool and publishers are finding ways to build more into their product. World Library has upgraded Library of the Future with a third edition (World Library Inc., 1991–1994, Library of the Future, 3rd Edition. Irvine, CA, USA). Library of the Future is a CDROM tool to access classic literature, some religious works and some important documents in full text. World Library has added Windows operation and new graphic effects to the product.
Information centre allocation
Authors: Bar‐Ilan J. , Kortsarz G. , Peleg D.
Published: February 2008

A large number of potential sites are given and we have to choose k sites in order to set up information centres, where each centre is able to serve a limited number of clients. The price a client pays for accessing a centre is proportional to the distance between the client and the centre. This problem belongs to a class of problems for which most theoretical computer scientists believe that there is no fast algorithm for finding an optimal solution. We therefore look for algorithms that produce an approximate solution. In this paper we present a fast algorithm that chooses k sites and assigns the clients to the centres in such a way that the maximum price a client pays is at most nine times the maximum price in an optimal solution. This algorithm works under the assumption that the number of chosen sites is small in comparison to the number of possible sites.
Information technology in the US library market: what the numbers tell us
Authors: Arbour Dan
Published: February 2008

Information technology is fueling a revolution in US libraries. UMI's market survey shows that the proliferation of CDROM, database licensing and computer networks is allowing information professionals to provide extraordinary new levels of service to a variety of researchers.
Online image databases: usability and performance
Authors: McLean Stuart , Spring Michael B. , Rasmussen Edie , Williams James G.
Published: February 2008

The Promenade image retrieval system is described in terms of its design, development and architecture. Design, development and implementation issues are discussed in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. A preliminary usability study is presented and the data respiting from the preliminary study are analysed and discussed. Efficiency in terms of response time due to network delays, database processing, application processing and image characteristics and display is discussed. Response time results from 40 queries made to the image database are presented and discussed. The results of these studies demonstrate where improvements in the system need to be made in order to improve usability and response time.
The information seeking attitudes of non‐metropolitan journalists — a qualitative study of two communities and their primary and secondary sources
Authors: Vreekamp Henk
Published: February 2008

A review of research on the use of documentary and human resources by journalists is framed in an Anglo‐Saxon professional culture of standardised assignments. The comparative fieldwork focused on journalists and communication officers in a medium‐developed small community in the Caribbean and a parochial community in Western Europe. The innovative professional activities of different personalities are important. Information technology leads to some ethical and social problems in mass communication.
Information and democracy
Authors: Benn Tony
Published: February 2008

The UKOLUG Annual Lecture at Online Information 94 was given by the Rt. Hon. Tony Benn — former Labour Member of Parliament for Bristol and now for Chesterfield, veteran Labour politician, Postmaster General and Technology Minister in previous Labour governments, amongst other positions. Information is the one natural resource that is growing at an exponential rate when every other natural resource is decreasing: fossil fuels, coal and oil. Information is growing and what has happened, is happening and will happen will completely transform the world and the lives of everyone who lives in it.
Investing in content: the real estate fiasco of the 90s?
Authors: Kruger Peter
Published: February 2008

In recent months there has been a Succession of deals and investments in the publishing and broadcasting industry. Large amounts of money have changed hands in a dash for content. With the realisation that online services are about to make a significant impact on the way information isdistributed, the race to capture content and content providers has started. Somehow service providers must fill up the greatly expanded airtime that online multimedia offers. The announcement that Microsoft will, in spring of 95, enter the online market is likely to transform the race into a stampede — with it there is the potential for the media industry to replace the property sector as the ideal way of throwing money into a black hole.
The new‐look Electronic Library
Authors: Raitt David
Published: February 2008

Welcome to the second issue of The new‐look Electronic Library! In view of its ever‐increasing popularity, the publisher has decided that it is worth putting some additional resources into the journal and making if more magaziney — things of which I am all in favour!
Interactive television: opportunities for new information services
Authors: Raitt David
Published: February 2008

Interactive television is something that is becoming quite widely talked about these days. In the United States they are going to have 500 television channels but not all of them will be interactive. I understand that there is one called the fish channel, or fish net, or something like this, and it just consists of fish swimming round in front of your eyes for nearly 24 hours out of 24; so it might be very relaxing but I do not know if you can really interact with them much, unless you just open your mouth in the same way they do. Our speakers are going to talk about interactive television. They are going to tell us what it is exactly. They are going to tell us about the transmission technologies that you are able to use, how you actually interact with the programmes. They are going to talk about who is involved in interactive television, and why, and they are going to talk about potential services that one can have available with these devices. Our very first speaker is going to tell us about what interactive television is — Judith Jeffcoate. She is an independent consultant specialising in new markets for information technology, she was the lead author on a report by Ovum on interactive television multimedia, and she has just written a book on introduction to multimedia technology and applications.
New consumer online services
Authors: Collinge Brian
Published: February 2008

In bringing this session into the Online Conference we are approaching a new era perhaps for some of us who are professional online database users. Some of the people on the platform have very clear ideas what they want to do with online technology and may have even relatively little experience of the things that you and I have modestly been doing for a number of years. The idea is to see where the subject matter, the content and the delivery mechanisms are converging, and I hope that by the end of the session you will have a clear idea of what these new consumer services are likely to offer to the wider public, and whether they have an application for us professional online information users. The best way to get started is to have a series of presentations by the panel members in as much detail as they think necessary to describe their products. Not exactly product reviews — I hope that they will share with us some of their fears as well as some of their boasts of what their services can do, what their technical problems have been, and what advantages they see in moving into this market. The first speaker that I have to introduce is Pascal Cusset, who joined Apple Computer France in 1987 and Apple Computer Europe in 1992. In his current position he is managing and developing eWorld in Europe. Before coming to Apple France he worked with Oric International in Paris as a product manager for a line of workstations aimed at creating and running videotex services, using the famous French service based on the Minitel.
Information for competitive advantage at Axel Springer publishing house
Authors: Hamilton Simon
Published: February 2008

What do Claudia Schiffer and Helmut Kohl have in common? Their biographical details, as far as they are available, are recorded in the electronic text archives of the Axel Springer publishing house, Germany's largest newspaper publisher. Whether it is Ms Schiffer's hobbies or Kohl's food preferences, a wealth of information about them and other famous people can be called up on the computer. This information has been compiled from a wide variety of publications by the archive librarians. The problem is, how do you make an archive which contains more than 30 million press clippings accessible to users?
The Electronic Library Manager's Guide to corporate memory
Authors: Raitt David
Published: February 2008

One thing that is grabbing the attention of organisations these days is the concept of corporate memory, i.e. retaining, mapping, navigating and retrieving an organisation's knowledge and information resources. The purpose of corporate memory is to enable a complete picture to be built up of all the scientific and technical information, as well as the knowledge and documentation resources of an organisation. This includes not only existing internal documents and reports, either in printed form or contained in computer databases, but also archives, personal libraries and files collected in the course of official duties, as well as the intrinsic knowledge and experience that staff have accumulated in carrying out their work for their company.
Interactive information systems: information access and retrieval
Authors: Oliver Ron
Published: February 2008

The increasing use of computers as information storage devices is leading more and more publishers, data and information providers to use electronic interactive information systems (IIS) as the delivery medium for their information. These new technologies are being used in place of conventional sources such as paper and books. Further developments in the information field, such as the availability of information through telecommunications technologies and the information superhighway, are destined to increase the application and use of IIS as standard information services. Electronic and interactive information systems differ considerably from their conventional counterparts. There are many new and unique features with which the naive IIS user must contend. This paper reports on research conducted among naive users of IIS which has found significant limitations in the ways in which these users are able to access and retrieve information from electronic sources. Despite skills and knowledge in use of conventional information sources, and guided instruction, naive users of IIS were found to experience many difficulties when interacting with IIS. This paper discusses some of the problems facing naive users and suggests the need for teaching and learning within schools to address specifically information retrieval and access from electronic systems. The paper indicates key content areas that need to be considered and covered.
The development of electronic surveys: a computer language‐based method
Authors: Hsu Jeffrey
Published: February 2008

An important development in the processing and formatting of text has been the creation and use of markup languages, especially with the increased interest in electronic publishing and the Internet. An area being given particular attention has been the use of descriptive markup languages, which allow one to describe a text element or document in a way which is independent of its final output and form. One area which deserves greater attention in this regard is the creation of survey questionnaires, and any comprehensive markup language standard should include markups for supporting this application. This paper examines this need, and explains why a markup language approach would properly support the survey application and how it would extend the utility of the markup approach. A set of markups for survey creation are proposed which would serve as extensions to existing markup standards. The advantages and benefits of markup command languages as compared to traditional direct‐manipulation WYSIWYG approaches are also discussed.
Business analysis of the library systems market in Europe
Authors: for the European Commission KPMG
Published: February 2008

The following is an abridged version of a full report made by KPMG, reprinted with permission from DG XIII. The entire report, including its annexes, will be published as an EUR publication. Part of this study is also available on the I'M Europe Web server, at http://www.echo.lu. The full URL to get the document on screen is http://www.echo.lu/impact/libraries/kpmgfin1.html.
Hints for the electronic librarian: Internet World International 1995, 16–18 May, London, UK
Authors: Jeapes Ben
Published: February 2008

The latest Internet World International Conference, and the first to be organised by Learned Information since the company acquired the event off the previous organisers, Meckler, took place at Wembley Conference Centre, London from 16–18 May. Clearly, the clue to the theme of the conference is in its title — the Internet — and if we wanted to heap acclaim on the event, its organisers, its exhibitors and its attendees, we could go on for ever. It was generally agreed that there has never been anything like the Internet for information distribution, which hopefully is not telling readers of The Electronic Library anything new. So what came out of it that is actually of interest to TEL? Most of the discussion mentioned below centred around electronic publishing. However, what follows is really applicable to any sort of activity interested in providing a service and staying in business, including electronic librarians.
From paper to ether
Authors: Kruger Peter
Published: February 2008

A growing number of publications are putting their content online — some in a measured and thought‐out manner, others as a knee‐jerk reaction to all the hype surrounding the Internet. And hype there is. It seems a day doesn't go by without a Klondike‐scale gold strike in some remote area of cyberspace. It will be those who are able to keep their heads who will have somewhere to put their hats — or at least somewhere sensible to put their content.
askSam: Free form database
Authors: Canganelli Patrick
Published: February 2008

askSam is a database designed to organise information which cannot easily fit into traditional databases. It is available for single‐user and multi‐user applications, and can be a valuable addition to any software library. The list price of askSam for a single user is $149.95. Owners of previous versions may upgrade for $79.95. Multi‐user versions are available for $1095 (5 users) to $15 000(100 users). The vendor is askSam Systems, PO Box 1428, 119 S. Washington St., Perry, FL 32347, USA. Tel: +1 (904) 584 6590 or (800) 800 1997.
The Third Southern African Online Information Meeting
Authors: Spicer Neville
Published: February 2008

In setting the scene, in my editorial for the Proceedings of the Second Southern African Online Information Meeting (The Electronic Library, 11(4/5), August/October 1993), I considered attendance in relation to the ‘interesting and difficult times’ in which we then found ourselves as the country teetered towards the first democratic election. Much has changed since that miracle play acted out by millions of ordinary people in April 1994, and much continues to change as the rainbow nation struggles to take again its place in the international community. In spite of — maybe even because of — the euphoria following the election, the times are no less difficult and interesting. It was against this colourful backdrop that the Third Southern African Online Information Meeting was held on 6–9 June 1995. The effect of another colourful production, the Rugby World Cup, was another unsettling factor.
The world to come: what we can do now
Authors: Raitt David
Published: February 2008

The paper will first discuss certain sociocultural trends such as population growth, increased life expectancy, the labour force and education, and look at how these are affecting society as a whole. Such trends are linked with the global economy and the industrial sector as well as the environment. The consequences of such trends are a number of problems which face the world in the future, particularly in developing countries. These problems include overpopulation, levelling off of food supplies, diseases, natural resources depletion, and conflicts and clashes in areas where immigration and cultural differences exist. Such problems are discussed together with their implications. Some ideas are then given on how these future difficulties might be overcome; and it is clear that information will have an enormous role to play in this respect. Topics covered comprise global awareness (for example of the environment, birth control, women's rights, healthcare) through education and information; frontierless transactions; global information access, dissemination, communication and transfer of knowledge; knowledge build‐up and transfer through CDROM archiving of latent skills and know‐how; and the like.
Developing a common user interface for information searching
Authors: Hollis Richard , Brunelle Bette S.
Published: February 2008

This paper reviews the debate over a Common User interface design across various hardware platforms and operating systems, for both CDROM and online searching of bibliographic and full‐text databases. The implementation and further development of Z39.50 as an international standard for structured bibliographic data structures is also discussed.
Developments in electronic access to biomedical information: a database producer's view
Authors: Herholdt Annette
Published: February 2008

In the past, the convergence and simultaneous appearance of technological innovation and change has brought about the means and the methods for accessing biomedical information online. The situation has not changed but the means and the methods are themselves beginning to undergo innovation and change, mainly as a result of technological progress but also, most importantly, as a result of changing patterns of usage and new user groups. This paper will discuss various emerging technologies as the basis which will determine how biomedical data in electronic format, such as that held in the EMBASE database, could be accessed in the future. From the point of view of the database producer, the questions on this topic which have to be answered are, in order of importance: given an ideal world, what is the user wish‐list?; what are the new technologies and how do they affect our current products?; and, using this new technology, how can we make products which will meet the user wish‐list? It will be seen that the results of applying technological development to online access to biomedical data, or any other type of bibliographic data for that matter, will be transparent to the user, and that online searching for the end‐user will become easier than we could ever have imagined. What I will say is not an announcement of where EMBASE is heading over the next decade, but some speculation in the most general terms of where any bibliographic database could develop in this period Much depends on the simultaneous arrival on the information scene of mutually‐compatible technologies. Much also depends on the desires and preferences of the customers, for as much as they may malign us at times it is true that they are at the heart of our business.
CSIR's new integrated electronic library information system
Authors: Michie Adrian
Published: February 2008

The CSIR has developed a CDROM‐based electronic library information system which provides the ability to reproduce and search for published information and colour brochures on the computer screen. The system integrates this information with online updating, e‐mail and offline user information manipulation and storage.
Mining and minerals‐processing information: where and how to get it
Authors: Svoboda Olga
Published: February 2008

The planning and evaluation of new ventures in mining and mineral processing requires strategic information of the highest quality. However, specialised technical information on mining and related activities is poorly represented in the electronic media. Africa has been particularly neglected by the international information industry, even in comparison with other developing areas of the world, and African countries typically lack the resources to fund and develop their own information services. Increased cooperation between the mining and information industries, and between the developing countries, is needed to remedy the situation.
First experiences with ELSA (Electronic Reference Library for Southern Africa)
Authors: Lees Leslie
Published: February 2008

The paper gives a brief introduction to the Electronic Reference Library concept, which enables LAN and WAN access to compact disc databases using client/server technology. Its introduction to South Africa in the project known as ELSA is related and the interaction between SilverPlatter as technology provider, SABINET as the network supporter and CD‐ROM Information as manager of the project, is outlined. Technology and network requirements for participants are listed. As a first in the world, ELSA was launched on 1 November 1994, serving 26 university and Technikon libraries on an experimental basis throughout South Africa. On going commercial on 1 March 1995, the service had been introduced to the all major libraries in Southern Africa that have the required networking capabilities. The paper gives performance figures for ELSA under test and operational conditions, and concludes with a description of the application of ELSA technology in mounting organisations' own databases on the network enabling joint access to purchased and in‐house databases from a compact disc or hard disk platform.
CDROM networking in an academic library: the UNISA Library experience
Authors: Snyman Dorette
Published: February 2008

A CDROM network using Novell Netware and SCSI Express was installed at the UNISA Library in 1994. The investigation, installation and implementation of the network is described. An overview is given of the technical and software problems experienced, as well as some solutions. After installation a final report with recommendations were written. Steps taken to market the network to staff and students in the library and on campus, as well as training of users, are described. Finally the impact of the network on the services of the library and future developments planned are described.
CDROM networking in an academic library — two case studies: trial, tribulation and success at the University of Pretoria
Authors: Geldenhuys Annemarie
Published: February 2008

The existing campus‐wide network of an academic institution provides the ideal opportunity to install a CDROM local area network (LAN). The idea is to provide the best possible access to end‐users without having to extend the computer infrastructure in the library. A mixture of a literature survey, practical experimentation and compatibility with the existing network were the criteria used for choosing Meridian's CDROM system, CDNet, at the University of Pretoria. CDNet allows the CDNet and CDROM software to be placed on either individual workstations or on a server. Motivated by the pressure to stay competitive, the decision was made to implement a Novell 4 instead of a Novell 3.11 server. This decision proved to create various unforeseen problems during the implementation process. End‐user problems that were encountered during implementation included the following: computer illiteracy; cooperation between network administrators; differentiating workstation configurations; volume of users; slow network speed encountered by off‐campus users; and a suitable use‐statistics programme had to be developed. Selecting suitable databases to include in our system required thorough evaluation of current products available. The final decision was based upon the identified need to make interdisciplinary data available. The requirement was thus to make a certain product or service available to as many users as possible. The advantages in having a CDROM LAN are twofold, relating to library staff and end‐users. The most important advantages include ease of use, convenience and time‐saving. CDROM networking also includes certain disadvantages that may include the following: network inadequacy; problematic software installation; LAN downtime; connection difficulties; fluctuating network performance; and lack of user education. There is no doubt that a CDROM LAN is worthwhile and that the advantages by far outweigh the disadvantages. Accessibility is the key. It is however important to keep in mind that a CDROM LAN is just one of the services which are offered by an information service. In the final analysis, any information service must strive to provide seamless and invisible access to information regardless of the physical location or format.
SunSITE — possibilities for Africa
Authors: Leong Man Dianne , Myers Glenda , Pranjivan Tarun
Published: February 2008

This paper describes the challenges faced by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in bringing First World technology to the Third World that still exists in rural and much of urban southern Africa. Although SunSITE technology is simply that of a World Wide Web server or FTP site, opportunities are now ripe for Wits to place some of its priceless academic resources within reach of the community at large. The story of the Taung skull discovery and subsequent important anthropological discoveries around the Sterkfontein caves is just one example of what has essentially been ‘hidden’ at Wits for years. Additional academic expertise in areas such as constitutional law or primary health care delivery can now also be shared, and will be of considerable benefit to those responsible for implementing Reconstruction and Development Programmes (RDP). As South Africa once more resumes its rightful place in the family of nations, SunSITE Africa will be able to provide Africa north of the Limpopo, as well as the rest of the world, with readily‐accessible information and research unique to this country but long hidden behind the barriers of sanctions and apartheid.
Southern Africa Internetworking: where we are, where we could be
Authors: Lawrie Mike
Published: February 2008

This paper covers a brief history of the Internet in Southern Africa. It covers the period from about 1985 when university efforts were first formalised, the effect of the FRD taking a positive interest in 1987, the efforts in establishing the international gateway in 1989, the first TCP/IP link in 1991 and links into Africa from UNINET. It then goes on to review the present situation, where there are four Internet service providers, direct links to a number of African countries and severe growing pains. Some of the problems of the present situation are highlighted as well as stumbling blocks that are inhibiting expansion. The paper closes with a vision of what might be achieved and the benefits that would arise therefrom.
High‐speed and multiple‐disc CDROM drives
Authors: Falk Howard
Published: February 2008

As CDROMs become a mass medium for entertainment and reference, the prices of CDROM discs have been dropping while the speed of CDROM drives has been increasing. For example, Essex Entertainment is now marketing 50 CDROM titles through music, book and budget retail stores at $9.95 per disc. Two years ago, the street price of single‐speed single‐disc CDROM drives was in the range of $200–400. Today, a similar drive that runs four times as fast (quad‐speed) can be purchased for about the same price. Meanwhile, sextuple‐speed drives are already available and there is no indication that the limits of CDROM drive speed have as yet been reached. This article discusses both quad‐speed and sextuple‐speed CDROM disc drives, and it also takes note of the many types of multiple disc drives that are being offered — some able to deploy hundreds of CDROM discs for almost instant use by equally large numbers of users.
The digital library: dos, don'ts and developments
Authors: Steele Colin
Published: February 2008

The term ‘digital library’ now seems to have become an encompassing term for what was once known as the ‘virtual’ or the ‘electronic’ library. In a stimulating essay on ‘Information Specialists of the Future’, given at the impressive (in terms of contributions) Essen Symposium on the Information Superhighway: The Role of Librarians, Information Scientists and Intermediaries (Essen, Universitatsbibliothek, 1995) Sheila Corrall wondered if the profession is ‘suffering from some sort of identity crisis’ in definitional terms.
Application of CDROM technology in the multimedia library of La Villette Centre for Science and Industry
Authors: Malek Homa
Published: February 2008

The Centre for Science and Industry in Paris, which is one of the most attractive high‐tech science museums in Europe, hosts a unique multimedia library holding some 330 000 documents in scientific and technological fields (books, periodicals, films, educational software, cassettes and CDROMs) with an average of 4000 users per day. Ever since its opening to the public in 1986, the library has been fully automated with an integrated system and presently it operates under GEAC GLIS (running on a GEAC 9000 computer) for acquisition, cataloguing, OPAC and circulation. The OPAC is also available on videotex (French Minitel). After a brief review of the background of CDROM installation in French public libraries, the particular case of the use of CDROMs at La Villette Library is discussed. CDROMs made available to the public are differentiated from those used by the staff, mainly for cataloguing and reference purposes. Other than cost, problems related to the design of hardware and software configuration, as well as the importance of testing pilot products, are analysed. Finally, future developments including the replacement of the existing hardware, upgrading of the software and the necessity of systematic evaluation of CDROM usage by patrons are discussed.
Cataloguing Internet resources: the library approach
Authors: Sha Vianne T.
Published: February 2008

Many approaches have been taken by different groups to collect, organise, archive, disseminate and preserve electronic resources on Internet. Some projects, such as WebCrawler, Lycos, etc., purport to index or organise the electronic resources automatically. Another approach, led by the Clearinghouse for Subject‐Oriented Internet Resource Guides, involves human intelligence to identify and compile Internet resources by subjects for public access. The third category is the traditional library cataloguing approach. This paper demonstrates the benefits of the MARC formats, the importance of the integration of information resources, and the guarantee of public access as the major reasons for using the traditional cataloguing approach to organise Internet resources. Since cataloguing the Internet is a huge project, and various groups are involved in this process, the roles of each related group are discussed.
Application of Micro‐CDS/ISIS and HEURISKO for the preparation of CDROMs
Authors: Stergiou Gabriel , Kaloyanova Stefka
Published: February 2008

This paper discusses the experience gained in the application of Micro‐CDS/ISIS as authoring software and HEURISKO as a user search interface for in‐house production of CDROMs at FAO. It identifies the functions requiring improvement and some additional features that would make retrieval more user‐friendly. Most of these improvements, taking also into consideration feedback from users, were subsequently implemented resulting in a new version of HEURISKO. The paper supports the suitability of Micro‐CDS/ISIS and the new HEURISKO for low‐cost production and distribution of CDROMs, particularly for small and medium size databases. It invites sharing of experience with other CDROM producers using p‐5Xthe same software in view of the further improvement of HEURISKO. Although the forthcoming Micro‐CDS/ISIS Windows version will provide an alternative user search interface, HEURISKO will still be needed for DOS users
Online imaging database serves film and television industries
Authors: Hearst Chuck
Published: February 2008

As well as making products that come in little yellow boxes, Eastman Kodak is also a software developer. One of its software products is the Eastman Exchange, a database that lets film and television professionals access remotely images and information that they need to plan shoots. The Eastman Exchange presently consists of location images and data provided by US and international film commissions, but will soon be expanded to include images and information about props, costumes, talent, audio recordings, photo stills and video clips. The database engine and interface have been designed to be highly adaptable: they can be customised to support any application involving the cataloguing of images for remote access and display.
Altruistic authoring or containing criticism?
Authors: Raitt David
Published: February 2008

In two conferences recently with which I have been involved, a similar thing has happened and I can't decide whether it is clever marketing practice, a blatant attempt to stave off possible criticism of products or a genuine desire to ensure the information public is not fed duff gen.
The precarious position between content and technology: libraries seeking their future
Authors: van Gils Wouter
Published: February 2008

I would like to discuss a number of points which deal with changes in the acquisition and provision of scientific journal literature. My paper is composed of the following parts:
Digital library projects: Where they are now — Part one
Authors: Jeapes Ben
Published: February 2008

A year ago, six digital library projects were announced in the US which were to receive $24.4m of federal funding over the coming four years. The projects were ‘to dramatically advance the means to collect, store and organise information in digital forms, and make it available for searching, retrieval and processing via communications networks in user‐friendly ways.’
Monarch: software with many library applications
Authors: Sheehan Paul
Published: February 2008

Library management systems are generally poor in analysing and reporting the data they contain. In a library context, such analyses are most easily managed in a PC operating system environment, because of the relative ease of learning and maintenance. It has been difficult up to now to transfer the data from mini/micro operating system environments to PC environments. Monarch is a PC application designed to manage this in a controlled and predictable way. Experience so far suggests that this is a stable software, with dependable core functionality, which should be adaptable for many library applications.
Bulgarian National Conference: Telecommunication Nets and Systems Development
Authors: Stoyanova Nina
Published: February 2008

The Bulgarian national conference Telecommunication Nets and Systems Development — TELECOM'95 was held with foreign participation from 10–12 October 1995 in the International House of Scientists at the St Constantine resort on the Black Sea. The conference was organised by the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, the Committee of Posts and Telecommunications (CPT), the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC), and the Union of Electronics, Electrotechnology and Communications (UEEC). During the conference an exhibition was organised with the participation of Bulgarian and foreign companies.
Information and Communications Services — International Forum: Sofia '95
Authors: Stoyanova Nina
Published: February 2008

The Information and Communications Services International Forum (Sofia '95) was held on 17–20 October in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Forum was hosted by the Centre for Telematic Services (CTS) at the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTC) and was organised by BTC, the European Information Industry Association, the Bulgarian Information Industry Association and the Association for Tourism Telematics in Bulgaria. During the conference an exhibition was organised with the participation of 32 Bulgarian and foreign companies in the area of 400 square metres. The exhibitors were companies known worldwide, represented directly or via their Bulgarian partners: IBM, Motorola, Ericsson, Alcatel and others.
The death of linear narrative — and other fairy tales (Are you surfing comfortably?)
Authors: Kruger Peter
Published: February 2008

Living happily ever after was a key part of our childhood, which was a time when the world was a vast and incomprehensible place. In those days coping with what might or might not have been over the horizon was simple enough — we just used our imaginations. If we ever did leave our immediate environment we came to terms with the sheer scale of the world by telling ourselves that what we saw around us was merely part of some gigantic film set, constructed for our benefit. The thousands of people we saw were the same ones moving, with us, from place to place. These were tricks we used to cope with our first encounter with information overload.