[10505] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Offline backup to catalog
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (SCOTT P. MUIR)
Thu Aug 8 20:07:54 1996
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 1996 15:53:54 -0500 (CDT)
From: "SCOTT P. MUIR" <smuir@GORGAS.LIB.UA.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: smuir@GORGAS.LIB.UA.EDU
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
While this is not an answer to the specific question posed, I wanted
to offer a response.
The University of Alabama Libraries disucssed this issue many years
ago. Our assessment was that a backup system simply wasn't needed.
Our OPAC has an availability of at least 99.5%, although individual
areas of campus may not have that level due to loss of telecommunication
or electric service to a given building. If our campus was willing to
invest in a back-up power supply for the computer center, our availability
would increase to 99.9%.
It was also our assessment that most patrons don't want to use alternate
sources such as microfiche or CD-ROMS, If the system is down,
they will wait, come back later, or if it is down in a given site,
they will go to another library where it is working. In evaluating the
high costs of producing and updating a backup system, we determined
that the costs were not warranted.
**********************************************
* Scott P. Muir (205) 348-2299 voice *
* Systems Officer (205) 348-2299 fax *
* The University of Alabama Libraries *
* smuir@gorgas.lib.ua.edu *
**********************************************
