[13103] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
PACS-L is back!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Marianne Bracke)
Wed Mar 1 20:12:58 2000
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 08:18:34 -0600
From: Marianne Bracke <msbracke@UH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-Id: <0FQQ00DXRYEY92@Post-Office.UH.EDU>
Greetings from PACS-L! After several months of inactivity, the list is up
and running again, now with a new staff of moderators and a renewed sense of
purpose. We're also using new software, so please bear with us through any
temporary glitches.
PACS-L was one of the first lists to address the issues concerning computers
and their use in libraries. Those issues are still with us, but they have
evolved with the changing technology to take on an ever-expanding role in
the life of libraries and librarians. We would like to reaffirm PACS-L's
commitment to a wide-ranging exploration of technology in libraries and its
implications for library users. Specific technical and service issues are
discussed on a multitude of specialized lists, but we believe that PACS-L's
broad scope and emphasis on the end user make it both unique and necessary.
Although we still welcome technical questions, job postings, and general
announcements, we hope that subscribers will use PACS-L not only as a
technical helpline or bulletin board, but also as a forum in which to share
the problems, solutions, philosophical issues, and practical concerns that
stem from the increased and accelerating use of technology in libraries.
Based on comments from this and other lists, as well as feedback from
colleagues in our library and at large, discussion topics might include (but
are not limited to):
*Managing electronic information
-Organizing access through Web gateways
-Instructing remote users
-Cataloging
-Licensing
-Resource sharing
*Concerns about physical access
-Security
-Internet filtering
-Adaptive technology
*New roles for the library and/or librarian
*Redesigning library processes to incorporate technology
*Rethinking traditional models of service
We welcome broad interpretation of these and many other issues, provided the
discussion is at least tangentially related to the impact of technology on
library services and use. As the new PACS-L moderators, we are looking
forward to revitalized discussion on this list, and we enthusiastically
welcome your contributions and your feedback.
Sincerely,
Marianne Stowell Bracke
Life Sciences and Instruction Librarian
msbracke@uh.edu
Anne Mitchell
Electronic Resources Cataloger
amitchell@uh.edu
J. Michael Thompson
Copy Cataloging Manager
jmthompson@uh.edu
