[138] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Internet Resources Catalog
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Fri May 1 15:49:46 1992
Date: Fri, 1 May 1992 14:43:20 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
4 Messages, 129 Lines
*-----
From: "Brian Nielsen, Northwestern Univ. Library" <BNIELSEN@NUACVM>
Subject: Re: A suggestion
In response to Kate Ellis' suggestion about a library-type catalog
to internet resources, this is the nature of the recently-initiated
TopNode Project undertaken at Indiana University with the support of
the Coalition for Networked Information. The project will create records
for a BRS-based search engine mounted at cni.org; Indiana folks are in
the process of organizing work now, and will be using library school
students as catalogers, as I understand. A joint effort of the Library,
the computing center, and the library school. You might want to contact
Peter Percival at IU for more information, or Ed Stockey.
| Brian Nielsen |
| Assistant University Librarian for Network Development |
| Northwestern University Library |
| 1935 Sheridan Road |
| Evanston, IL 60208-2300 |
| (708) 491-2170 FAX: (708) 491-8306 |
| BITNET: bnielsen@nuacvm INTERNET: bnielsen@nuacvm.acns.nwu.edu |
*-----
From: tkoppel@carl.org (Ted Koppel)
Subject: Re: A suggestion
From Kate Ellis's original message:
*
*that effort is ongoing. My question: could these people get
*together, get a machine, get an IP address, get library
*catalog software (or something), 'catalog' what they
*have, provide (and maintain, I know) indices for the
*database (subject, type of resources, etc), and set up a
*mechanism for cataloging future entries?
*
* Of course, a central problem with the suggestion is who?
*I'm not trying to be naiive, I know that there is no
*obvious appropriate body who would be responsible for the
*maintenance that such a project would entail. It seems to me
*that the answer lies in volunteer effort. I see lots of
*volunteer effort in my travels on the internet, so I thought
*I'd try this out.
We at CARL Systems would be happy to act as the home for such a
database. We will be happy to provide it storage, an IP address,
and access through our software.
The Internet Resource Guide is limited as it now exists, and the
various Library guides don't always cross into the area of resources
that the IRG does. Your idea of trying to meld all of this into one
place makes a lot of sense.
If the PACS-L readership wants to proceed with this (on the CARL Systems
platform), we'll need to develop a mechanism for sending the data
to us for processing. I have some ideas, but it's a bit early in the
process for that.
Ted Koppel
Ted Koppel -- CARL Systems, Inc. -- ted@carl.org
>> Systems that Inform <<
Work: 404 242 8733 Home: 404 242 8710
*-----
From: Diane Hillmann <DH5@CORNELLC>
Subject: Re: A suggestion
In response to Kate Ellis' suggestion of this morning:
My first thought on seeing the suggestion was that it reminded me
somewhat of the old Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland movies, where they decide
to put on a show. Somehow in their lives, things like that can be
thrown out and voila, it happens. In our "real" world, we generally try
not to set ourselves up like that. Yes, interested volunteers can do a
lot, and probably will be instrumental in experimenting with these new
ways of describing online resources. I would suggest, however, that
they OCLC proposal that has been cross-posted on this and other
listservs, where experienced catalogers will be creating and
experimental database, is a much better way to maximize the time of
volunteers, and avoid well-intentioned "experimental" dead ends.
Diane Hillmann
Cornell Law Library
*-----
From: Eileen Hitchingham <HITCHINE@DUVM>
Subject: Re: A suggestion
I too am amazed at the tremendous volunteer efforts going on with the
Internet and have been considering whether some of this work could be
spread out on a consistent basis. For example, we value very highly
the connectivity software developed by Mark Resmer at Sonoma State
University. It not only lists interenet resources but actually
connects you to the site. When you are done you always back out
the same way (Control-C Q) and come back to the previous menu
so you are ready to make another connection.
(to see this in action telnet vax.sonoma.edu signon as libs)
The information for Mark's software is based on the files compiled by
Art St. George, another super volunteer. ( These are only two of the
MANY volunteers I've been grateful to -- I won't mention any more names
because then I'd be sure to skip some really significant stuff and
I just want to say a BIG THANKS to everyone -- and you know who you
are).
I don't know how Art gathers his data but recently I've begun to
think of the concept of volunteers by city, state or region to feed
the data to Art. The volunteer would poll local sites to determine
whether they wanted to be listed and forward the info to Art on a
regular basis. Maybe he already has a more efficient way to do this
but if not I'd be willing to volunteer for responsibility for some
defined region. When Art's list get bigger and better then Mark's
software gets bigger and better, and everybody is better off.
The above may not be the best example of the kind of volunteer effort
needed. I suspect that some of the real appeal of the current
network environment is that it is not too regulated or consistent.
Some of the most entrepreneurial developers might be stifled by things
that have to follow too many rules. Even so, I would welcome some more
discussion on what projects need some volunteers and how I as mostly
a network lurker could contribute something back to the system.
Eileen Hitchingham,Dean of the Library
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA 19104
Bitnet: hitchine@duvm Internet: hitchine@duvm.ocs.drexel.edu
FAX: 215-895-2070 TEL: 215-895-2750
