[166] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Internet Resources Catalog
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Tue May 5 12:15:31 1992
Date: Tue, 5 May 1992 11:01:21 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>
3 Messages, 73 Lines
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From: polly@lpl.org (Jean Polly)
Subject: Re: Internet Resources Catal
In regard to the TopNode project currently underway.
My understanding, from a recent conversation with Craig SummerhIll of CNI,
is that TopNode will catalog Internet FILES not Resources. So it will not
tell us the location of all the copies of the online CIA World Fact Book,
for example.
On the other hand it would, no doubt, let us search for documents on
Internet Use, which would pull up Zen, Gold in Them 'Thar Networks, etc etc.
Anyone who has ever been faced with the prospect of retrospective cataloging
knows how difficult it is. Might I gently suggest that the best way to
document a new Internet resource OR file might be by the person who makes it
available? A very simple form could be developed which would not require an
MLS to fill out. When you put something up on the net, fill out the form and
send it to somesite.edu. Then search the resulting collection of items full
text with WAIS.
Or something. Is anyone experimenting with self-documenting files requiring
no human intervention?
Jean Armour Polly INTERNET: polly@LPL.ORG or polly@nysernet.org
Liverpool Public Library OTHER: polly@well.sf.ca.us
Liverpool NY USA VISION: "Don't postpone joy!"
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From: me@SUZUKA.U-STRASBG.FR(Michel Eytan LILoL)
Subject: Re: A suggestion
In a message From PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET Thu Apr 30 16:49:03 1992
Kate Ellis writes:
It seems to me that the time has come for some body
of individuals to load a library catalog-style database, available
on the internet, of internet resources.
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?
Quite right, too. I am sending this on the list so that it gets to all.
What you want *exists already* I believe (though for internal reasons here I
haven't been able to set up a client here); it's called WAIS. If you want to
know more about it, get the file 'What is WAIS?' from quake.think.com by
anon ftp. If you do not have ftp, I can send you the file by mail -- after
checking that this is allowed ...
==michel eytan@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr
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From: "Peter Graham, Rutgers U., (908) 932-2741" <GRAHAM@ZODIAC.BITNET>
Subject: A useful apothegm
I have a note I want to pass on before I throw it out: at ALA this year I
was listening to someone who stimulated me to write down the following--I
think it was my thought arising out of something they said, and it seems
like a useful summary statement.
About scholarly information on the network:
To catalog it is to collect it.
Not profound, but perhaps useful.
--Peter Graham, Rutgers University
