[456] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Library Automation--Comments and Questions
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Tue Jun 9 10:55:44 1992
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1992 09:31:51 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@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
3 Messages, 101 Lines
1) Programmers Needed
2) Basic Interface for Telneting
3) OPAC Functionality
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From: "Peter Graham, Rutgers U., (908) 932-2741" <GRAHAM@ZODIAC.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Programmers Needed!
Gutenberg/white spaces/search tool request by Hart:
To my (insufficient) understanding, what M. Hart is requesting is what
constitutes significant features of the grep command in the Unix system.
It sounds like the right place to start rather than retooling.
--Peter Graham, Rutgers University
*-----
Please respond to the author, not PACS-L. Thanks, Dana
From: "NICHOLAS ROSSELLI (219)980-6929" <ROSSELLI@IUBACS>
Subject: Basic interface for Telnet-ing
Well, I was fairly flabbergasted (what a strange word) today.
We've finally got our campus network up - and there, sitting
on my desk was a workstation offering me telnet access to the
world of the internet. Vision of remote computing danced in
my head - more specifically visions of being able to do on-line
searching without relying on a 1200 baud modem and a noisy line
danced in my head.
To my dismay, I discover that there is no capability for doing
what I thought were simple things: echoing to a printer and/or
echoing to a log file. I mean the simplest shareware can do
that much. And so, girding up my loins, I ventured forth to the
computer center - only to be told that *they* have no idea of
how to do it. So I'm asking you all ... is it possible, is there
a way (even one that <shudder> costs money) to achieve this goal?
And, sorry for the duplication but I'm posting this to Libref-l,
Pacs-l, and IR-l.
Nicholas Rosselli
Electronic Reference Services
Indiana Univ. Northwest
Rosselli@IUBACS
*-----
From: Charles Hildreth <hildreth@eagle.sangamon.edu>
Subject: OPAC Functionality
I have been commissioned by the Council on Library Resources to undertake a
study aimed at identifying and describing needed functional enhancements
and additions to present-day library online catalogs and interactive
retrieval systems. This study, carried-out under the guidance of CLR's
Bibliographic Services Study Committee, may be viewed as an attempt to
form a design agenda for the next generation of library information
retrieval systems.
The study will focus on search and retrieval functionality and usability,
not on the equally important matters of document indexing, record format
and content, and data expansions to the OPAC.
I post this announcement to invite input from the wider community. Our
collective experiences and wisdom have not yet been brought to bear on
these issues. Few of us publish, while many toil in the fields of access
using today's search and retrieval technology.
The baseline, from which we hope to advance, must be understood. It is what
I have characterized as "second generation" OPACs, and represents the latest
versions of most installed OPACs. Some have called them Boolean OPACs. In
addition to searches on author, title, or subject heading phrases, and
index browsing, these OPACs support searching by keyword and the ability to
coordinate concepts using one or more Boolean logic operators.
These now-conventional library OPACs and retrieval systems exhibit serious
shortcomings in functionality and usability. Thus, many researchers and
designers have called for the development of "post-Boolean" information
retrieval systems. Others have proposed entirely new models of browsing or
"discovery machines."
Features of third generation systems are beginning to appear in isolated
cases (many available on the Internet). This study will be an attempt to
gather and consolidate these instances of innovation and applied,
accumulated wisdom. The discussion will center on the "what" of
functionality (e.g., ranked retrieval output), not the "how" details of
implementation.
I invite your input via the Lists to which this is posted, as I anticipate
the discussion will be vigorous, iterative, and generative. I suggest that
you limit your recommendations to one or two per response, try to be as
specific as possible, and respond as often as you wish as the discussion
continues.
Enhancements or new models likely to have the most impact will be those
having solid empirical or theoretical support.
Regards and thanks,
Charles Hildreth (hildreth@eagle.sangamon.edu)
READ Ltd.
127 Springbrook Drive
Springfield, IL 62702 USA
