[579] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: CD-ROM LAN accessibility from OPAC terminals - summary
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (NDAY%UMKCVAX1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.ed)
Wed Jun 24 10:21:15 1992
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1992 09:11:05 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: NDAY%UMKCVAX1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Original question: Do any libraries provide access to a CD-ROM LAN
from their OPAC terminals? Pros? Cons? Do you allow remote
access to the CD-ROM LAN?
When I posted this question on the CDROMLAN and PACS-L lists last
month I was astounded by the number of responses I received. Many
of these responses were requests to me to share the responses I
would/had received. The following is a summary of the responses I
received.
I would like to thank everyone who responded.
Susan Heckethorn
Linda Hall Library
Kansas City, MO
Internet: nday@vax1.umkc.edu
Glee Willis from the Engineering Library at the University of
Nevada at Reno (Internet: willis@unssun.scs.unr.edu, Bitnet:
willis@equinox) alerted me to prior discussions on this topic which
have appeared on the INNOPAC list. Glee suggested searching its
archives.
Fred Roecker, User Ed Librarian at Ohio State University,
(Internet: roecker.1@osu.edu) told me about their "The Gateway to
Information" workstations. These workstations, Macintosh IIsi
computers, are located in the Main and Undergraduate Libraries and
connected through a Novell network. The Gateway, which has been up
for two years now, offers access to 18 CD-ROMs (from Meridan
towers), the online catalog, a variety of print sources, and
information about the library. Most impressive is that they have
created a common front end to all CDs and catalogs. Remote access
and a unix version are in the future. Following are the Pros and
Cons which Mr. Roecker related:
"Pros of this system is that the users love it and are successful.
They hate going from an OPAC to another workstation for CD LAN
access, particularly when the library is busy and they have to wait
for both terminals. The front end makes searching easy, but
straight access to CDs can cause problems in search language. Most
use our regular DOS network on IBM stations by just searching by
subject, no boolean, even though it is available."
"Cons are that it took some programming and maintenance to create
and keep this running at first. Now, all is done by student
programmers, but it took a long time to get there (3 years).
Technology has come a long way. We had to paste together old
software until the good stuff was developed (like MitemView for
frontending and MAC TCP for DOS access on a Mac). Also, for users
there is still confusion of what materials are available on which
database. They still look for full text articles on the online
catalog. That will be solved with more info on the screens, but
still it is a problem for some users."
Jing Wu, Automation Librarian at Stevens Institute of Technology
(Internet: lib_jwu@vaxc.stevens-tech.edu) invited me to try their
Library Information System which includes the Online Catalog and
multiple CD-ROM databases. The Library Information System is
available (as a test) to Internet users.
Michael Lynch, Systems Librarian at Bucknell University (Internet:
lynch@bucknell.edu) sent a copy of the paper he presented at IOLS
'92 in May of this year. The paper, entitled "Integrating an IOLS
and a CD-ROM Network" discusses how they provide access to CD-ROM
indexes through Logicraft's CDWARE server to selected OPAC
terminals. Making this option available to remote users has been
hampered by license agreements, lack of a homogenous computing
environment, and a feeling that remote users would tie up all
available slots cutting off in-house users. The paper is published
in the Proceedings of the Seventh National Conference on Integrated
Online Library Systems, pp. 117-122. ISBN 0-938734-62-8.
Jonathan Millis, Library Programmer/Analyst at the Rochester
Institute of Technology (Bitnet: jjmwml@ritvax) reports that they
have brought up a Logicraft CD-ROM server on their campus network
and offer remote access to users with RIT computer accounts. He
relates the following pros & cons:
"Pros...multi-access is preferred rather than one user at a time;
convenience of access from anywhere;"
"Cons...keyboard control or different equipment means that keyboard
mapping is required; not always access to librarians for help;
printing can be problematic;"
Jerry Byrne from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Library
(Internet:jbyrne@aish.llnl.gov) reports they are evaluating a
system to provide CD-ROM service from the OPAC menu. The system
under consideration consists of a Meridian tower on a DEC Pathworks
network connected to a VAX. One drawback is the diversity of
platforms which will want to access the CD-ROM databases. They
found a system from Logicraft that could support PC's, Mac's,
Sun's, VT-terminals, etc.
William Pipher with Information Technology Services at the
University of Toronto Library (Internet:
pipher@vm.utcs.utoronto.ca, Bitnet: pipher@utorvm) says they have
Medline mounted using CD PLUS's PlusNet 2 System. Medline is
available at any OPAC terminal and to registered users through
dial-up access. Some Wilson databases from their OPAC terminals.
They are not, however, available to remote users because of
licensing requirements.
