[77] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
listserv postings as gray literature
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Fri Apr 24 16:09:30 1992
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1992 14:55:42 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: "Sharyn Ladner, Business Librarian,
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I agree with Hannah King that citing and verifying PACS-L messsages
will be challenging (as well as messages posted to other computer
forums). The recent posting of our summary report on the use of the
Internet by special librarians is a case in point. While I was pleased
that our report was included in the most recent issue of _Current
Cites_ (posted recently on PACS-L), I was also concerned that people
who would like to obtain a copy would be frustrated -- especially
since PACS-L split it into 3 parts whereas the other forums where
we sent it posted it in 2 parts (the way it was originally sent to
all of the forums).
One solution for long postings such as our report is to archive them
on fileservers. I wish I had had the foresight to do this before
posting our report on listservs: our report (How Special Librarians
Really Use the Internt) is available via anonymous FTP from
hydra.uwo.ca, directory LibSoft, file SPEC_LIBS.TXT. I recognize
that archiving many types of listserv postings is not appropriate,
it nevertheless may help to alleviate the problem of accessing this
type of gray literature.
PACS-L readers may also not be aware that ERIC is scanning PACS-L
for items they want to include in their RIE (Resources in Education)
database. I received an e-mail inquiry from ERIC asking to include
our report in RIE -- and I was thrilled that they are taking the
initiative to make this type of material available as well as
providing bibliographic control through ERIC descriptors.
Sharyn Ladner
Business Librarian
University of Miami (FL) Richter Library
Internet: sladner@umiami.ir.miami.edu
Bitnet: sladner@umiami
