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290 lines
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Public-Access Computer Systems News
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Volume 4, Number 4 (1993) ISSN 1050-6004
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Editors: Dana Rooks (LIBL@UHUPVM1) and Linda Thompson
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(LIB1J@UHUPVM1).
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Issued on an irregular basis by University Libraries, University
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of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-2091.
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CONTENTS
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VTLS CREATES NATIONAL UNION CATALOG FOR FINLAND, 1
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AUTO-GRAPHICS TO OFFER GPO DATABASE EXTRACTION SERVICE, 2
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BIP TO UNDERGO MAJOR CONVERSION, 2
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OCLC TESTS MULTI-SYSTEM ACCESS SOFTWARE, 4
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INTERNET ACCESS TO LC INFORMATION FILES, 5
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NEW RLG MEMBERS, 6
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VTLS CREATES NATIONAL UNION CATALOG FOR FINLAND
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The Automation Unit of Finnish Research Libraries, Finnish
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Ministry of Education has contracted with VTLS Inc. to create a
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national, online union catalog containing holdings of all the
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Finnish academic and some other research libraries. The union
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database is part of the automation plan known as LINNEA (Library
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Information Network for Academic Libraries), consisting of 22
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libraries throughout Finland that use the VTLS integrated, online
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library software.
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The national union catalog, called LINDA, will reside on a
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dedicated Hewlett-Packard 3000/992/100DX computer. The machine
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is located at the Computer Center of Helsinki University and is
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connected to FUNET, a data communications network already linking
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the local area networks of Finnish universities. The dedicated
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machine is configured for 400 simultaneous users.
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The project is taking place in two phases. In the first phase,
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which began in November 1992, VTLS extracted the bibliographic
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and authority records from nine of LINNEA's libraries. In the
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second phase, the records will be loaded into the union database.
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After the initial load, LINDA will contain approximately 1.8
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million records, and will grow by 250,000 records annually
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thereafter. All the records will be stored in FINMARC.
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For additional information contact Gail Gulbenkian, VTLS, 703-
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231-3605.
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+ Page 2 +
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AUTO-GRAPHICS TO OFFER GPO DATABASE EXTRACTION SERVICE
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Auto-Graphics, Inc. will offer libraries the ability to extract
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profiled bibliographic records for government publications from
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its Government Documents Catalog Service (GDCS) database, both
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retrospectively and on a continuing basis. The service will
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begin March 31, 1993.
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The Auto-Graphics service will include a number of options:
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One-time retrospective extraction of GPO records from the
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GDCS database for load to online systems, performed by Auto-
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Graphics, based on a predefined profile. Single or multiple
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holding library codes can be accommodated.
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Ongoing extraction of new GPO records (adds, changes,
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deletions), processed locally by the subscriber from the
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current GDCS CD-ROM disc. Users may change their extraction
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profiles monthly.
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Corresponding LC name and subject authority records, barcode
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number generation, record printouts, and shipping list
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records.
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Subscribing libraries will select materials for which they want
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records extracted using an easy-to-use item selection disk
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program provided by Auto-Graphics.
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For additional information contact Ruth Rubio-Rogerson, Manager,
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Library Subscription Products, Auto-Graphics, 3201 Temple Ave.,
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Pomona CA 91768, 909-595-7204 or 800-776-6939, ext. 323, or fax:
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909-595-3506.
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BIP TO UNDERGO MAJOR CONVERSION
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On April 1, R.R. Bowker will launch a new system of data
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acquisition, validation, and delivery--called BowkerPower--and
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begin transforming its database from repositories of information
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into dynamic, intelligent, information networks. Books in Print,
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the first database to be converted, will not only be able to
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communicate directly with other databases, but will even scan,
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scrutinize, and correct its own records.
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Over the spring and summer of 1993, Bowker's traditional methods
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of communication, classification, and output will be changed by
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the following three-part program:
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+ Page 3 +
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1. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
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Books in Print soon will be on duty 24-hours a day, ready to
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capture and disseminate new data as quickly as the telephone line
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will allow. Through EDI, publishers will be able to download
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bibliographic information from their own computers directly into
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Books in Print via modem or dedicated line. All the latest
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titles, prices, and other data changes can be transferred to
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Books in Print just hours after they have been recorded by the
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publishers themselves.
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The system also will extract and automatically configure
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information stored on magnetic tape or diskettes containing
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commercial database programs. For publishers without electronic
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transmission resources, Bowker will provide a special software
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program developed to interface with the BIP database.
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Even manual methods of input and feedback will be accelerated.
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Within 48 hours of receipt, data supplied on printed Advance Book
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Information forms will be entered into the system.
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2. Internal Quality Control & Validation
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Through a rigorous program of internal and external data
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comparisons, virtually every element that enters the BIP database
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will be checked and rechecked for accuracy and consistency. For
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uniform categories such as authors and languages, Bowker will use
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Library of Congress authority files. For categories where no
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definitive standards exist--mass-market titles, audience codes,
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and series--Bowker will create new authority files based on
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industry convention and Bowker standards. This combination of
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universal and customized "authorities" will enable Books in Print
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to monitor each title's classification and each bibliographic
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component for consistency and error.
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To ensure that the internal quality controls are functioning
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properly, the BIP database will be compared against LC MARC
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tapes; records from Ingram, the leading tradebook distributor;
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and many other authoritative sources. Any discrepancies--from
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mismatching ISBNs to price changes--will be identified
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immediately and corrected.
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3. Customized Delivery Systems
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In addition to print, microfiche, online, and CD-ROM versions of
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BIP, Bowker will introduce a new species of custom-tailored
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products, delivered on magnetic tape or even downloaded directly
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into the subscriber's own computer system. For example, a
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scientific research library could select BIP information on
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biomedical titles alone, updated on a weekly basis. The range of
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data, update frequency, and delivery format can all be determined
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by the individual user.
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+ Page 4 +
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In addition to revamping its BIP database, Bowker is in the
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process of working with others in the book industry to create
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universal standards for categories such as audience codes and
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mass-market titles. Future Books in Print enhancements might
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include Table of Contents data; separate indexes for anthologies,
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collections, and series; and inventory data.
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For additional information contact Joan Silinsh, Bowker, 121
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Chanlon Rd., New Providence NJ 07974, 908-665-2818.
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OCLC TESTS MULTI-SYSTEM ACCESS SOFTWARE
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A field test of the OCLC Gateway Software, a UNIX-based package
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that provides easy and simultaneous access to various computer
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systems, is under way at the University of Cincinnati; the
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University of California, San Diego; and the University of
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Pittsburgh.
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OCLC Gateway Software connects OCLC Cataloging, Interlibrary
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Loan, and Reference Services to a wide variety of workstations
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and terminals wired to campus networks.
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OCLC Gateway Software can provide multiple simultaneous
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connections to available services so that users can toggle
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between (or among) various systems, such as, PRISM Cataloging and
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the library's local system. Users will not have the
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inconvenience of logging off one system to log on to another.
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Users need OCLC authorizations and passwords to use the systems,
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but additional wiring is not necessary if the hardware is
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connected to the institution's network.
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OCLC Gateway Software is compatible with many kinds of computer
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equipment, ranging from OCLC workstations and PCs running
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PASSPORT (OCLC communications software), to Apple and other
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computers running VT100 emulation packages, IBM 3270 terminals,
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commonly used local system terminals, and other public-access
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machines. All of these can have full PRISM access to OCLC. They
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can also access other computerized services available on the
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institution's network.
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For additional information contact Judith Warner 614-761-5052
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or Nita Dean 614-761-5002.
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+ Page 5 +
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INTERNET ACCESS TO LC INFORMATION FILES
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The Library of Congress has announced a major new initiative
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to increase the availability of its resources to the public.
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In a statement before the House Legislative Branch
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Appropriations Subcommittee on January 25, 1993, during
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hearings on the Library's fiscal year 1994 budget request,
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Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said that the Joint
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Committee on the Library had approved online access to the
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Library's automated information files through Internet beginning
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in late April 1993.
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These files, containing more than 28 million records in over 30
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files, have been available to congressional offices, state
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libraries, and cooperative cataloging libraries in the past. The
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files to be offered by the Library include all LC MARC
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(machine-readable cataloging) files; copyright files, 1978 to the
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present; public policy citations, 1976 to the present; and
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federal bill status files. Both the technical
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processing/cataloging system (MUMS) and the reference/retrieval
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system (SCORPIO) will be accessible for searches over the
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Internet.
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The Library has experimented with various forms of remote access
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to its public files--initially in a pilot project called ROLLUP,
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and most recently in its LC DIRECT fee-based service to state
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library agencies. Online access to Library of Congress databases
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is useful to a variety of libraries. The Internet will provide a
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means by which access can be had at minimal cost to all. No fees
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will be charged.
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The Library of Congress is able to offer remote access to its
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public databases via Internet as a free service, but must limit
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its customer support to documentation download over the Internet.
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The Library will begin by providing system availability to 60
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simultaneous Internet users to ensure that service to Congress
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and on-site users is not degraded. Usage will be monitored to
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determine if this number can be expanded if needed, but service
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to congressional users will continue to be the Library's primary
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goal for its online systems.
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Specific details regarding when and how one can connect to the
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Library's public online files through Internet will be available
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in April.
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+ Page 6 +
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NEW RLG MEMBERS
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The Library of Congress has joined the Research Libraries Group
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(RLG) as a general member, formalizing a long-standing
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relationship that began in the 1970s.
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In addition, the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Rice
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University, and the California Historical Society have joined RLG
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as special members, bringing total RLG membership to 126.
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Public-Access Computer Systems News is an electronic newsletter
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that is distributed on BITNET, Internet, and other computer
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networks. There is no subscription fee.
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To subscribe, send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1 (BITNET)
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or LISTSERV@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU (Internet) that says: SUBSCRIBE PACS-P
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First Name Last Name. PACS-P subscribers also receive two other
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electronic serials: Current Cites and The Public-Access Computer
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Systems Review.
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Public-Access Computer Systems News is Copyright (C) 1993 by the
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University Libraries, University of Houston. All Rights
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Reserved.
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Copying is permitted for noncommercial use by academic computer
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centers, computer conferences, individual scholars, and
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libraries. Libraries are authorized to add the journal to their
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collection, in electronic or printed form, at no charge. This
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message must appear on all copied material. All commercial use
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requires permission.
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