Library Technology Guides

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Volume 10 Number 04 (April 1990)

Annual survey of automated library system vendors (continued)

Once a year LSN systematically surveys the library automation industry to get an overview and to facilitate comparison among vendors. Last month we summarized the responses from vendors of integrated, multi-user, multi-function systems--both turnkey and software only vendors. This month we summarize the responses from vendors of PC-based systems. Twenty vendors were sent surveys; only eight responded after repeated attempts to encourage their participation in the survey. The results are not summarized because of the wide variety of offerings.

Auto-Graphics, Inc., offers IMPACT CD-ROM catalog systems on a turnkey basis, or existing compatible PC hardware can be used with the MS-DOS version 3.3 operating system. The programming language is C. The company sold eight turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 22--all in North America. Nine systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues between $5 and $10 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Twenty percent of the sites were using local cataloging; and 90-100 percent each had online patron access catalog and authority control. Ten percent had a local area network interface; and twenty-five percent interface with other library systems from the same vendor. Three sites were using 200-399 devices; six 100-199; five had 60-99; three had 30-60; one had 16-29; three had 8-15; one had 2-7; and one had only 1 device. Six staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and 15 staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included IMPACT Research level searching, catalog maintenance enhancements, and an I&R module.

[Auto-Graphics, Inc., 3201 Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768; (800) 325-7961.]

Data Trek, Inc., offers multi-function, integrated library systems, primarily for PCs, although there is a version for Digital VAX computers. The company offers turnkey systems and software packages for MS-DOS, NOVELL, VMS operating systems. The programming language is D-BASE III, CLIPPER, and ASSEMBLER. The company sold 368 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to l,003--970 in North America. Twenty-two systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues above $2.5 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Twenty percent of the sites were using local cataloging; fifteen percent each were using circulation and inventorying; and ten percent were using acquisitions. An OCLC interface was in use by six percent. Fourteen percent had a local area network interface. Seven sites were supporting 16-29 terminals; 261 had 815; 347 had 27; and 905 had only one terminal. Seventeen staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and 8 staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included Card Datalog DCX Version 5.0; Card Datalog DEC VAX Version 5.1; Card Datalog Apple Macintosh Version 1.0; Universal Search Module (USM); Card Datalog Version 5.1 (French and Spanish language version) and the opening a new European office in Paris, France.

[Data Trek, Inc., Marketing Department, 5838 Edison Place, Carlsbad, CA 92008; (800) 876-5484.]

Library Automation Products, Inc. offers software only for PC-based IBM compatible hardware using DOS-based local area networks. The company reported 37 sales in 1989, with its total installations at 170, all in North America. No sales were reported as awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company revenues were reported as under $1 million, and it did realize an after-tax profit. All of the sites were using report generator; 90 percent were using serials control; 75 percent each were using local cataloging, online patron access catalog, and authority control; 25 percent were using circulation; and 50 percent had acquisitions. Seventy-five percent had an OCLC interface, BiblioFile interface, or RUN interface; and half had local area network interfaces. Six sites had 16-29 terminals, ten had 8-15, six had 2-7, and 148 had 1 terminal. The company had three persons devoted to software maintenance and development, and three committed to other customer support. Major enhancements included customer cataloging, OPAC and Circulation released in 1989.

[Library Automation Products, Inc., 352 7th Avenue, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10001; (212) 967-5418.]

The Library Corporation sells IBM-PC-based cataloging support systems, CD-ROM-based patron access catalogs, and PC-based acquisitions and circulation control integrated with its CD-ROM catalogs. The company offers both turnkey systems and software packages. The programming language is C. The company sold 529 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 2,117--l,860 in North America. Twenty-one systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues between $5 and $10 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Ninety-one percent of the sites were using local cataloging; one percent each were using circulation and inventorying; 17 percent each had online patron access catalog and authority control; and two percent were using acquisitions. The BiblioFile interface was in use at all sites. An OCLC interface was in use by five percent; while one percent each had RLIN, UTLAS and WLN interfaces. Two percent had a local area network interface; six percent interface with other library systems from the same vendor; and one percent had remote data base searching. One of the sites was supporting over 400 devices; one supported 200-399; one had 100-199; one had 60-99; one had 30-60; two had 16-29, and twenty had 8-15; 122 had 2-7; and 1,969 had only 1 device. Fifteen staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and 34 staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements included completed and delivered BiblioFile circulation and acquisitions Version 1; developed time-sharing network environment simultaneously running all BiblioFile applications in a single 386 PC clone.

[The Library Corporation, Research Park, Inwood, WV 25428; (800) 624-0559.]

OCLC, Inc., offers turnkey systems and software packages for PC-based products using the MS-DOS operating system. The programming language is C. The products are limited to acquisitions and serials control. The company sold 46 PC-based product packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 237 PC-based products--all in North America--at the end of the year. Sixteen systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. Thirty staff overall were committed to software development and maintenance and to other customer support at the end of 1989.

[OCLC Local Systems, Inc., 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017-0702; (614) 764- 6449.]

TERDATA Systems, Company, offers turnkey systems and software packages for PC-MOS, Forth, Polyforth, and MS-DOS. The programming languages are Forth and Fortran. The company sold between 35-40 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 536--all in North America. Approximately ten systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues between $1 and $2.5 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Eighty percent of the sites were using local cataloging; 90-95 percent each were using circulation and inventorying. One percent interface with other library systems from the same vendor. Two percent of the sites were supporting 8-15 terminals; 38 percent supported 2-7; and 60 percent had only 1 terminal. Three staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and four staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included touch tone phone booking, campus resource manager system; and media leasing programs.

[TERDATA Systems, Company., 1111 W. Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048; Bert Arnold, Vice President; (708) 367-8800.]

VP Library Systems offers turnkey systems and software packages for IBM- AT/386 compatible computers with MS-DOS and Novell operating systems. The company sold 250 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 686--5O7 in North America. Some 84 systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues under $1 million. Ninety-five percent of the sites were using circulation and inventorying; 66 percent had online patron access catalog and authority control; and seven percent were using acquisitions. The BiblioFile interface was in use at 40 percent of all sites. An OCLC interface was in use by ten percent; while one percent each had RLIN, UTLAS and WLN interfaces. Seventy-five percent had a local area network interface. Ten percent of the sites were supporting 8-15 terminals; 80 percent had 2-7; and ten percent had only one terminal. Two and a quarter staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and six staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included OPAC completely redesigned and rewritten in window style interface and extensive online help; and bilingual capability.

[VP Library Systems, Columbia Computing Service, 8101 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 700, Englewood, CO 80111-2911; (800) 663-0544.]

Winnebago Software Company offers software only. The product runs on IBM and Apple hardware using the MS-DOS operating system. The company did not report sales figures for 1989, but claims a total of 7,000 installations worldwide. No systems were reported as awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company declined to report sales figures or profits. All of the sites were using report generator; ten percent were using local cataloging; 40 percent had online patron access catalog; 60 percent each had inventorying and circulation. The following interfaces were used by an undisclosed percentage of sites: an OCLC interface, BiblioFile interface, a local area network interface, RLIN interface, UTLAS interface, WLN interface. All sites supported 2-7 terminals. The organization had six persons devoted to software maintenance and development, and five committed to other customer support. Major enhancements in 1989 included the introduction of Union Catalog and PC Cardmaker, and an update to Winnebago CIRC/CAT.

[Winnebago Software Company, 310 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 430, Caledonia, MN 55921; (800) 533-5430.]

OCLC to sell local systems division

OCLC has announced that it has reached an agreement in principle for the sale of its local library systems business to Ameritech Information Systems, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameritech, a $10 billion company with over 100 years of experience in the communications field.

Ameritech Information Systems, Inc., currently markets Discovery Place, a local library software system, and is allied with OCLC in bidding on the multi-million dollar Ohio Libraries Information System (OLIS) project. The 2,000-employee company also markets network products and services, telephone equipment, and comprehensive systems solutions.

Under the terms of the agreement, the maintenance contracts and ownership of OCLC's Local Systems products, LS/2000, LS/2, SC350, and ACQ350 will be transferred to Ameritech Information Systems, Inc., and all of OCLC's Local Systems Division employees will be offered employment by Ameritech Information Systems, Inc. OCLC Local Systems accounts for approximately 8 percent of the local library systems market in the United States.

OCLC's local systems installations , include: 95 contracts for the LS/2000 local library system; 27 contracts for LS/2 (former Data Phase systems currently supported by OCLC); and 81 contracts for ACQ350, and 162 for SC350 which are microcomputer-based systems for acquisitions and serials control, respectively.

The agreement in principle is subject to negotiation of a definitive agreement and formal corporate approvals which are expected to be completed this Spring.

[Contact: Phyllis Bova Spies, OCLC, 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017-0702; (614) 764-6266.]

Data Research announces enhancement of information gateway

Data Research Associates has announced its agreement with The H.W. Wilson Company to provide easy access to the WILSONTAPE Data Base Licensing Service for users of the Data Research automation system. WILSONTAPE provides easy, unlimited electronic access to the well known Wilson Indexes via locally loaded, machine-readable monthly tapes. By extending the Data Research system to accommodate WILSONTAPE, materials cited in the Wilson databank will be directly accessible through the Data Research online public access catalog.

Data Research Associates also announced the ability to load the ABI/INFORM data base onto the Data Research automation system. Searches, including keyword and Boolean, may be performed in the same way users search their library's bibliographic data bases. ABI/INFORM consists of indexing and abstracts of articles from more than 800 business and management journals, 400 of them indexed from cover to cover. It contains more than 475,000 records from 1971 forward, providing full bibliographic information, index terms, classification codes, company identifiers, and a 150-word informative summary of the article. ABI/INFORM is produced by UMI/Data Courier, a subsidiary of University Microfilms International (UMI).

As with other data base access provided through Data Research's information gateway, the WILSONTAPE and ABI/INFORM access take advantage of Data Research's adherence to the emerging NISO Common Command Language standard that allows users to execute the same search commands, regardless of the data base being searched.

[Contact: Data Research Associates, 1276 North Warson Road, P.O. Box 8495, St. Louis, MO 63132-1806; (800) 325-0888.]

INLEX introduces new terminal

INLEX, Inc., has introduced a new online public access terminal to its library automation product line. The new OPAC terminal has brightly colored, labeled function keys, with instructions printed directly on the keyboard. The function keys operate in a similar manner to those used in the banking industry's automatic teller machines and, as with those machines, the user need not learn any computer commands. The terminal's ESC and Break keys are blanked out to ensure that searching the OPAC will be as trouble-free as possible.

The INLEX OPAC terminal provides separate data and printer RS-232 ports, as well as a large, high-resolution 14" flicker-free monitor. The terminal is compatible with the entire Hewlett-Packard line and comes with a 5-year warranty.

[Contact: Pat Barkalow Eby, INLEX, Inc., P.O. Box 1349, Monterey, CA 93942; (408) 646-9666.]

IU undertakes scholar's workstation development

Indiana University has announced that it will be working on a scholar's workstation to enable users to more easily access bibliographic, image, and full-text data bases. The first step will be a joint project with IBM to develop a PC-based interface for the NOTIS library system that will enable a user to search the OPAC using a series of mouse-activated online command "buttons." The interface also would add graphics to the onscreen instructions. The "buttons" would replace the strings of text commands now in use. Among the applications for the graphics is multi-campus access by clicking the mouse to pinpoint on a map the location of the campus, the holdings of which are to be searched.

The development work will further add to the growing number of efforts to define and develop scholar's workstations. Plans are to make the interface available to other NOTIS users.

[Contact: NOTIS, 1007 Church Street, 2nd Floor, Evanston, IL 60201; (312) 866-0150.]

Public library network in Spain picks VTLS-89

Ninety-nine public libraries in the Barcelona area will automate their operations with VTLS-89 software. The libraries are part of the Public Library Network of Barcelona. The first phase of automating the network includes creating a technical processing center and automating five branch libraries within the city of Barcelona. The technical processing center will serve as the hub of the network. It is staffed to process acquisitions, catalog and distribute materials, and maintain a union catalog. Automation of the network is based on a series of distributed Hewlett-Packard computers using the X.25 communications protocol. Libraries close to the central computer are linked to it directly. Additional libraries will be linked to the network over the next three years. Meanwhile, a VTLS distribution system provides each of these libraries cataloging information of tapes, diskettes, and catalog cards, depending on its progress toward full automation.

[Contact: Gail L. Gulbenkian, VTLS, Inc., 1800 Kraft Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060; (703) 231-3605.]

EPIC launched

On January 6, 1990, OCLC launched EPIC, its online reference service. The first data base--available now--is the entire OCLC Online Union Catalog, consisting of 21 million bibliographic records and more than 350 million locations. EPIC will eventually be expanded in the future to include a wide array of data bases.

In addition to the large file of monographic records, the data base includes more than one million serials, nearly 500,000 films, videos, and other audiovisual materials, more than 500,000 sound recordings, some 400,000 music scores, 220,000 maps, nearly 100,000 archives and manuscripts, and 25,000 computer files.

Subscription to EPIC is now open both to OCLC member libraries and non-OCLC libraries. Some of the searching, retrieval, and display features of EPIC include: subject access, keyword searching, Boolean operators, adjacency operators, right and internal truncation, nested searching, browsable indexes, offline prints of search results, saved searches, and online help screens.

The pricing structure of EPIC is similar to that used by most online reference data base retrieval systems: connect-hour charges, online display charges, offline print charges, and telecommunications. The hourly connect rate for members is $37.00, and for non-members $110.00.

Non-OCLC libraries have the option of subscribing either directly with OCLC or through a regional OCLC-affiliate network. Access options, system features, and pricing are the same either way. The advantages of subscribing through a regional network are that libraries will qualify for lower training fees, will have access to ongoing support from regional networks staff, and will be able to attend regional network sponsored EPIC update meetings at no charge.

[Contact: OCLC Regional Network or OCLC Inc., 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017-0702; (800) 848-5800 or (614) 764-6000.]

OCLC and UTLAS discuss cooperation

OCLC and UTLAS are discussing possible cooperation between the two organizations. the organizations' bibliographic data bases are the largest in the world. OCLC's data base of over 20 million unique bibliographic records and 331 million holdings records contributed by over 4,450 active members, is unparalleled in size and scope. Utlas' data base, contributed to by over 500 institutions predominantly in Canada and Japan, contains over 50 million MARC records, including an estimated 16 million unique records.

Both organizations are convinced that investigation of cooperative programs, services, and products is in the best in-terests of their respective members and customers. The key areas for cooperative investigation include resource sharing, reference services, authority control, and technical services. It is anticipated that this cooperative effort will lead to enhanced services for libraries in Canada and the United States and around the world.

[Contact: OCLC, Inc., 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017-0702; (800) 848-5800 or (614) 764-6000; and UTLAS International U.S., Inc., 8300 College Boulevard, Over- land Park, KS 66210; (800) 33-UTLAS or (913) 451-3111.]

LC considers USMARC validation facility

The Library of Congress is considering the establishment of a USMARC validation facility. The facility would validate the compliance of a set of MARC records to the USMARC format and document that validation by means of printed reports. A vendor of an automated system that claimed to support USMARC or a prospective customer of such a vendor could submit records for validation. A minimum of 100 records would be required. The facility would run the records using special computer programs and would produce printed reports on that validation. The USMARC Validation Facility would analyze each record including every field, every subfield, and all applicable values, to detect structural errors (incorrect leader length, incorrect directory length, missing record terminator, missing field terminator, incorrect record length value, incorrect base-address-of-data value, and incorrect field length), leader errors, field errors (illegal tag, improper repetition of a tag, missing required fields, empty field, illegal subfield for field, improper repetition of a subfield, missing required subfield, empty subfield, incorrect number of indicators, illegal indicator values, illegal or incorrect values in specific data elements) , interfield errors, and illegal characters.

It would be the responsibility of the user of the facility to ensure that the tape is composed of appropriate USMARC records to demonstrate whatever capability the user wishes to document or validate. The date of last transaction (field 005) and system identification (field 040/c) in the USMARC records would have to be present in order to document the system that produced the records, when they were produced, and implicitly the version of the system that was used to produce the records. Validation of the adherence of bibliographic records to specific cataloging rules (e.g., AACR2) would not be included as part of the USMARC Validation Facility.

LC is soliciting comments from library automation vendors and hopes to discuss its plans with representatives of most major vendors at the ALA Conference in Chicago in June.

Fax grants in Oklahoma

Twenty-three public libraries in Oklahoma have received new telefacsimile machines from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. The equipment grants are part of a project to encourage cooperation among public libraries.

These participating libraries will now be able to exchange magazine articles to meet patron requests. Fifteen other public libraries which already have fax equipment will also participate in the project. Along with the fax machine, each library has received a listing of the magazines and journals available at all of the participating libraries.

Although magazine article exchange is the primary purpose of the project, the new equipment gives these libraries the option of using fax for high-speed correspondence.

Approximately $27,500 in federal Library Services and Construction Act funds paid for the 23 fax machines.

Preconference on standards for the acquisition of library materials

Libraries, publishers, system vendors, and book vendors all are developing and implementing integrated automated systems. Enhancements to these systems are likely to include applications for the electronic transmission of acquisitions information. Standard formats for electronic data interchange are critical. A number of standards already exist. New standards were being discussed and developed.

On June 22, 1990, the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and the Book Industry Study Group, Inc. (BISG) are presenting a one-day seminar on the topic of standards for the acquisition of library materials. At this program, industry experts will provide an in-depth look at each of the standards in use today, as well as addressing future standards development and implementation.

Topics will include: MARC, BISAC, SISAC, X12, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) , OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) , and bar coding technology.

This seminar is intended for anyone involved in the acquisition of library materials or the technical development of automated systems, including: acquisitions and technical service librarians, publishers, system vendors, book vendors, and subscription agents. The seminar will be held at the Chicago Marriott. The registration fee is $100.

[Contact: NISO Acquisitions Preconference, P.O. Box 1056, Bethesda, MD 20827; (301) 975-2814; fax: (301) 469-0823.]

E-Mail progress

AT&T and MCI have announced that their electronic mail systems were interconnected in February, 1990. Users of the two systems can now exchange messages using an Open System Interconnection X.400 gateway between the services. Each company has approximately 100,000 E-Mail subscribers. Each company is pursuing several other interconnection agreements.

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