Library Technology Guides

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Volume 11 Number 01 (January 1991)

New operating systems

Ten years ago, operating systems--the, system software responsible for scheduling, synchronization, and management of resources, in input and output of data, file storage, and security--was closely linked to specific computers. The major reason was a need to use a computer's CPU (central processing unit) as efficiently as possible. Given the power of today's computers, this is of much less concern.

Currently emphasized is an open operating system that can easily be "ported" to different computers. Unix, the most popular of the open operating systems, runs on hundreds of different models. The installed base is believed to be in excess of 1.6 million units.

There are two major new operating systems being developed: Amoeba and Plan 9. Amoeba, a product of the Free University of Amsterdam, is designed to link a number of independent computers and to provide access to information without the terminal users having to determine in which computer the wanted information is stored. Amoeba has been in development for 10 years. The Beta version was recently shipped. It will be used by the European Space Agency in an upcoming space shuttle launch. The operating system is compatible with both Unix and the OSI standards. It has been likened to Novell NetWare, but for very large networks with large computers.

Plan 9, a product of AT&T, the developers of Unix, was begun only in 1988. It is oriented to distributed systems using many small, specialized-function microcomputers. Such distributed systems presumably would be centrally controlled, rather than linked among independent systems. Therefore, the Plan 9 would be suitable for corporate or government agency-wide networks, while Amoeba would be suitable for networks among libraries, banks, or other independent organizations. Plan 9, like Amoeba, is designed to augment, rather than replace, Unix.

Because of librarians' increasing interest in operating systems--an interest stimulated by several library automation vendors' recent migration from proprietary operating systems to Unix--

Library Technology Reports has commissioned Richard W. Boss and Mary H. Casey of Information Systems Consultants, Inc., to prepare a study on operating systems. Publication is tentatively scheduled for mid-1991.

Digital to open up VMS

Digital, maker of one of the most popular hardware platforms for library automation, has moved to retain customers who may be considering Unix over its proprietary VMS operating system. VMS will be rewritten to conform to the Portable Operating Standard Interface (POSIX) in order to achieve interoperability among VMS, DOS, ULTRIX (Digital's Unix implementation), and other versions of Unix. The five-year plan is intended to offer the best of both worlds: VMS performance and security, and Unix's networking.

University of Maryland system selects Carl

The University of Maryland System has chosen CARL Systems, Inc., of Denver, to provide its next generation Library Information Management System. The University's LIMS II will use CARL to link 13 libraries on 11 campuses across Maryland in a $7.6 million project.

The system, which is being installed, should offer an online patron access catalog by January 1991, with full implementation scheduled for fall 1991. The libraries will implement all modules of the CARL system, including acquisitions, serials control, cataloging, circulation, and patron access catalog. The system has been designed to support more than 500 terminals in its first year of operation, with growth to nearly 1,000 terminals over a five year period.

The software will be run on a Tandem 780 central processing unit located at UM's College Park Campus, and a second Tandem 720 CPU at the Baltimore Campus, supporting two law libraries. All 13 libraries will be linked by dedicated communication lines, allowing patrons and staff at each library full access to all the library catalogs, to a union catalog of all holdings, and to a variety of other information sources. The full system will be available to remote users connected to the University network; dial-in capabilities will also be supported and the system will be available through the Internet.

LIMS II replaces two existing library systems: a Geac system which has supported University of Maryland libraries at five campuses including College Park, Baltimore County, the Law Library of UMAB, the Eastern Shore, and University College (also in College Park); and a CLSI circulation system which has supported Towson State, Salisbury State, Bowie, Coppin, and the University of Baltimore. Three libraries that had not previously been automated are also a part of the new system--Frostburg State, the University of Baltimore Law Library, and the Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies.

CARL Systems, Inc., was founded in 1988 as the marketing and support organization of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries, which since 1978 has sought to provide systems that allow shared access to library and other information resources.

[Contact: CARL Systems, Inc., 777 Grant, Suite 304, Denver, CO 80203; (303) 861- 5319; Fax (303) 830-0103. or Ron Larsen, Project Manager for ElMS LIMS II, (301) 403-4198; Fax (301) 403-8170.]

CLSI adds four libraries to its ongoing program of Altos upgrades

CLSI, Inc., while making virtually no new sales in 1990, had an active year upgrading systems for its current user base, especially those using older Digital Equipment Corporation systems. Upgrades to CLSI's Altos-based systems, in both single and dual-processor configurations, have been particularly popular, although a number of users have opted for the more powerful Sequent equipment. CLSI has now installed more than 80 Altos-based systems in North America and 25 in Australia and Europe--all using the Unix operating system. An additional 75 CLSI Unix-based systems operate on Sequent computers worldwide.

The libraries most recently upgraded to Altos are Loyola University Library (New Orleans), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach), Escondido (California) Public Library, and Decatur (Illinois) Public Library. A major Sequent upgrade has recently been completed for the City Libraries of Paris.

CLSI also has installed its first upgrade to a dual Sequent system. The 325 terminal system will serve the 29 libraries of the Cooperating Libraries Automated Network (CLAN) based in Providence, Rhode Island.

CLSI's Unix-based systems include cataloging, circulation, and patron access catalog modules. Acquisitions and serials control are still being rewritten to run under the Unix operating system.

[Contact: CLSI, Inc., 320 Nevada Street, Newtonville, MA 02160; (617) 965-6310.]

University Of California, DRA and Digital to develop Z39.50 server

The University of California (U.C.) has entered into an agreement with Data Research Associates, Inc., and Digital Equipment Corporation to develop a NISO Z39.50 information server application. The software and supporting record transfer formats will ultimately permit the University of California's system wide MELVYL online catalog and the DRA system installed at U.C. Davis to create distributed library automation applications across the University's computer communication network.

The project has been made possible by grants from DRA for software and DEC for hardware. Development is being undertaken as part of a collaborative effort between the U.C. Davis General Library and the Division of Library Automation, a unit within the Information Systems and Administrative Services at the University of California office of the President. The U.C. Davis campus is also providing opportunity funds to support the project.

When developed, the interface will allow the MELVYL online catalog to display materials availability status retrieved from the DRA/U.C. Davis circulation data base. In addition, the MELVYL online catalog will be transparently accessible through the DRA public access catalog installed at the U.C. Davis General Library.

The MELVYL catalog interface software will build upon work already underway to link the MELVYL system with Pennsylvania State University's LIAS online catalog, which was funded by an earlier grant from Digital.

Software from DRA will include modules for circulation, public access, MARC data base cataloging and authority control, and OCLC and RLIN interfaces. These interfaces are likely to be modified into NISO Z39.50 connections later in the project.

The software will be installed on a Digital VAX 4000 model 300 processor. Z39.50 is an American National standard developed by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO). It was adopted in 1988, with a parallel international standard currently in balloting for Draft International Standard status.

Formally titled, "Information Retrieval Service Definition and Protocol Specifications for Library Applications," Z39.50 defines a mechanism for distributed information retrieval in a computer network environment. Through compliance with z39.50, one system can query an information resource on a remote system ma standard fashion.

[Contact: Joe Bonwich, Data Research Associates, Inc., 1276 North Warson Road, P.O. Box 8495, St. Louis, MO 63132-1806; (800) 325-0888 or (314) 432-1100; or Mary Heath, U.C. Davis General Library, (916) 752-0129.]

Gaylord continues expansion--announces new customers, modules

Gaylord reports that it will add seven additional staff members in the next few months to support recent installations of the company's new integrated library system, GALAXY. The added staff will also support Gaylord's data conversion services program and be used to accelerate development of new GALAXY software modules.

Gaylord officially introduced GALAXY at the 1990 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Chicago. Since then, 35 libraries have installed the system with 10 more scheduled in the next few weeks.

Gaylord expects GALAXY's acquisition module to be demonstrated at the 1991 ALA Midwinter Meeting in January, and its serials control module, at the ALA Summer Conference in June.

[Contact: Gaylord Information Systems, P.O. Box 4901, Syracuse, NY 13221-4901; (315) 457-5070 or (800) 962-9580; Fax (315) 457-8387.]

Information Dimensions adds acquisitions

Information Dimensions, Inc. (IDI) has announced the addition of an acquisitions module to TECHLIBplus, its library automation and management system. The new module automates all purchasing activities including pre-order searching, order processing, item receiving and tracking of payments.

Currently in use by over 150 special government, corporate and technical libraries worldwide, TECHLIBplus provides patron access, cataloging, circulation control, and serials tracking automation. Built on BASISplus, IDI's text information management system (TIMS), TECHLIBplus not only provides comprehensive capabilities for storing, retrieving, and managing bibliographic data, but also incorporates enhanced functions for handling full text documents, abstracts, and tables of contents.

TECHLIBplus runs on a wide range of platforms including DEC VAX/VMS, IBM/MVS, and IBM/VM/CMS and is priced from $8,000 depending on CPU and number of users.

[Contact: Information Dimensions, Inc., 655 Metro Place South, Dublin, OH 43017-1396; (614) 761-8083.]

KeyNOTIS for Delaware State

The William C. Jason Library-Learnine Center at Delaware State College in Dover, Delaware, has selected NOTIS System's KeyNOTIS package for its local integrated system. The College will implement the OPAC and cataloging modules first, with circulation, serials, and acquisitions to follow.

KeyNOTIS is a turnkey package operating on a dedicated IBM 9370. It provides a full range of functionality for library operations. Delaware State is the fourth KeyNOTIS site and NOTIS' 139th installation.

The Jason Library-Learning Center holds approximately 200,000 volumes with 1,055 current serial subscriptions. The library's patrons include approximately 2,600 students and over 150 faculty members. Previous to acquiring NOTIS, the library had an automated circulation system and online catalog. KeyNOTIS will replace both.

[Contact: NOTIS Systems, Inc., 1007 Church Street, 2nd Floor, Evanston, IL 60201-3622, Attn: Stuart Miller; (708) 866-0171; Fax (708) 866-0178.]

Automated request processing for British Library

The British Library Document Supply Centre is developing an automated request processing system to keep track of its more than 3.25 million requests a year. Not only will any of the 12,000 libraries which use the Centre be able to place orders online (via the existing ARTTe1 service), but they will be able to check, online, for the response to their request. The Centre now has 200,000 journal titles, 3 million books, and nearly 4 million other items.

[Contact: British Library Document Supply Centre, Boston Spa, Wetherby, England LS23 7B4; 011-44-1-798-8131.]

Format for patron records out for review

The proposed national standard for the patron record format to be used in automated library systems has been distributed for review. Using this standard, libraries will be able to exchange patron records with other libraries and to migrate patron records from one automated library system to another in a more efficient and economical way. The proposed standard defines a format for the representation and communication of library patron information in machine-readable form. It provides for all the data elements that might be contained in any patron file, and includes elements to protect patron privacy. In an appendix to the proposed standard the patron records now being used by 10 automated library systems are mapped to the standard form.

All interested persons are invited to comment on the draft standard. The review period will end January 31, 1991. It is expected that the final standard will be completed in 1991.

The draft standard is priced at $30 and can be ordered from the National Information Standards Organization (NISO).

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

OCLC annual report

OCLC's Annual Report for 1989-1990 recites increases in number of participating libraries (up 953) and number of terminals (up 519) - There were 11,377 participating libraries with 10,940 terminals as of June 30, 1990. The data base numbered 21,429,974 records as of June 30, 1990, including more than 1.1 million A-V records and a half million scores. ILL transactions continued to rise significantly, from 4.3 to 4.9 million. Revenues dropped for the first time, from $94.8 million in 1988/89 to $93.5 million in 1989/90. The reasons for the slight drop were a lack of increase in online cataloging (static at 22.1 million) and the sale of the Local Systems Division to Ameritech.

Ethernet on UTP

IEEE has approved a standard for run-ning 10-Mbit Ethernet LANs over unshielded twisted pair (UTP) wiring. The new stan-dard, designated 802.3i or 10 Base-T, should dramatically shift the emphasis away from coaxial cable. Coax is not only more difficult to install than UTP, but it costs nearly twice as much. Its main advantage over UTP has been greater data transfer capacity, 10-Mbit versus 1-Mbit.

10 Base-T is based on star topology, which is easier to troubleshoot and main-tain than the bus technology used with most coax-based LANs. In star topology, all communication goes through the LANs hub, thus making it possible to monitor and control the network more effectively.

To a computer attached to a 10 Base-T network, the network "looks" no different than the usual Ethernet Coax bus.

Every major manufacturer of coax Ethernet products has announced 10 Base-T offerings.

Low cost task switching

There has been much clamor over Windows and OS/2. Both are "graphical" user interfaces designed to make a PC easier to use, and both provide task switching. However, both require 2 to 3 MB of RAM to get good performance. A further disadvantage is that to get the full benefits, applications programs written to go with them must also be purchased. For those who needed task switching more than the graphical interface, there is a lower cost option called "Software Carousel." Carousel allows users to jump from application to application quickly and smoothly without upgrading the memory or replacing applications programs. The price is $89.95.

[Contact: Soft Logic Solutions, One Perimeter Road, Manchester, NH 03103; (603) 627-9900.]

U.S. Census on CD-ROM

The 1990 U.S. Census will be available on CD-ROM, as well as on magnetic tape and in printed form. The detailed census will fill 300 CD-ROM disks, but individual states and major cities will be available separately. The data will be formatted to facilitate retrieval and manipulation using dBase III+. The release of data on CD-ROM is expected to begin in the summer of 1991 and continue through the fall of 1993. The price will be $150 per disk. There also will be selective distribution under the GPO Program for depository libraries.

[Contact: Customer Services, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233; (301) 763- 4100; Fax (301) 763-4794. Or Contact Jane Barlett, GPO Program for Depository Librar-ies; (202) 275-1003.]

WORM and erasable come together

Pioneer has begun shipping mass-produced multi-function optical disk drives, which can accommodate either WORM (write-once-read-memory) or magnetic-optical erasable media, using the industry-standard Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI). This development makes possible electronic publications which consist of permanent (archival) and updateable components running on two or more drives sharing a single controller, or archival and dynamic internal files. Other manufacturers are expected to introduce competing products in 1991.

FCC plans to test six HDTV systems

The FCC has announced that testing of six competing high definition television (HDTV) systems will begin in April 1991, and that it expects to be able to select a technical standard for use in the United States by mid-1993. Six groups and/or companies are vying for the right to develop the U.S. standard in high-definition systems, including a U.S.-European consortium led by David Sarnoff Research Center, Japan's NHK, General Instrument Corporation, Zenith Electronics Corporation, N.A., Philips Consumer Electronics, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Testing on the first system, an ehanced NTSC system, proposed by the Sarncli Research Center, will begin in April 1991, and testing on the final system to be evaluated, MIT's simulcast Channel Compatible HDTV, is scheduled to end April 30, 1992. The FCC's Advisory Committee on Advanced Telephone Service will then make a recommendation on a standard by September 30, 1992, with a final decision expected by the FCC in the second quarter of 1993.

An important piece of that testing equipment is being developed by Beaverton, Dregon-based Tektronix specifically for the Advanced Television Test Center. Currently in the prototype stage, the format converter will allow for the recording of the different formats of advanced television signals. Only one of the six ATV systems to be tested uses a scanning format for which there already exists commercially available tape recording hardware.

The ATTC has also contracted with E{arris Corporation to provide an RF testbed for the laboratory which will simulate interference signals that could affect the proposed advanced television systems in the field. The Harris-made equipment has already been delivered and installed in the test center's labs in Alexandria, Virginia.

ATV system proponents must pay $175,000 each to have a system tested.

Individual, Inc., launches First!

Individual, Inc., has launched First!, a current awareness service for organizations in information-intensive markets. First! monitors worldwide electronic news sources and uses artificial intelligence technology to extract only those stories that match a particular client's interests. Relevant articles are packaged into a customized report and delivered to each client daily via electronic mail for organization- wide redistribution on local area networks (delivery via fax is also available) . The most direct competitors to First! are conventional clipping services and electronic clipping services.

First! uses artificial intelligence to act as a newswire filter, scanning the major wires daily and delivering articles of relevance to a subscriber.

The key to the process is SMART (System Manipulation and Retrieval of Text), which acts as an information seeking agent. SMART technology was developed by Cornell University's Dr. Gerard Salton and represents the product of over 20 years of research. Individual has secured an exclusive license for SMART, and Dr. Salton sits on the company's scientific advisory board.

SMART uses natural language queries to view an article as an indexed set of vectors. It also has the ability to recognize entire concepts in a story based on its built-in dictionary and topic-specific thesauri. By mapping an article in this way, SMART can measure and evaluate the degree of relevance between an article and a subscriber's profile.

As stories are continuously received, SMART ranks them in order of priority, relative to subscriber's profile, and performs an automatic clustering analysis to eliminate any duplicate stories. It can also establish the threshold for deciding when to carry an article in full-text, abstract, or headline-only form. Further-more, in a process known as "relevance feedback," SMART allows the subscriber to automatically adjust its profile as its interests change over time, by labeling the articles retrieved as relevant or not.

First! scans more than 5,000 stories daily and selects fewer than 500 for dis-tribution to its clients. A client may receive as few as five pertinent stories. The annual subscription price is $1,995 for the Basic Service (up to 500 stories a year), $4,500 for the Expanded Service (up to 1,250 stories a year) , and $6,750 for the Comprehensive Service (up to 2,000 stories a year). Typically, daily service for 200 managers costs only $50 per person per year.

[Contact: Individual, Inc., 84 Sherman Street, Cambridge, MA 02140; (617) 354-2230; Fax (617) 864-4066.]

An online journal worth considering

Libraries interested in online journals should consider The Public Access Computer Systems Review, a publication of the University of Houston Libraries. Published three times a year, the journal is now in volume 1, number 3. Circulation has risen to nearly 2,000. Among articles of interest in the most recent issue are three on the SPIRES data base management system, one on the University of Guelph's online patron access catalog, and one on the libraries at Rensselaer implementing access to information beyond their walls. Access is available through BITNET at address LISTSERV@UHOPUM1.

[Contact: Charles W. Bailey, Jr., University of Houston Libraries, Houston, TX 77204-2091; (713) 749-4241; E-Mail code LIB 3@UHOPUM1.]

Compact Library: AIDS

Maxwell Electronic Publishing is pro-moting a new series of CD-ROM publications known as "Compact Library." The first title in the series is "Compact Library: AIDS," a compilation of more than 6,100 journal articles from professional and popular journals augmented with citations from Medline and other sources. The search software is BRS/Search. The price is $875 per year, with quarterly shipments of disks.

"Compact Library: Viral Hepatitis" is due out soon.

[Contact: Maxwell Electronic Publishing, 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138; (800) 342-1338; Fax (617) 868- 7738.]

Dynix signs 500th contract

Dynix, Inc., signed its 500th contract on October 25, 1990. The 500th contract site is The College of Eastern Utah located in Price, Utah. The contract includes a DEC System 3100, 10 terminals, and Dynix software for cataloging, circulation, public access, acquisitions, and serials control modules. Installation of the hardware and software is scheduled for February 1991.

With this new client, Dynix has a total of 500 installations worldwide serving 650 separate institutions. Dynix client libraries are located in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and in 39 states in the U.S. Dynix has been in operation since 1983.

The College of Eastern Utah is a two-year school with programs in General Education, Nursing, Cosmetology, Mining, and other vocational studies. The Library serves a student body of 2,860 and is an important community resource as well. The Library has a collection consisting of 34,350 volumes. CEU's Library has a substantial local history collection, including extensive information on local historical figure Butch Cassidy, and a collection on the history of coal mining in the area.

[Contact: Dynix, Inc., 151 East 1700 South, Provo, UT 84606; (801) 375-2770; Fax (801) 373-1889.]

Online/CD-ROM 91 announced

The dates of November 11-13, 1991, have been selected for Online/CD-ROM 91. The meeting will be in San Francisco. The emphasis will, be on trends and practical information on using online and CD-ROM technologies. Jeff Pemberton will be Conference Chair.

[Contact: Online/CD-ROM 91, 11 Tannery Lane, Weston, CT 06883; (203) 227-8466]

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