Library Technology Guides

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Volume 11 Number 06 (June 1991)

Licensing of commercial data bases on local library systems

Some libraries that have been supporting end-user searching of bibliographic data bases through the use of CD-ROM products, both standalone and on LANs (local area networks), are finding that some data bases are inappropriate for CD-ROM because they are needed concurrently by too many users. Multiple subscriptions to a single data base are expensive, and a single CD-ROM disc on a LAN, even a network which has a memory cache to improve access, cannot accommodate more than five concurrent users on any one data base. Therefore, there is growing interest in mounting data bases on local library systems by obtaining a magnetic tape subscription and a site license.

There are a number of decisions which must be made before approaching a data base vendor about a site license for mounting a data base on a local library system. They are:

1. What data base(s) are wanted, and for what number of years of coverage? Most products are licensed per year of coverage and package deals may be available from vendors which offer more than one data base;
2. Who are the users: faculty, students, general public, corporate users? Some data base vendors offer lower rates for academic or educational use than for general or corporate use.
3. Where are the users? Some data base vendors restrict licenses to specific locations.
4. What is the maximum number of concurrent users, and how will it be limited?

Most licenses are based on the number of concurrent or simultaneous users. This is easy to determine in a CD-ROM environment, since a single CD-ROM can accommodate only one user in a standalone environment or five in a network. However, the number of concurrent users is difficult to determine in a local library system environment. The maximum should never be the total number of users who have access to the system, but rather the maximum number of concurrent users the local system is licensed to support. For example, a campus with a LAN supporting 2,000 users may have a library system which is licensed for 200 concurrent users; therefore, only a tenth of the potential users can have concurrent access. Even that is not a realistic measure of the probable number of concurrent users of a bibliographic data base mounted on a local system since the system is also supporting the online patron access catalog, circulation, and a number of other modules. However, unless there is software which specifically limits the number of concurrent users accessing a data base, it will be necessary to negotiate the realistic level for concurrent use of a specific data base. In any case, it would be rare for more than 10 percent of the concurrent users to be accessing a single bibliographic data base.

After obtaining a price quotation ant a sample contract, it is necessary to examine the contract to determine that the rights and responsibilities of both parties are clearly stated. It is particularly important to note if the contract includes an escalator clause. A clause which caps future price increases is desirable because prices are quite volatile at this time. Many vendors will accept an escalator clause which ties price increases to the Consumer Price Index or to a specified annual percentage--typically 5 to 8 percent. The absence of such a clause makes a library vulnerable to dramatic price increases which reflect changes in vendor pricing strategies, rather than increases in costs.

Library automation products--correction

The summary of microcomputer-based library systems in our April 1991 issue said that Library Automation Products reported no sales in 1990. It should have said that the company declined to disclose the number of sales. After further discussion, LAP revealed that it had sold 85 modules during 1990, with some accounts buying multiple modules. Our article also stated that the vendor had reported no staff committed to customer support. LSN has now been advised that customer support is an additional responsibility of the eight staff reported to be committed to software maintenance and development. Finally, the company reiterated. that its profit figures are not available. [Library Automation Products, Inc., 352 7th Avenue, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10001; (212) 967 -5418; Fax (212) 967-5457.]

Carl Systems assumes maintenance of UTLAS T/Series 50

CARL Systems, Inc., of Denver, Colorado, has assumed maintenance and support responsibilities for current UTLAS T/Series 50 sites. CARL is offering users a smooth migration path to its own integrated online library system, The CARL System, on a scheduled basis.

UTLAS T/Series 50 and CARL Systems share a common hardware platform in Tandem Computers. This agreement will allow T/Series 50 users to protect their current investment in hardware, as well as preserving their data during conversion.

CARL has already converted one UTLAS T/Series 50 site, Arizona State University, which migrated to The CARL System in 1987. Current T/Series 50 sites include Atlanta/Fulton Public Library, Broward County Library (Florida), Chicago Public Library, C/W MARS (a consortium in Central and Western Massachusetts), Foothill College (California) , Houston Area Library Automated Network, Lane Medical Library (Stanford), Libraries of Middlesex Automated Resource Sharing (New Jersey), Orange County Public Library (California) , the Resource Sharing Alliance of West Central Illinois, University of Toronto Libraries, and Westchester Library System (New York).

Support for the T/Series 50 System will be provided for an interim period from the Kansas City base by key employees who have joined the CARL Systems staff.

After the divestiture, UTLAS' focus will be its bibliographic data base and related products and services. UTLAS is no longer in negotiation with OCLC for the sale of this part of its business. UTLAS will continue to provide bibliographic services to more than 2,500 libraries, primarily in Canada and Japan, from its Toronto headquarters.

The Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries was formed in 1978 to promote resource sharing among its members. CARL introduced its online system in 1981. CARL Systems, Inc., was formed in 1988 to market, develop, and support CARL Systems and services.

[Contact: Rebecca Lenzini, President, CARL Systems, Inc., 777 Grant Avenue, Denver, CO 80203; (303) 861-5319, Fax (303) 830-0103.]

CLSI issues Release 28

CLSI, Inc., has announced that Release 28 has been issued as a general release product for current customers using the LIBS 100 System on CLSI's Altos and Sequent Unix platforms. Release 28 includes product enhancements for two major applications of its first-generation system, the LIBS 100: circulation and online patron access catalog. An option-control feature enables the individual library to select the Release 28 features it wishes to implement.

In the circulation control module, Release 28 calculates loan periods automatically based on each library's schedule of hours and days in operation for a given calendar year to enable the calculation of fines based on local library policies. Release 28 also provides a new report listing all item-specific holds. Libraries with Unix platforms can now produce many additional statistical reports and output MARC records to nine-track magnetic tape.

The Release 28 enhancements to CLSI's online catalog, CL-CAT, include support for the use of the RETURN key to activate a catalog search. Release 28 also provides libraries with the option of using the Boolean AND operator to retrieve records for search terms anywhere in the same MARC record or only within the same field of a MARC record.

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

DRA signs three academic libraries

Data Research Associates has announced three new contracts with college and university libraries:

Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa) has signed a contract with DRA for installation of the Data Research automation system at the University's library. The turnkey installation includes Data Research software modules for public access, circulation, MARC cataloging, indexing, and authority control, serials control, acquisitions, full-text searching, journal citation, and Baker & Taylor interface. The system will be mounted on a Digital Equipment Corporation VAX 4300 processor.

Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin) has signed a contract with DRA for installation of the Data Research automated system at the University's Seeley G. Mudd Library. The software-only installation includes Data Research software modules for public access; circulation; MARC cataloging, indexing, and authority control; serials control; acquisitions; and interfaces to Baker & Taylor and OCLC.

The University of Hartford (West Hartford, Connecticut) will install a DRA automation system at the University's Mortensen Library. The software-only installation includes Data Research software modules for public access; circulation; MARC catalog, indexing, and authority control; acquisitions; COM extraction; and OCLC interface.

[Contact: Data Research Associates, Inc., 1276 North Warson Road, P.O. Box 8495, St. Louis, MO 63132-1806; (800) 325-0888 or (314) 432-1100; Fax (314) 993-8927.]

Gaylord announced six more Galaxy customers

Gaylord Information Systems has announced that six public libraries have recently selected GALAXY, Gaylord's new integrated library system, to automate their libraries. This brings the GALAXY user list to 48 libraries of various sizes and types throughout the country.

The new GALAXY customers include the Sampson-Clinton Public Library (Clinton, North Carolina); Middletown Public Library (Pennsylvania); Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library (Kerrville, Texas); Samuels Public Library (Front Royal, Virginia); Paulding County Carnegie Library (Ohio); and Wayne County Public Library (Goldsboro, North Carolina).

Gaylord now offers modules for acquisition, cataloging, circulation control, and online public access catalog, including authority control and reserve book room capabilities, as well as a total service and support program.

[Contact: Gaylord Information Systems, P.O. Box 4901, Syracuse, NY 13221-4901; (800) 962-9580 or (315) 457-5070; Fax C315) 457-8387.]

Geac announces "20/20 Vision Grant"

Geac, celebrating its 20th Anniversary has announced the 20/20 Vision: Libraries of Tomorrow Grant. Geac will award software license grants of its new Unix-based Advance Integrated Library System to 20 libraries around the world that "would like to automate but lack the financial resources for an entire system, and which have a special vision and scope on the future of library as an information center in society." Applications for the 20/20 Vision grants will be judged by an independent Selection Committee consisting of an international library science panel. The value of individual grants will vary depending on the size of the library to be automated. Geac has allotted a grant pool of $2 million.

Entrants will write an essay outlining what they expect to achieve through library automation and how automation will enhance their ability to provide information services in the future. Closing date for entries is August 30, 1991.

[Contact: Harrison Cheung, Geac Computer, Corp., Ltd., Markham Corporate Campus, Suite 300, 11 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario L3R 9T8; (416) 475-0525; Fax (416) 475-3847.]

Information Dimensions announces Image Series

Information Dimensions, Inc. (IDI), has announced the addition of the Image Series to BASISplus, its widely-used document management and retrieval system. The Image Series adds image management capabilities to BASISplus by providing hypertext links between text stored in BASISplus document data bases and images residing on Xerox, FileNet, LaserData, Digital Equipment Corp., and Unisys image management systems.

By integrating the content-based text retrieval capabilities of BASISplus with full-featured image processing systems, the Image Series provides a comprehensive solution for managing compound documents containing text and images.

The image Series consists of four modules: IS/Image Presenter for display of images; IS/Image Connect to enable hypertext links to be traversed by text and images; Is/Image Integrator for tight integration between BASISplus and image management systems; and IS/Image Toolkit for development of third party presenters, hyperlinks between third party applications and the IS/Image Presenter module and connections between both desktop applications and network services to BASISplus.

The Image Series is scheduled for shipment in the third quarter of 1991.

BASISplus runs on Digital VAX/VMS platforms, IBM VM and MVS; CDC 4000 EP/IX; and Sun, Hewlett-Packard, and Unisys Unix-based systems. First copy license cost for BASISplus begins at $5,000 depending on CPU and number of users. The Image Series begins at $500.

Information Dimensions, Inc., is a subsidiary of Battelle Memorial Institute, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. BASISplus is a document management and full-text retrieval system with installations in over 2,000 organizations worldwide.

[Contact: Information Dimensions, Inc., 655 Metro Place South, Dublin, OH 43017-1396; (800) 328-2648 or (614) 761-8083.]

Two more libraries select Poise LIS

Campus America's new integrated library system, POISE Library Information System (LIS) , has been selected by two more academic libraries--Ashland University (Ashland, Ohio) and Viterbo College (LaCrosse, Wisconsin). The addition of these two academic libraries brings the vendor's total of academic installations to six. Both Ashland University and Viterbo College are planning software-only installations of POISE LIS.

POISE LIS is based on the Gaylord Galaxy software, enhanced by linking it with non-library applications. Both of the sites will be installed with modules for cataloging, circulation control, and online public access catalog. Campus America will also provide retrospective conversion services, including authority control processing, for both libraries, via Gaylord Information Systems.

The POISE LIS at Ashland University and Viterbo College will be integrated with each institution's respective POISE management systems, enabling both to integrate their campus computing functions.

Campus America's POISE Administrative System applications include: admissions, financial aid, registration/academic history, tele-registration, degree audit/ academic advisement, student billing, receivables, fiscal management, fixed assets, payroll, and development/alumni.

[Contact: Campus America, 900 Hill Avenue, Suite 205, Knoxville, TN. Attn: Nancy Schoonmaker; (315) 457-5070; or Gaylord Information Systems, P.O. Box 4901, Syracuse, ~Y 13221-4901; (800) 962-9580 or (315) 457-5070; Fax (315) 457-8387.]

Business Periodicals OnDisc launched

University Microfilms International has launched Business Periodicals OnDisc, a full-text image system on CD-ROM containing complete articles from nearly 300 business and management journals indexed in ABI/ INFORM. The coverage includes approximately 55 percent of all 1988, 1989, and 1990 ABI/ INFORM OnDisc records. The 300 titles were selected by UMI according to a study of retrieval frequency in the ABI/INFORM online file. Retrospective coverage begins with 1987 material; however, the current collection contains only sample titles (17 discs) from 1987. The total of approximately 160 CD-ROM discs contains 5,500 article pages each. BPO is updated monthly, synchronized with ABI/INFORM. It is planned that each year 50 to 60 discs will be added to eventually bring the data base to a five year coverage as is ABI/INFORM.

The system allows browsing through the table of contents of any periodical, or browsing through several issues to read relevant articles. Searching is done through ABI/INFORM first. Once a record is selected, a notation on the screen tells which disc holds the complete article. Upon insertion of the corresponding disc, the article appears on the screen. The user can move from page to page or zoom in on particular elements of the article. A laser printer is used to produce a high-quality copy.

The system is available as a turnkey package on a 12-month subscription. It includes the API/INFORM OnDisc and BPO data bases, and an image retrieval and output workstation, laser printer, application software, connector for debit card reader or coin box, and disc storage carousels. Price: if the user is an ABI/ INFORM subscriber, the annual subscription of the BPO will cost $14,950; otherwise it is $19,900, including workstation and maintenance. There also is a $.10 per page printing charge.

API/INFORM contains an index and abstracts of the leading business and management information periodicals. Over 800 journals are indexed with 400 indexed cover to cover on such topics as accounting, data processing, human resources, real estate, international trade, advertising, law, sales telecommunications, financial management, information management, banking, health care, insurance, marketing, taxation and a wide variety of topics to meet the needs of even the most demanding researchers. The subscription period is one year (data base contains coverage for past five years) , updated monthly. The API/INFORM CD-ROM product also may be networked for an additional fee of $150 per simultaneous user. The data base may be searched online through Dialog (File 15) at $114 per hour and BRS (File INFO) at $100 per hour. It is also available on magnetic tape from UMI for a license fee of $19,500 per year.

BPO appears to be off to a good start, with several hundred subscribers; nevertheless, handling over 360 CD-ROM discs for five years of BPO and ABI Inform is not very appealing. It puts up some of the same barriers to access as microform. An online alternative is needed, but the storage requirements for five years of BPO and API Inform may be as high as 216 Gbytes. Given the impracticality of loading that much information on magnetic storage media, the options are a large CD-ROM jukebox or WORM technology using compression techniques. The more attractive option is WORM technology It may be possible to reduce the entire data base to six discs in a WORM jukebox, to be mounted on WORM drives attached to a local library system, thus assuring rapid. online access. The editors hope that UMI will pursue this alternative.

[Contact: UMI, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346; (800) 521-0600.]

CD-ROM prices too high, says Dvorak

John C. Dvorak, a columnist for PC Magazine, targeted CD-ROM publishers in his April 30th column, especially those that put monographs on the medium. He argued that the CD-ROM products are overpriced. He argued, for example, that Microsoft Bookshelf should retail for $25.00, not $295.00. The publishers appear to have added the printed book values in the mistaken belief that users want access to all of the titles. In fact, they might want access to only one or two, therefore, the comparable print value of the wanted titles should be the basis for comparison.

According to Dvorak, Microsoft Bookshelf is one of the least successful products in Microsoft's history, and almost a laughingstock within the company despite the fact that it is an attractive product. He's right; Bill Gates, Microsoft's president, recently said that Microsoft Bookshelf is a market failure even though it has outsold every other CD-ROM product. Is Gates going to lower the price? No, he's going to get out of the CD-ROM business. Both Dvorak and Gates measure success by mass market criteria, rather than the niche market approach of H. W. Wilson, Silver Platter, and Information Access Corporation.

Advance in optical storage announced

A new record/readout technology from Sony, called IRISTER, increases the storage capacity of magneto-optical disks by a factor of six. If it can be combined with short-wavelength blue lasers, which Sony is working on intensively, storage could be upped to 20 times current capacity, or 13 gigabytes.

The basic principle of IRISTER is based on the fact that only the hottest portion of the area irradiated by the laser can be read. The new disk has two layers of material: a readout layer and, under it, a record layer. The signals on the underlying record layer can be read only when the top layer reaches a certain temperature, and that area is only the spot under the hottest part of the beam. The process virtually eliminates the problem of crosstalk.

Sony officials stressed that IRISTER is new technology and there are no immediate plans for commercialization. A spokesperson said Sony announced the development to show that the maximum capacity of optical storage technology has not yet been reached.

LEXIS-NEXIS sent via ISDN

Illinois Bell has announced that it would begin offering access to LEXIS-NEXIS through its integrated services digital network (ISDN) in Chicago.

LEXIS-NEXIS includes the full-text of more than 750 publications, including The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune, as well as archives of federal and state case-law and regulations.

Transmission will take place at 9,600 bits per second rather than the full 64 1Kbps possible to an ISDN "B" channel. Still, 9,600 bps is four times faster than a 2,400 bps modem. Today, subscribers typically access LEXIS-NEXIS with 1,200 bps or 2,400 bps modems.

Illinois Bell explained that clear-channel, 64 1Kbps transmission is possible only if both end users are served by the same central office switch or if the switches are linked by signaling system 7.

An Illinois Bell ISDN-equipped office (most of them in Chicago) are connected at 56 1Kbps, but not all have SS7.

In addition, Mead Data Central, owners of LEXIS-NEXIS, elected to set up to receive data at 9,600 because it could accommodate more users that way, including packet-network customers.

150-channel cable system announced

Time-Warner subsidiary American Television and Communications (ATC) announced it would double the bandwidth of its Queens, New York, cable franchise to 1 gigahertz (about 150 channels) by greatly increasing the use of fiber in the system. More important, ATC plans the new system to be two-way interactive and it works with pay-per-view, HDTV, voice and data, and personal communications networks (PCNs) , a new, more local cellular phone technology. Advances in fiber and video compression eventually could increase channel capacity to the "thousands."

The announcement is a direct challenge to competitors, such as DBS services SkyPix and Sky Cable, which had touted their ability to deliver more channels than cable's average of 35-80 in the case of SkyPix and more than 100 for Sky Cable. It also serves notice to telcos that at least some cable systems are serious in their intent to move into traditional telco businesses, such as voice and data transmission.

The system uses fiber-to-the-feeder architecture developed by ATC, running fiber directly from the headend to neighborhood trunk lines that feed coaxial lines of one mile or less. A new "fiber node" combines incoming signals from three fibers into a single 1 gHz signal for the local coaxial network. A new amplifier boosts signals in the coaxial net and enables the use of return channels, for 2-way interac-tive services.

Omaha videotex users prefer terminals, flat fees

More than 90 percent of current videotex terminal users in Omaha, Nebraska, are "satisfied," and those returning terminals fault not the equipment but the services, according to new research conducted by U S West Community Link.

U S West is using terminals made by Exelvision and Philips. While U S West declined to provide actual numbers with the survey, it did reveal that 5,700 people have signed on to the gateway at least once--2.6 percent of the potential market.

Echoing similar findings made by Southwestern Bell in its Houston trial, U S West said 60 percent of users sign on to the gateway through their videotex terminals even though most own personal computers. Signing on to Community Link with a PC requires free terminal-emulation software, provided at no charge by U S West, but respondents say there often is competition for access to the PC.

What continues to be the pressing problem in Omaha is the services themselves, and their declining number since The Omaha World Herald killed its services in February. Community Link now offers 165 services in Omaha, down from a high of 220.

To encourage more services to get on Community Link, U S West has waived the $1,000 set-up fee it charges to information providers. The $250 fee for providing up to five service identification codes has also been waived. A third component of the promotion attempts to encourage IPs to do more advertising and marketing by waiving the $100 fee U S West has charged each time the IP changes. the price of a service. During the promotion, IPs may change their prices as frequently as once a month at no charge.

Exit delay devices

Libraries which experience difficulty with patrons exiting through emergency doors should consider the installation of exit delay devices.

A mortise-type exit device and a delayed access system postpone opening for 15 seconds. A posted sign warns of the delay. Most people don't want to risk detection during the 15-second delay.

Staff can disarm the device with a key switch. The system is tied into the fire alarm system, so locks release automatically. Plus, magnetic locks at the top edges of the doors remain locked unless the exit device is operated.

[Contact: Von Duprin, Inc., 2720 Tobey Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46219; (800) 999-0408 or (317) 897-9944.]

Disk drive locks

Libraries wanting to control the removal of programs or diskettes from public access personal computers should invest in inexpensive disk drive locks. The locks affix to the front opening of any 5 1/4 or 3 1/2 inch disk drive. The cost is $24.95 per lock.

[Contact: Secure-It, Inc., 18 Maple Court, East Longmeadow, MA 01028; (600) 451-7592.]

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