Library Technology Guides

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Volume 11 Number 08 (August 1991)

IBM-Apple alliance

The IBM/Apple Computer, Inc., alliance announced in early July has gotten a great deal of attention. While the two have so far announced only a letter of intent to develop a new, open systems software platform, there already are some indications of what the two hope to do:

• Apple's Macintosh interface will be melded to an advanced version of IBM's UNIX operating system, AIX.
• Formation of a jointly owned company charged with developing an object-oriented software environment capable of running applications written for AIX, OS/2, and the Macintosh.
• Agreement to build future systems using the IBM Power PC chip, a single-chip implementation of the RISC System/6000 technology. IBM will team with Motorola, Inc., to build the chips.
• Joint development of platform-independent multimedia software.

The intent is to combine the best of IBM's open systems with the Macintosh user interface and its thousands of user-oriented productivity applications.

Making UNIX, of which IBM's AIX is just one version, an easier to use operating system is the dream of many vendors, and the Macintosh user interface could prove to be the key to strengthening UNIX in the business community. To date it has been popular only in academic institutions.

The long-term effort by IBM and Apple to develop an object-oriented operating system that will run across all systems using Intel Corporations s micro-processors, Motorola's 68000 chips and IBM's RS/6000 could spur support from developers who would be able to write applications once to the alliance produced object-oriented operating system. There has been no indication that the object-oriented software will be sold to other vendors. The announcement said only that it will be marketed widely by the new company being formed by IBM and Apple for use on other vendor's systems.

The Apple and IBM plan for an open, multimedia platform is to be built around Apple's QuickTime product. The software will be made available to other vendors.

It appears that one of the aims of the proposed pact is to compete with Microsoft and its highly successful "Windows" which could be boxed in as a tool for MS-DOS while Apple and IBM pursue the next generation of user interface for everything from personal to minicomputers. If vendors of library applications packages for PCs decide to migrate to the new IBM-Apple environment, it mean major outlays for libraries which use PC software and want to take advantage of new releases. Existing OS/2 and AIX implementations probably will require an upgrade to use the planned new user inter face. Among those affected would be users of Marquis software, the only one currently using OS/2. Because of the substantially higher price of Marquis systems, it may be possible to obtain contractual protection against the impact of changes in the operating system environment.

Software AG announces library management system

Software AG of North America, Inc., has announced TAPESTRY, an integrated on-line library management systems developed in conjunction with the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Missouri System, Washington State University, and Brown University. TAPESTRY is based on NATURAL, Software AG's 4th Generation technology. Other Software AG products used in the development of TAPESTRY include ADABAS, a high-performance data base management system; PREDICT, a data dictionary; and TRS, a text retrieval system.

TAPESTRY, which is still in development, will include an online public access catalog based on the MARC record with linked authority control, an extended circulation module, materials processing module (acquisitions and serials control) full cataloging maintenance, and a sophisticated text retrieval search engine.

Software AG, headquartered in Reston, Virginia and Darmstadt, Germany, is one of the world's largest privately held independent software companies with revenues for 1990 of $389 million. The company provides solutions for major platforms, including IBM, DEC, WANG and Siemens and has products installed at more than 4,500 sites world-wide.

[Contact: Jim Kopp, Industry Specialist, Library Automation, Software AG, 11190 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 22091; (703) 860-5050.]

CARL to link INLAN group

CARL Systems, Inc., has announced that Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, has selected the CARL System to serve as the library automation platform for the University and its partners in the Inland Northwest Library Automation Network (INLAN).

INLAN, a consortium of libraries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, was formed to enhance library services through the cooperative development and application of library automation, resource sharing, and emerging information technologies. Founding members include Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington), Whitworth College (Spokane), North Idaho College (Coeur d'Alene), and the University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho). Members expect the consortium to expand with the addition of new member libraries, who will also benefit from operating cost savings and enhanced resource sharing.

The CARL System contract, valued at over $1 million, will provide for Gonzaga and INLAN a full array of library automation subsystems, including public access catalog, circulation, acquisitions, and serials control. In addition, the group plans to load a variety of information data bases and to provide gatewayed access to other services, including GPO, ERIC, and UnCover.

[Contact: For more information about the INLAN network or the consortium, contact Bob Burr, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 99258-0001; (509) 328-4220; FAX (509) 484-2804.]

Uncover 2--Carl's document delivery solution

CARL Systems Inc., has introduced UnCover 2, a companion to CARL Systems' popular article access data base, UnCover. The availability of articles through UnCover 2 will be prompted on screen at the article level for users of UnCover. Optical imaging and telefacsimile tech-nologies are used to deliver the full text of any article found in UnCover, within 24 hours or less.

CARL Systems is working with the Copyright Clearance Center and individual publishers to provide royalty fee infor-mation for every title represented in UnCover. Charges will be determined by the copyright fee plus a CARL Systems service charge. The average combined cost is ex-pected to be less than $10. UnCover 2 fees may be charged to Visa or MasterCard accounts. Institutional deposit accounts will be available.

UnCover 2's features include:

• Convenience: True "one stop shopping'o lets users locate, order, and receive articles.
• Copyright Compliance: Royalty fees are tracked and reported for each article selected.
• Easy Retrieval/Easy Order; Articles are located using UnCover's simple yet powerful keyword searching. Online prompts guide the user through the order process.
• Speed: The first order for an article is filled within 24 hours; subsequent orders for the same article are filled virtually instantaneously.

[Contact: CARL Systems, Inc., 777 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203; (303) 861-5319; FAX (3031 830-0103.]

CLSI exhibits new online catalog module

CLSI, Inc., exhibited its expanded on-line public access catalog application, CL-CATplus, at the American Library Association's summer conference in Atlanta. CL-CATplus retains the user-friendly features of CL-cat, the present patron access catalog module, for both the menu and command modes and when conducting either keyword or browse searches. CL-CATplus features a user interface that provides a single, consistent search engine for use with both the library's online catalog and third party data bases.

Users can now also edit search statements online and save their statements under users' identification numbers for reuse later. CL-CATplus can sort search results by criteria such as author or title to produce a bibliography in the order designated. The module can also print a formatted bibliography from the screen,

The fully authorized data base of CL-CATplus links bibliographic and authority headings to provide "see" and "see also" references, which connect heading variations and related headings to authorized headings.

CLSI's new LIBS 100plus System, of which CL-CATplus is a major component, allows libraries to provide access to the most popular data bases from their public access terminals. CLSI's common user interface enables library patrons and staff to use a single, consistent search engine across reference data bases and the library's online catalog. CLSI has concluded marketing agreements with three major providers of reference data bases: Information Access Company, The H.W. Wilson Company, and UMI/Data Courier.

CLSI now offers full bibliographic pre-processing and authority processing services in-house. Headings are matched with the authorized headings and their variation in the Library of Congress authority file, and the bibliographic record is updated to the correct form.

The conversion services group delivers a fully authorized data base, which links bibliographic and authority records, As a result, CL-CATplus can display "see" and "see also" references using the variations of the bibliographic headings to the authorized version.

The conversion group uses a combined Library of Congress and CLSI data base of over 5.5 million records on a mainframe computer to handle retrospective conversions and upgrades to MARC records. The staff also offers data base loading and indexing services, MARC file deduping, and custom item conversions.

CLSI also announced that two contracts, valued at over $400,000, had been signed for major upgrades to UNIX-based systems at the New Canaan (Connecticut) Public Library and the Albany (New York) Public Library. Both are long-time CLSI customers: New Canaan since 1982 and Albany since 1977.

CLSI is based in Newtonville, Massachusetts, and also maintains offices in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Melbourne.

[Contact: CLSI, Inc., 320 Nevada Street, Newtonville, MA 02160; (617) 965-6310; FAX (617) 969-1928.]

Dynix-owned subsidiary in Ireland

Dynix, Inc., has announced the establishment of Dynix Library Systems, Ireland, Ltd. The Pick Resource Centre (PRC), which had acted as an agent for Dynix in Ireland and Northern Ireland, was taken over by a receiver on July 5th. PRC was involved in a number of businesses in addition to representing Dynix. While the library part of the company was stable, diversion of funds and human resources to other projects, in addition to the economic downturn, placed PRC into receivership.

Sean Kelly has been appointed Managing Director of the new company, reporting directly to Dynix Management, Inc. Other trained support staff were hired from PRC to continue the support operation for the ten Dynix sites in Ireland, including Trinity College, Waterford City Library, and University College Galway.

Dynix has been the leading library automation vendor in Ireland for the past four years.

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

Gaylord announces agreement with UMI

Gaylord Information Systems has announced an agreement with University Microfilms, Inc. (UMI) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for Gaylord's distribution of UMI CD-ROM data bases. Gaylord will integrate UMI's various CD-ROM data bases with SuperSEARCH, its online public access catalog/CD-ROM networking system.

SuperSEARCH provides extended data base availability to Gaylord's GALAXY OPAC users by giving them immediate access to a variety of CD-ROM reference data bases. With SuperSEARCH, GALAXY OPAC users are able to access popular CD-ROM data bases, including those available from UMI, such as AM/INFORM, Periodical Abstracts, and Newspaper Abstracts, as well as local bibliographic holdings information. Library users no longer need to jump from one PC to another, but instead may conduct research at a single GALAXY system OPAC terminal.

Gaylord will continue to integrate additional CD-ROM data bases, as well as other PC-DOS applications, on the SuperSEARCH server, thereby offering easy and efficient data base access to GALAXY Integrated System users.

Gaylord Information Systems also announced an agreement with the H.W. Wilson Company to make WILSONDISC data bases available to GALAXY OPAC users. Patrons and staff will have immediate access to a variety of WILSONDISC reference data bases such as Readers' Guide Abstracts, Book Review Digest, Wilson Business Abstracts, and Index to Legal Periodicals. In total, WILSONDISC has 16 data bases which are now available via SuperSEARCH to GALAXY users.

[Contact: Gaylord Information Systems, P.O. Box 4901, Syracuse, NY 13221; (800) 962-9580.]

Inlex announces electric notice delivery

INLEX's Electronic Notice Delivery System can eliminate mailings for overdue, fines, and recalled materials. Libraries download a file of patron telephone numbers to a PC and select a corresponding message. The PC dials and delivers a taped message. If an average of 1,500 notices per month have been sent, payback occurs in less than one year because of the savings in envelopes and postage.

Innovative Interfaces to install OhioLINK system

The Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) has contracted with Innovative Interfaces to install the INNOPAC system in what is expected to become the largest shared system in the United States. There are 18 state and private institutions in the consortium.

OhioLINK will eventually support more than 2,500 concurrent users connected directly to the system and through network access across the state. OhioLINK's INNOPAC will provide access to a data base of more than 20 million items.

Innovative will install a local system at each library and a union catalog at the central site at Wright State University. Library users will be able to search either the library's local data base or the combined holdings of all participating libraries, and can initiate item checkout and delivery across the network. Six of the systems are scheduled for installation in 1991: The University of Cincinnati, Miami University, Bowling Green State University, Case Western Reserve University, Wright State University, and Central State University. Systems will be installed in the remaining libraries in later phases.

The system will run on Digital hardware under the UNIX operating system, and will use the industry-standard TCP/IP networking protocol.

[Contact: Innovative Interfaces, 2344 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710; (415) 644-3600 or (800) 444-2344; FAX (415) 644-3650.]

Innopac system supports aids data base

The University of Miami, Louis Calcer Memorial Library has mounted an AIDS referral data base on the library's INNOPAC system.

The AIDS Care and Service Provider Data Base of the Southeast Florida AIDS Information Network (SEFAIN) was developed to support the AIDS information needs of 40,000 health care professionals in Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties. It was funded in part by a grant from the National Library of Medicine. The data base is intended as a prototype of a community-based system for health professionals.

The main menu of the library's INNOPAC system offers a choice between searching either the 50,000 title online catalog or the AIDS data base. Users can search the AIDS data base by any of nine indexes: rganization/person/research study name, organization type, medical specialty, health and social services, mental health services, education and information services, research site, research type, and research eligibility. In addition to information about medical services such as HIV testing and AIDS research, the data base provides information about insurance, legal services, transportation, and counseling services.

Innovative supported the project by helping the Library to design the menu screens and define the data base index.

[Contact: Innovative Interfaces, Inc., 2344 sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710; (415) 644-3600.]

Messiah college to test KeyNOTIS release

Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, has agreed to be the beta test site for Release 1.1 of KeyNOTIS, NOTIS Systems' turnkey package. The new release was installed on July 16, 1991. Testing was scheduled to be completed by the end of August. General distribution to the other KeyNOTIS sites is scheduled for September 1991.

KeyNOTIS Release 1.1 includes a wide range of new features including the new NOTIS OPAC with labeled displays, cross references, implementation of Common Command Language, call number browse, and many other local options. The new release also includes fiscal year closing for fund records, support for the USMARC Format for Holdings Data, new global heading change features, call number index enhancements, and other features.

[Contact: NOTIS Systems, Inc., 1007 Church Street, Second Floor, Evanston, IL 60201-3622; (708) 866-0150; FAX (708) 866-0178.]

Used IBM RS/6000s

The Contributing Editor has recently been asked whether the IBM RS/6000, currently the most popular hardware platform for small and mid-size library systems, is available as used, but refurbished equipment. The answer is yes. The Model 320 is available for as little as $6,000, the Model 520 generally goes for $16,000 to $18,000. These prices, which are approximately 20 to 25 percent below the prices quoted by library automation vendors for new equipment, generally include no memory upgrades, and the number of ports generally is 16 or 32.

The remarketer which appears to be most active in the sale of used IBM RS/6000 machines is Xerxes Computer Corporation.

[Contact: Xerxes Computer Corp., 10759 Bren Road East, Minnetonka, MN 55343; (800) 328-3884; FAX (612) 936-9701.]

Inlex promotes conservation

In March 1991, INLEX sent a letter to scores of prospective customers and consultants urging conservation of resources and reduct on of waste by limiting the number of copies required to be submitted in response to a library automation RFP to no more than five. ISCI heartily agreed, and has sought to comply. We're distressed that some libraries continue to seek as many as 20 copies of vendor proposals. We recently weighed all of the copies received by one client requiring 14 copies. The proposals of the six vendors submitting responses added up to over 500 pounds! Since few persons planned to read the entire proposal, choosing instead to focus on their areas of expertise, it would have been possible to split up a few copies among all of the interested parties.

We endorse the INLEX proposal and urge its adoption by libraries and consultants.

Nichols Advanced Technologies, inc. now marketing MOLLI

Nichols Advanced Technologies, Inc., of La Crosse, Wisconsin, has assumed all marketing responsibilities for the MOLLI library automation system and related products. This move consolidates all marketing, support and development of MOLLI under one roof since Nichols Advanced Technologies, Inc., is the developer of the MOLLI library automation system, currently in use in over 800 school, public, and special libraries.

Nichols has also announced a new release of MOLLI. Release 4.1 will be shiped to customers commencing in August. MOLLI 4.1 provides numerous enhancements in virtually all components of the system, in particular, improved union catalog capabilities, more comprehensive borrower records, and enhanced reporting.

[Contact: Nichols Advanced Technologies, Inc., 3452 Losey Boulevard South, La Crosse, WI 54601; (800) 658-9453; (608) 787-8333; FAX (608) 787-8337.]

Second generation CJK announced by OCLC

The OCLC data base is becoming more international in scope. Not only are there millions of German, French, Spanish, and Dutch records, but there are 300,000 records in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Some 59 percent of the CJK records contain vernacular information, rather than being limited to Romanized data. In light of the growing importance of CJK records, OCLC has announced plans to develop a second generation of the OCLC CJK 350 system that is used to create, edit, and retrieve bibliographic records containing Chinese, Japanese, and Korean vernacular characters as well as Romanized records of materials. There are currently 54 OCLC CJK systems installed at 33 institutions--28 in the U.S. and five in other countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan.

The new system, tentatively named CJK Plus, will be a new and more flexible system that will include windows in the workstation interface and a powerful hardware platform.

After nearly five years of successful CJK350 system operation, OCLC began the process of improving the design and functionality of CJK350 and moving it to OCLC's PRISM service. CJK Plus will eliminate hardware dependency for the CJK character generation process (by moving the character font information into the software) , improve operator productivity, and enhance the user interface.

CJK Plus will be developed in phases. The first and second phases will connect to the First Online System. In the third and fourth phases, access to the PRISM service will be provided, and enhancements, such as a CJK phrase bank to ease the character input work and off-line batch process capabilities, will be added.

The system will be implemented by functional "milestones" with the most important functionality being implemented first. Host system connection and vernacular character display and entry are scheduled to be completed this summer. Record editing and validating capabilities will be implemented in the fall.

Card printing will be completed in January 1992. The system will be ready for field testing in the spring of 1992.

CJK Plus features include:

• No proprietary ECI-board in the workstation. EACC (East Asia Character Code, established as ANSI Z39.64-1989) character font information is stored in the software programs instead of in hard chips.
• Use of windowing capabilities based on Microsoft Windows application software programs.
• Character retrieval is modified by eliminating artificial divisions between subsets of scripts.
• Japanese and Korean language catalogers will have an option to use "and" or "or" for the combination or separation of kanji and kandas, or hancha and hangul script sets.
• File of CJK phrase bank is built with a window browsing mode for fast CJK data entry.
• Moving and copying data within a record is optional.
• Cutting from one record and pasting to another record in a single display is optional.
• Call number default format from 050 or 090 field for CJK card printing in off line mode is available.
• There is user control over card print operations, marking for readiness, changing decisions, deleting records.
• Batch printing of labels with Roman data is supported.
• Electronic indexes of CJK character input codes.
• Off line editing capabilities and batch process for downloading and uploading bibliographic records by merging CAT ME (Cataloging Micro Enhancer) features.

New address for Amigos

AMIGOS Bibliographic Council, Inc., has announced its new address, 12200 Park Central Drive, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75251. AMIGOS' new telephone number is (214) 851-8000. The fax number is (214) 991-6061. The toll-free number, (800) 843-8482, remains unchanged.

ARMA to feature optical technology

The Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) will be holding its Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, September 23-26, 1991. There will be a greater than usual emphasis on technology, especially imaging systems. An entire track will be devoted to optical disk systems.

Registration is $665, with a $100 discount for ARMA members. The fee includes a copy of the $50 Proceedings.

[Contact: ARMA International Conference, P.O. Box 8540, Prairie Village, KS 66208-0540; (800) 422-2762.]

ASIS meeting scheduled

The American Society for Information Science (ASIS) will meet in Washington, D.C., October 27-31, 1991. The theme is "Understanding Systems [and] People," and the program is highly diverse. Among the major technology topics are telecommunications, expert systems, CD-ROM and networking, and hypertext.

The registration fee is $425 with a $130 discount for ASIS members; those registering by September 13, get an additional $30 discount. Additionally, there are continuing education seminars with separate registration fees.

[Contact: ASIS Conference Registration, P.O. Box 554, Washington, DC 20044-0554; (301) 495-0900; FAX (301) 495-0810.]

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