Library Technology Guides

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Volume 11 Number 12 (December 1991)

PC diskette sizes--3.5 inch and 5.25 inch

We thought that the 3.5 inch diskette for PCs was the accepted standard until we read recently that twelve years after the introduction of the 3.5" diskette, the 5.25" diskette continues to outsell its rival. We strongly prefer the 3.5" diskette because it comes encased in a hard, damage-resistant shell that protects the data storage medium against environmental conditions such as dust and debris. It also is designed with a stainless steel shutter on its upper edge which opens to expose the media only when the disk is inserted in the drive. A write-protect latch guards against accidental exposures. As a bonus, the 3.5" drives in most PCs operate more quietly than the larger drives.

Despite its smaller size, a 3.5" diskette stores more data than a 5.25" diskette. A double density 3.5" diskette holds 720KB of data, twice the capacity of the larger diskette. A high density 3.5" diskette holds 1.44MB as against 1.2MB on a comparable 5.25" diskette. Development work has now been completed on a new barium ferrite-coated 3.5" diskette which will store over 2.75MB. It is expected to become available in 1992.

Libraries purchasing new equipment should either specify two 3.5" drives or one 3.5" and one 5.25" drive. The 5.25" drive is warranted in staff areas only if there are many 5.25" diskettes which must continue to be usable on most staff members' machines. Public access PCs should have a 5.25" drive if patrons are allowed to bring their own diskettes for downloading of data.

H. W. Wilson changes CD-ROM pricing

H. W. Wilson, which already has had some of the most attractive prices in the industry for periodical indexes on CD-ROM for use with a single PC or a CD-LAN within a single building, has recently eliminated most surcharges for use of the products on multi-building CD-LANs. Not only may a library mount a CD-ROM on a local area network within a single building without incurring a surcharge, but it may also mount the product on a multi-building LAN or provide remote dial-up access from outside the LAN. The new pricing applies to academic, public, and school libraries including their branches; but is not available to consortia. School districts will pay a 50 percent surcharge for each additional school which has remote access. Corporate libraries will be able to mount a CD-ROM product on a LAN within a single building, but surcharges will apply to any remote access, whether via a LAN or by dial-up. The surcharges are 50 percent of the annual fee for each additional site 10 percent of the annual fee for each simultaneous remote user.

The H. W. Wilson data bases also are available on magnetic tape for loading into a local library system. The prices are based on a charge for data and a charge for user access. Prices are quoted in each individual case.

[Contact: H. W. Wilson Company, 950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452; (800) 367-6770 or Fax (212) 590-1617.]

CDI turns five

Five years ago representatives of N. V. Philips and Sony Corporation, the developers of compact disc technology, stood on the stage at the Microsoft Conference in Seattle and announced CDI, Compact Disk Interactive. This new medium would use an optical disk and player virtually indistinguishable from an audio CD disc and CD player to access audio, video, and data-- a combination now called multimedia--using a conventional television monitor. The prediction was that millions of players priced at under $1,000 each would be coming off the assembly lines within two years.

CDI has now finally arrived. Like the incompatible Commodore CDTV system introduced earlier this year, the CDI player consists mainly of a CD-ROM drive and a sophisticated computer squeezed into a unit the size of a CD audio player. The CDI player is priced at under $1,000, as promised. It accommodates most five-inch optical formats, including not only CDI, but CD audio--therefore, assuring that the hardware will not become a white elephant. The player also accommodates CD+Graphics, Kodak's announced Photo CD, and certain types of CD-ROM XA disks.

CDI produces digital video on four levels, from basic Nintendo-like graphics up to full 24-bit, 16.7-million-color images. It also is capable of four levels of audio quality, from 16-bit CD-quality sound to a compressed, long-play mode that offers up to 16 hours of audio.

The software will be the key to the new medium's acceptance. While there are not many titles yet, that which is available is impressive, ranging from stunning visual material such as "Harvest of the Sun: Vincent van Gogh Revisited" to challenging games such as the "Palm Springs Open." Also available are CDT-Ready audio titles which can be played either on a CDI device or on a regular CD audio player. When played on a CDI player, the audio is augmented with video material, including a display of the lyrics.

The most stunning disk is "Time-Life 35mm Photography,' a series of tutorials for photographers. The disk includes five hours of audio and thousands of frames on equipment and techniques. Particularly compelling is the "Workshops" section which presents a series of choices for use of a simulated camera. After all of the choices with regard to shutter/aperture combinations, etc. have been made, the picture is taken. The picture resulting from the choices appears immediately on the screen, thus providing unlimited practice without the expense of film and developing.

CDI is currently limited to still images, but next year Philips plans to include compressed, full-frame, full-motion, digital video meeting the standards recently set by the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG). The quality for motion video will be comparable to VHS, rather than the quality of the still images. The upgrade to motion video will require a graphics card to decompress the images. There is a slot for the card in the back of the unit.

Other companies which have announced CDI players, all based on licenses from Philips, are Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo, and Pioneer.

Should CDI not take off, we are comfortable in the knowledge that the Philips CDI player not only functions as a standard CD player, but is superior to the high-end players on the market in that it not only holds lists of the user's favorite disks in memory, but allows the creation of a menu of various combinations of tracks. Up to 75 combinations can be displayed for review and selection. No other CD player offers this option.

The CD player is generally available at electronics stores, and at some discount houses, but the software is still difficult to find. Several mail order houses do stock the titles--currently just under 200 in number.

It was announced in the November 19th Wall Street Journal that Philips has committed to purchase up to $66 million of Blockbuster Corporation stock. (Blockbuster, with 1851 U.S. stores, is the largest retailer of videos.) As a part of the new relationship between Philips and Blockbuster, it is planned that Philips new CDI software and possibly hardware will be test-marketed at company-owned Blockbuster stores.

Optical technology beginning to displace microform

The Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM), the trade association for the imaging industry, recently reported that micrographics now accounts for less than half the image management market. Increasingly major microform users, especially banks and insurance companies, are shifting to optical disk technology for the storage of images. While microform and optical disk are very competitive with regard to compactness and price/performance, optical storage offers the benefit of faster retrieval and remote access. While it is technically feasible to link microform storage equipment to a computer to speed retrieval, and even to digitize images and send them to a remote user, the available equipment for optical technology offers more features at a better price.

Optical imaging is just beginning to enter the library market. While the tight budgets of libraries and concerns for longevity have been cited as reasons for the slow advance, another important factor is that many copyright holders are reluctant to license republication on a medium which can easily be distributed electronically far beyond the site which purchased the information. An entirely new basis for licensing may have to emerge, one which is based on actual usage as determined by logging software. Ideally, libraries would be able to obtain annual subscriptions for any one of several levels of usage.

Plain paper fax sizzles

Telefacsimile machine companies made a score of new product introductions in the third quarter of 1991, with a majority of them cut-sheet, plain-paper machines. Canon debuted the Fax-L3300, a desktop unit. Okidata and Omnifax also introduced plain-paper machines, the Okifax 2100 and the L95, respectively. Minolta introduced the MinoltaFax 100 and 3000 plain-paper models. Royal Imaging Systems, a division of Olivetti of Italy, introduced the FX4000 plain-paper fax. Panasonic, a company which already has several plain-paper machines, added the UF-733. Lanier introduced a whole family of plain-paper machines consisting of the Fax 4200, 5200 Plus, 5200, 6200, and 7200. Brother, generally considered a vendor of low-priced small business units, introduced its first plain-paper unit, the Fax 2000P.

All of the new units are priced well below the plain-paper machines available as recently as a year ago. However, plain-paper machines still cost approximately $1,500 more per unit than thermal machines with comparable features. The minimum cost for a unit which has auto-answer, auto-dialing, 40 bin transmission feed tray, automatic paper cutter, and transaction logging is approximately $3,000.

Why specify plain-paper? Users tend to react more favorably, and everyone can file plain-paper fax messages without worrying about crinkling or discoloration. Is the quality good? In a recent survey by BIS Strategic Decisions, a market research firm, over 94 percent said that plain-paper fax equipment is worth the premium cost.

On the receiving end, the difference in the price of plain-paper and toner compared to the cost of thermal paper could make up the difference in equipment cost if an organization receives a sufficient. high number of copies per day.

PCs coming of age in multi-user environments

While PCs have been used in support of acquisitions, circulation, and other library applications for a number of years, they have generally not supported integrated, multi-function library systems in a multi-user environment--an environment in which several users are concurrently or simultaneously using the software and data base. When PCs are networked so that several users can share a common data base, the individual PCs have tended to be used primarily for a single application. The reason has been that MS-DOS, the operating system used on most PCs, limits access to only 640KB of main memory, and switches rapidly among tasks, rather than undertaking true multi-tasking-the simultaneous performance of more than one task.

Whereas most library applications software required only a fraction of a MB of memory as recently as three years ago, the functionally rich software now being marketed requires up to 1MB of memory for each concurrent user. That has accounted for the popularity of minicomputers and supermicros in library automation, especially the new RISC-based supermicros. Even the smallest supermicro usually is too expensive for a small library which needs to support eight or fewer concurrent users. Therefore, these libraries have tended to limit their choice of software packages to those that run on PCs.

In the past year the range of options has broadened. Small libraries are now able to implement true multi-user, multi-tasking systems on 386- and 486-based PCs. The twin keys to this breakthrough are the availability of much greater memory at very low cost and the use of the UNIX operating system. A 486-based PC with 8MB of memory, 8-port multi-user interface board, 1GB disk drive, 8 page per minute system printer, cartridge tape for backup, uninterruptible power supply, UNIX license, eight ASCII (dumb) terminals, and dial-in port for remote vendor diagnosis of system problems costs approximately $20,000. This is less expensive than implementing a network of eight PCs. The 486-based platform can be upgraded to support 16 concurrent users for only $6,000, while a PC network would cost at least twice that much to double its capacity.

The big difference remains in the cost of the applications software. While prices for products which operate on MS-DOS platforms range from under $1,000 to more than $15,000, with no provision for on-site training; the products which operate on UNIX platforms cost approximately $25,000 to $33,000 plus additional on-site training costs of as much as $10,000. The assumption that because PCs are inexpensive, software should be similarly priced is faulty. The price of software should not be related to the hardware price, but to the value it offers the user. For the higher price of the UNIX-based applications software, a library gets richer functionality, both in terms of number modules and the features within each mod ule; a service that profiles the library so that its software package reflects the library's needs from the options available; true integration of the modules, with the ability to move easily from one module to another at any terminal; up to ten days of comprehensive on-site training; and a comprehensive support program which includes access to a telephone "trouble" desk, regular maintenance releases to improve software performance, and development releases to enhance functionality.

The UNIX-based options allow a small library to mount the same software as larger academic, public and special libraries-those which use supermicros and minis. This is important because many small libraries are as complex, or even more complex, than larger libraries. While any UNIX-based library applications product could be run on a PC, the vendors which have been most active at the small end of the market are Dynix, IME, and SIRSI. CLSI may become active in that market in the future.

Libraries which are severely limited in funds, could substitute a 386-based PC for a 486, but that would limit expandability of the system. A better approach might be to defer some of the modules. One can subtract approximately $8,000 for each module deferred: acquisitions, serials control, circulation, or patron access catalog.

CLSI signs Superior public library

We do not normally pay attention to press releases announcing the sale of a single system, but we're pleased to make an exception in this case because it suggests that the vendor may be on its way back. CLSI has signed its third "new name" account in the past few months. A "new name" account is a brand new account which has not previously had a contract with the vendor. CLSI signed the Texas State Library and the Austin and Mid Glamorgan County Council of Wales this summer. It has now announced signing of the Superior Public Library of Wisconsin. CLSI will install a LIBS 100plus system for the automation of acquisitions, local cataloging, circulation, and patron access catalog applications. The software will use the PROGRESS fourth generation language/relational data base management system. The 4GL/RDBMS replaces the Ingres product which was a source of many of the problems the company experienced in its migration to the UNIX operating system.

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

DRA and Maricopa to develop Mac interface

While an Apple Macintosh can be used on any library system by loading terminal emulation software, that does not take advantage of the features which led to an organization investing in Macs. Academic institutions and school districts often have scores, or even hundreds, of Macs which they would like to interface with the local library system so that the Mac commands can be used and a file transfer can be made from the local library system to the Mac.

It appears that at least one vendor, Data Research Associates, has agreed to work with one of its customers to develop an interface to the Mac. The company will work with the Maricopa Community College District of Arizona, the second largest multi-campus community college in the nation, to develop an interface between DRA's ATLAS system and the Macintosh. The project will be funded in part from a grant from the League for Innovation in the Community College, a consortium of community colleges organized to stimulate innovation.

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

Gaylord expands its market

Gaylord Information Systems, which chose to enter the competitive library automation market with Galaxy by concentrating on small system sales (6 to 30 terminals), has expanded its program to include larger libraries. Initially its efforts will be focused on the 30- to 60-terminal market. The contracts include the Fountaindale (Illinois) Public Library with 44, the Appomattox Regional (Virginia) Library with 37, the Lisle (Illinois) Library District with 37, and the Lebanon County (Pennsylvania) Library System with 34. Gaylord signaled its interest in even larger systems when it signed with a consortium in Suffolk County (New York) to provide a 260-terminal system.

Gaylord provides integrated systems with acquisitions, serials control, cataloging (including authority control), circulation (including reserve book room), and patron access catalog modules. The software runs on Digital VAX hardware using the proprietary Digital VMS operating system.

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

Innovative offers art reference data base

INNOPAC, the integrated library system of Innovative Interfaces, now offers an image data base capability. Libraries can create digital images by scanning photographs, maps, slides, drawings or other visual materials. The images can then be linked by frame number to MARC records with text descriptions of the images.

The Berkeley (California) Public Library has used this capability to mount the Art Reference Data Base, a 1,700 image collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints from the National Gallery of Art. Patrons can search the data base by artist, title, keyword, style or medium. Search terms can be combined with Boolean operators.

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

MARC holdings coming to local library systems

There are now three USMARC formats: bibliographic, authorities, and holdings. A local library system should be able to take in, retain, and output machine-readable information in all three formats. Most systems, except for a number of PC-based systems, now support the first two. The third is only now being accommodated because it is the newest, and also because it has its critics. The standard, known as the USMARC Format for Holdings and Locations can support detailed descriptions of monographs and serials holdings down to individual numbers and dates. While imperfect, as all standards are, compliance with it assures a library that holdings data can be moved from one system to another, data from several systems can be combined, and searches from one system to another can be undertaken.

While a number of vendors are committed to implementing the USMARC Format for Holdings and Locations within 18 to 24 months from publication date, some others are saying that they will not do so until a majority of RFPs specify conformity to the standard. To do so a library may either mention the standard by name or make specific reference to NISO Standards Z39.44 and Z39.57.

Dial-up access soars at Cuyahoga

Hundreds of public, academic and special libraries provide dial-up access to their data bases, but most have experienced only modest usage. More than 80 percent of all institutions find that the average number of concurrent users is three or fewer. A most notable exception is Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library. This Library introduced dial-up service in 1989 and logged over 66,000 calls in the first year. While that number is impressive, it still is only 7.5 calls per hour. The 1991 pace has increased dramatically, with the calling rate now more than 215,000 per year. Not only is that nearly 25 calls per hour when averaged over all of the hours of access, but during many busy hours it sometimes reaches 100 calls per hour.

While libraries should continue to be cautious in estimating the probable level of demand for dial-up access; they should be prepared for dramatic increases such as experienced at Cuyahoga County. Not only is it wise to have some spare ports, but to demand that the system is field-upgradable by 100 percent or more. As dial up access grows, it also is necessary to deal with an increasing number of telephoned requests for reserves or holds.

Users rate RISC platforms

Datamation, a leading journal in the data processing field, recently surveyed information systems managers to determine how they rate RISC-based workstations. Though the IBM RS/6000 line, a line of seven platforms, was top rated, with the overall rating averaging 7.7 on a scale of 10, it barely outranked Sun, which rated 7.6 for four platforms. Digital and Hewlett-Packard were tied for third with rating of 7.4. Data General trailed with a 6.3 rating. While the survey did not include MIPS, the four available Digital workstations use MIPS microprocessors.

States seeking to tax software

Software can be considered either "services" or "goods." Most states have considered software as services because historically most software has included a great deal of custom development for each client. With the increasing trend toward off-the-shelf packages, there is a compelling argument to consider software as "goods." From the standpoint of a purchaser, that has the advantage of making the transaction subject to a wide range of consumer protection laws, but there now is reason to seek to negotiate a clause in the contract that says the transaction is to be considered a "service." A number of states are attempting to increase sales tax revenues by requiring the application of a sales tax to the software in a contract when it is not specifically identified in the contract as a ''service."

I & R access via cable TV

Information and referral (I&R) or community information modules are becoming a popular component of local library systems. The modules support files of local agencies with information on whom they serve, hours and fees, and contact persons. Using a I&R module, a library patron can determine where in the community to turn for assistance for personal problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, AIDS, family counseling, etc. Community activity calendars are another popular feature. Users with a PC and a modem can dial into the local library system to consult the I&R data base from their home or office, but this comprises a minority of a community's residents.

An extension of service which libraries with I&R modules may wish to pursue is access via the local cable system. Most cable systems include one or more channels for the posting of public service messages. The reason most cable systems don't have extensive community information available is because of the time involved in entering and maintaining the data, rather than the cost of the equipment and software. An interface from a local library system to a cable company is relatively simple and inexpensive. Therefore, libraries with I&R data bases should consider entering into arrangements with their local cable company(ies) as a way of increasing the utilization of their files of information and as a way of promoting the local library as an information center.

Computer furniture revisited

Questions about computer furniture arise periodically. Nearly a quarter of our inquiries this past month dealt with the accommodation of PCs and terminals in a library or office environment. The emphasis was on accommodating equipment used by staff. While patrons generally appear to be satisfied with PCs or terminals installed in regular carrels or on walk up catalog consultation tables, staff complain when PCs or terminals are placed on regular office desks. The complaints are understandable because most conventional office furniture is too high for comfortable, keyboarding and too low for comfortable viewing up to eight hours a day. What is needed is adjustability.

Specialized computer furniture has three main areas of adjustment: the chair, the keyboard, and the monitor. Chairs designed for computer use should be easily adjustable for height and tilt for the seat back and bottom, and for recline tension, as well. Staff who haven't adjusted a chair in years of typewriter use will regularly adjust chairs once they start using PCs or terminals. Ideally, it also should be possible to adjust the height of the keyboard, but that can be very costly. For this, the most practical solution is a pull-out shelf below the regular work surface. Finally, it must be possible to adjust the screen for both height and distance from the operator. We have found that the most effective device for accomplishing this is a platform mounted on a swivel arm clamped to the desk which holds the monitor.

If space permits, staff should have U-shaped workstations. That permits a staff member to stay seated and swivel the chair around in one direction to reach the keyboard, and the other direction to reach a spacious work surface for the use of books and papers.

A good posture swivel chair costs from $175 to $350; a U-shaped workstation from $600 to $1,000; and a monitor arm from $40 to $150.

An ad hoc committee organized at the Library of Congress is looking into the need for ergonomic guidelines for workstations used in library technical services departments. NISO Z39 also has some interest in this subject.

Dataquest reports on PC-LAN operating systems

Dataquest, a California market research firm, has just reported on the market for local area networks for PCs.

Novell's Network continues to lead the market with 62.8 percent of all installations. LANManager is second with 9.6 percent, and AppleTalk is third with 9.1 percent. The other popular choices are Vines at 6.6 percent, TOPS at 3.4 percent, and LANtastic with 2.6 percent.

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