Library Technology Guides

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Volume 2 Number 08 (August 1982)

Videotex interest remains high

Despite continuing cynicism from some commentators as to the imminence of the emergence of a large scale videotex market, industry interest remains high. Attendance at the Videotex 82 conference in New York--for which registration was $750 per attendee--has been estimated in excess of 1,000, and the technology was well represented in papers at recent Special Libraries Association, American Library Association and World Future Society conferences.

Standards, particularly those for screen displays, continue to receive attention. At Videotex 82 proponents of the British Prestel format argued that the marketplace should set a de facto standard--a position which is understandable in light of the fact that 98% of the 750,000 videotex and teletext sets now in use in the world use the British standard adopted by Prestel. Most of the other participants agreed that a single standard might not be possible for a country as large and complex as the US, but argued that two or three standards be set by the FCC so that the industry could begin to focus on applications and marketing rather than worrying about whether the equipment now being developed would be usable.

Until standards are set, there will continue to be nothing but local area trials, said one participant. We know enough about small audiences now; we need to learn about the mass market. FCC representatives refused to speculate on whether, one or more standards might be forthcoming.

Videotex watchers of all persuasions have been offered a new focus by the publication of Teletex and Videotex in the United States: Market Potential, Technology and Public Policy Issues by McGraw-Hill [ISBN 0-07-000427-7]. The publication is the result of a $226,000 study by the Institute for the Future commissioned by the National Science Foundation. In addition to the more usual definitions of videotex and teletext, the study also defines videotex as a generic name to describe "the class of systems that provide electronic information to the home" and thus incorporates into its arena systems such as The Source and CompuServe. The study examines- the current state-of the technology and its implementation in the United States and elsewhere, forecasts developments in the technology and its application, and analyzes the policy issues which may emerge for widespread acceptance of the medium.

Teletext provides one of the more interesting exhibits at the World's Fair in Knoxville in the form of the Keyfax Teletext Magazine, a 70 page teletext display which uses the British videotex/teletext display standard.

The menu includes news headlines, weather, sports, NY Stock Exchange reports and figures, leisure guide, horoscopes, and a world's Fair calendar of events. The venture is the joint effort of Keycom (itself a joint venture of Centel Corp., Honeywell, and Field Enterprises), North American Philips, Athena Cablevision, WHIR in Knoxville, and Financial Interstate Services.

Starting this Fall, current plans call for an expanded Keyfax to be made available to 20 million cable households nationwide via transmissions systems operated by Satellite Syndicated Systems. Both NBC and CBS have also indicated that they plan to offer nationwide teletext service -in- 1983; [Contact: Pam Dorge, Keyfax, 312-399-2807.]

Coin devices for micros

Readers of LSN will be aware that some libraries are installing personal computers for public use.

We recently received an inquiry about the feasibility of attaching a coin box to such a computer to permit a library to discourage long-term use by children and to recover a portion of the cost of the service. The most economical and functional unit we have found is the Mark Tine, a product that has been used by dozens of libraries to meter coin- operated electric typewriters.

The Mark Time is "field adjustable"-- a library can easily change the amount of tine a patron gets for a quarter. This permits rates to be adjusted so that usage and revenue can be controlled as desired. The half-hour unit can be adjusted in 5-minute step-downs to 5 minutes and the hour unit can be adjusted in 10 minute step-downs to 10 minutes. Each Mark Tine unit costs $81.25. They can only be purchased through a distributor. The manufacturer--M. H. Rhodes Co., 99 Thompson Road, Avon, CT 06001; (203) 673-3281-will provide the names of distributors upon request.

Two other systems-Compuvend and XCP-offer more features than the Mark Time, including changemaking, an override key for staff, and accounting control. Both also cost up to ten times as much-up to $750. The Editors believe that a library should have compelling reasons to spend the extra money for these features.

If changemaking is important, it may be better to purchase a separate change maker so that patrons can obtain change for other equipment as well.

We do like the XCP VendaCard (TM) usage control unit even at a price of $1,895. The unit dispenses time on a micro or copies from a copying machine up to the limit coded on a previously issued identification card. The card-holder may be a patron who has made a cash deposit, a representative of a fIrm which has made an advance payment, or an academic/corporate/municipal department which has authorized a fund transfer to the library. Each usage debits the card by a preset amount. When the value left on the card is zero, the usage control unit will deny access. It is also possible to code an expiration date into the card. The cost of a card encoder is $1,995.

A $5,800 unit is available for patrons to increase the amount on their cards by putting coins or dollar bills into a collection device. This selfservice encoding could save considerable staff time in an active library.

Obviously the VendaCard system is not for every library. The real beneficiaries will be libraries which are currently spending hundreds of hours each year keeping track of charge accounts for copier and micro users.

[Contact: XCP, Inc., 8 W. Main Street, Dryden, NY 13503. Telephone: 607- 844-9143.]

Foiling micro thieves

A product which attracted much attention at the National Computer Conference was a device for securing desktop computers. The Anchor Pad consists of a platform large enough to accommodate the CPU and keyboard. The platform also supports a shelf for the monitor. All of the components are held together with metal strips that can be quickly unlocked for servicing. The unit swivels 3600 and provides ample ventilation for the system components. A unit for a typical micro, such as an Apple II, costs $320. Quantity discounts are available to purchasers of more than one unit. [Contact: Equipment Environments, P. 0. Box 3442, Nashua, NH 03061, (603) 883- 9880 or offices in principal cities.]

Electrical power requirements for minis

We have had several requests for information about the general electrical requirements for minicomputer-based library systems from libraries planning new buildings or building renovations. The libraries are attempting to anticipate future needs rather than seeking to implement a specific automated system.

The following requirements are common to many of the mini-based systems and should, with only minor modifications, be suitable for all but the largest systems.

• a. CPU (Central Processing Unit)

  Voltage 120 or 208 +/- 15%, 3 phase, 30 amp dedicated circuit, heat output 12,000 BTU per hour.

• b. Disk Drives

  Voltage 120 or 208 +/- 10-15%), 3 phase, 15 or 30 amp dedicated circuit per drive; heat output 6,000 BTU per hour each.

• c. Tape Drives

  Voltage 115 or 230 +/- 10%), single phase, 2.6 amps to 5 amps on shared circuit; heat output 1,400 BTU per hour.

• d. System Console

  Voltage 110 or 220 (±10%), single phase, 7.5 amps on shared circuit; heat output 2,400 BTU per hour.

Ideally all of this equipment would be contained in a single room of 250-300 square feet. The roan should be secured so that only authorized system operators will have access. These figures should be used for preliminary planning only as the specific requirements vary from vendor to vendor. One of the biggest hurdles may be arranging for 3 phase electrical power. Many rural and suburban area power companies may require written justification several months in advance of bringing this capability to the library.

Typically the cost for revamping the electrical and air conditioning systems of a building to adequately accommodate a mini is $5,000-7,000.

ALA conference exhibits overview

The following exhibitors were among the more than two dozen library technology vendors that had booths at the Annual Meeting of the American Library Association in Philadelphia with many more also demonstrating their wares in hotel suites. Several new products and services were offered for the first time.

Autographics displayed Agile II, its online shared cataloging system-a commercial alternative to OCLC and the other bibliographic utilities. While the data base is smaller than those of the utilities, high hit rates and lower costs are claimed for public libraries. [Contact: Autographics Inc., 751 Monterey Pass Rd., Monterey Park, CA 91754. Telephone 213-269-9451.]

Avatar promoted its successful rewrite of ILS (the Integrated Library System developed by the Lister Hill Laboratory for Biomedical Communications of the National Library of Medicine) to support a multi-branch library system.

[Contact: Avatar Systems Inc., 11325 Seven Locks Road, #205, Potomac, MD 20854. Telephone 301-983-8900.]

Baker and Taylor's LIBRIS Il-an improved version of its online acquisitions system received considerable attention from representatives of larger libraries. The typical user will pay $800 or more per month.

[Contact: Baker and Taylor, 50 Kirby Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876. Telephone 201-722- 8000.]

CL Systems representatives told of their multi-processor configured system- now installed in seven libraries-and the successful incorporation of the DEC PDP 11/44 computer into the CLSI hardware line. The first CLSI PDP 11/44 is currently operating as part of a multi-processor system at the Baltimore County Public Library.

[Contact: CL Systems Inc., 81 Norwood Ave., Newtonville, MA 02160. Telephone 617-965-6310.]

Colorado Computer Systems announced that they are planning to develop a circulation component for COMPUTER CAT, the Apple-based online catalog for small libraries. Suggestions for file content, screen displays, and reports are being sought.

[Contact: Colorado Computer Systems Inc., 7100 N. Broadway, lit, Denver, CO 80221. Telephone 303-427-1639.]

DataPhase Systems introduced LINC (Library Information Network Center), a microprocessor-based system designed to function as a terminal in its automated library information system (ALIS); to back-up the ALIS system; and to serve as a remote data base searching terminal, word processor, and/or community information system.

[Contact: DataPhase Systems Inc., 3770 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111. Telephone 816-931-7927.]

Data Research Associates of St. Louis presented a generalized version of the system they developed for the Cleveland Public Library. The system, designated as ATLAS, has circulation, acquisition, patron access catalog, and service to the blind modules operating on standard DEC hardware. [Contact: Data Research Associates, Inc., 4225 Lacleade Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108. Telephone 800-325-0888.]

Faxon representatives described the serials routing module of their LINX serials management system. It is scheduled to become available in late 1982. Faxon also announced a new pricing structure for current and new users of LINX SC-lO, effective July 1, 1982. A major component of the new schedule relates to telecommunications charges, which previously cost $250 to $500 per month depending on the user's location. This variable charge has now been replaced by a flat monthly fee of $100.

[Contact: F. W. Faxon Co., Inc., 15 Southwest Park, Westwood, MA 02090. Telephone 617-329-3350.]

Gaylord created a separate display area for a wide range of microcomputer software and supplies. A catalog of micro hardware, software, and supplies is available on request. [Contact: Gaylord Bros., Inc., Box 4901, Syracuse, NY 13221. Telephone 800-448- 6160.]

UTLAS demonstrated its recently released online order entry and purchase order creation subsystem-Accord. It is currently negotiating online order transmission with a number of vendors. To support the electronic ordering system UTLAS and Innovative Interfaces announced that UTLAS will be marketing INNOVACQ 100, the library acquisitions system developed by Innovative Interfaces, in Canada. The system is based on a multi-processor micro with Winchester disk drives and can accommodate up to 10 terminals and 200,000 records. The Innovative Interfaces system provides libraries with acquisition and accounting capabilities which complement Accord.

[Contact: Innovative Interfaces Inc., 2131 University Ave., #334, Berkeley, CA 94704. Telephone 415-540-0880; or UTLAS, 80 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2Vl. Telephone 416-923-0890.]

OCLC demonstrated the Total Library System with its integrated circulation, patron access catalog and acquisitions functions. The system runs on Hewlett-Packard minis and is capable of tyingin to complementary OCLC online modules such as cataloging and interlibrary loan. [Contact: OCLC, 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017-0702. Telephone 614-764-6000.]

Management change at DataPhase

H. Paul Rosenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DataPhase Systems, Inc., announced on June 27, 1982 that Sheldon P. Roufa and Elvin E. Smith had left their employment with the company as of that date.

Rosenberg, chairman and the major stockholder since the company's inception in 1975, further announced that Paul Rosenburg had been elected president of the company. Paul Rosenberg had been executive vice-president of Midland Lithographic Company and a member of the Board of Directors of DataPhase. William Adiletta, vice-president of engineering, and Steven Lassiter, vice-president for library services, will continue in their positions. Paul Rosenburg, when contacted at ALA, said no other personnel changes were contemplated. He also acted quickly to resolve a number of outstanding minor conflicts between DataPhase and libraries which had been quoted sales prices for hardware they had expected to receive as part of their contracts.

AACR2 conversion service announced

Blackwell North America (BNA) has announced an AACR2 conversion service for libraries which have pre-AACR2 machine-readable records. For several years BNA has offered authority control for LC subject headings to customers of both its cataloging and COM services. The expanded authority control system manipulates not only subject headings, but also names, uniform titles, series, etc.

The system matches a magnetic tape of bibliographic headings supplied by a library against a master authority file of Library of Congress authority tapes and updates produced by BNA from printed supplements not yet incorpo-rated into LC tapes. The BNA system automatically updates headings to con-form to LC's most recent practices, standardizes them, sets MARC tags and delimiters, creates cross references, and eliminates blind cross references. The fields converted include lxx (main entries), 4xx (series statements), 6xx (subjects), 7xx (name added entries) and 8xx (series added entries).

BNA claims that the converted tapes delivered to the library will be ready to use. The cost of the new ser-vice is approximately $.06 per record, but this will vary depending on the number of records being converted and the related services for which a li-brary contracts at the same time.

The service and its cost appear attractive at first glance. LSN will contact customers of the new service and give an updated report in a future issue.

Library Systems and Services, Inc.

MINIMARC, the microcomputer-based stand-alone cataloging and retrospective conversion support system developed by Informatics, has been sold to Frank A. Pezzanite, formerly associated with MINIMARC at Informatics. Mr. Pezzanite has formed a new company-Library Systems and Services Inc. to sell and service MINIMARC. No major changes are planned. Informatics officials said they saw a good future for MINIMARC, but felt a turnkey system requiring hardware support was a poor fit for a large international company specializing in software. [Contact: Library Systems and Services, Inc., 1395 Piccard Drive, #100, Rockville, MD 20850. Telephone 301-258-2000.]

Software discount house exhibits at ALA

The Software Discount House, a division of Nolan Information Management Services, a software vendor and consulting firm, drew considerable attention at ALA in Philadelphia because it claims to specialize in microcomputer software for libraries, offers discounts, and replacement or credit for any software product found to be defective within 30 days of purchase.

Unfortunately, while 1400 programs are apparently available, few are suitable for automating library functions. Nearly all of the packages are Apple programs ranging from CompuSpell and Counting Bee to provocative titles such as Tax Beater. That's to be expected, however, because there is still very little library specific software available for micros. Most of that which a library can now buy is more suitable for use in the library office or by library patrons.

The discounts offered ranged from less than 10% to more than 25% off list prices and the return policy is an attractive reason to try the firm. [Contact: The Software Discount House, 21203 A Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 5323, Torrance, CA 90509. Telephone 213- 259-3329.]

Video sales projections made

The Electronic Industries Association has projected an increase of videodisk sales from 3 million units last year to as many as 7.5 million in 1982. Prerecorded video cassette sales are expected to rise more slowly from 5.3 to 6.5 million unit-primarily to video dealers who rent pre-recorded video cassettes. Blank videotape sales are expected to go from 22.5 million to 31.5 million units.

Disk player sales are also expected to increase significantly: from 157,000 in 1981 to as many as 350,000 in 1962. There will be an even greater increase in VCR sales: from 1.3 to more than 2 million units.

RCA announces stereo disk players

RCA has introduced two stereo versions of its CED (capacitance) videodisk player to overcome what it believes has one of the major points of user resistance-poor sound quality. Only 164,000 RCA players had been sold as of the end of 1981.

The new stereo units, the SGT 200 and the SeT 250 have been priced at $399.95 and $499.95 respectively. The SGT 200 is the stereo version of the present player. The SGT 250 substitutes an electronic control for the frequently balky manual mode selector lever and has a remote control device.

The initial offering of stereo disks may number only 10 titles. More than 200 monaural disks are now available. The original monaural players, designated SFT 100, are now available in some discount stores for as little as $199. This model will be soon replaced with two new models, one with even more limited features yet a price tag of $299.

RCA's determination to stay in the entertainment videodisk market may pay off in the long run. Even though fewer players have been sold than expected, machine owners are purchasing disks at the rate of 3 disks per machine per month, approximately three times the rate projected.

VHD delayed

Victor Co. of Japan (JVC) has announced that its VHD videodisk system will not be offered in the U.S. until next summer. The company said it delayed the introduction, scheduled for this month, because of the continuing recession in the U.S. and Japan. The VHD (Very High Density) system is a grooveless capacitance system that is visibly distinguishable from the RCA grooved capacitance system because of the absence of grooves on the disk and the use of a stylus about 10 times larger than the RCA stylus. Since the stylus is not locked into following a groove, it is free to be directed laterally across the disk while it spins. This freedom allows random access, freeze frame, and a variety of slow and fast speeds in reverse and forward. The Japanese launch scheduled for April, was postponed until early 1983.

The delay caused JVC to lay off a number of disk production workers in Irvine, CA. The extra year will allow JVC to increase the size of its initial disk catalog to some 250 titles-about half of which will be feature films and half musical and interactive programs.

Meanwhile, other fins, expected to offer VHD products, had little to say about the delay. "We are assessing the market and economic conditions," said a spokesman for General Electric Co., "but we have not set a firm date for introduction." At press time, neither Panasonic Consumer Electronics Corp. nor Quasar Co. had announced launch dates.

Parsons displays shipping/ carrying cases

Parsons Manufacturing Corporation displayed an extensive range of foam-lined stock cases at ALA in Philadelphia. The cases can accommodate computer terminals, videodisk players, or almost any other type of electronic equipment one may wish to ship or carry. Sixteen standard sizes of cases can be filled with foam inserts to fit the specific piece of equipment. Prices range from $95 to $398 in single quantities. Case carts are also available at a price of $80. Most sizes can be delivered within two weeks. [Contact: Parsons Manufacturing Corp., 1055 O'Brien Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025. Telephone 415-324-4726.]

SPEC Kits offer systems information

The Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is an agency which, regularly surveys the ways in which ARL member libraries handle specific concerns. The Center publishes reviews of these practices along with illustrative docu-ments at a cost of $15 per SPEC "Kit." The typical kit contains 100 pages of information. The annual subscription of $125 delivers 10 Kits a year plus "fly-ers" which summarize the contents of the kits.

Subscribers are also entitled to complementary, telephone reference and referral service. Recent kits of potential interest to LSN readers include:

#82	Document Delivery Systems
#77	The Use of Small Computers
#26	Online Bibliographic Search Services
#74	Fees for Services

[Contact: SPEC, Of fice of Management Studies, Association of Research Libraries, 1527 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036. Telephone 202-232-8656.]

Data entry survey results

The Data Entry Management Association (DEMA) has recently completed a survey and determined that the average rate for entering information into an automated system is 11,106 key strokes per hour. The average labor cost for data entry personnel was $8.32 per hour in 1982 according to DEMA. The study is normally undertaken each year.

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