ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

NEW TECHNOLOGY

•AMIGOS Bibliographic Council recently announced the implementation of a low-cost method of analyzing library collections using a library’s OCLC archival tapes. The AMIGOS Collection Analysis Service compares the library’s call numbers against a classification table to produce reports that highlight collection strengths and needs in specific areas. The holdings of several libraries can also be compared for cooperative acquisitions programs.

Funding for the initial project was provided by the Association for Higher Education of North Texas, a consortium in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The AMIGOS programs will analyze and compare the holdings of AHE’s 17 member institutions against the RLG Conspectus classes. AHE will use the collection analysis reports to help formulate and coordinate the consortium’s cooperative acquisitions policies, and to identify strengths in individual library collections.

The Collection Analysis Service may be utilized as an additional product of a library’s OCLC tape processing by AMIGOS Computer Services, or a library may contract for this service separately. After an initial collection analysis has been produced, periodic updates or comparisons may be performed. Contact AMIGOS Bibliographic Council, 11300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 321, Dallas, TX 75243.

•The Faxon Company has announced that the OCLC M300, an IBM personal computer to which OCLC has added special hardware and software features, can be used to access the LINX network. Through the purchase of one of several communications packages, the M300 can be made to emulate the IBM 3270-type terminal which is used for LINX. For further information, contact Faxon, 15 Southwest Park, Westwood, MA 02090; (800) 225- 6055.

•The Library Software Company introduced at the 1984 ALA Annual Conference an IBM PC XT version of Circulation Plus, a hard disk library circulation system that also runs on the Apple and TRS-80. Circulation Plus was itself designed by librarians and is capable of checking in and out 65,000 books to 10,000 patrons on a 10 megabyte hard disk drive. For more information, contact Library Software Company, P.O. Box 23897, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523; (415) 943-1413.

•The National Library of Medicine is now offering subsets of its MEDLINE bibliographic database for use on personal and institutional computers. A subset licensing policy and agreement have been adopted, and NLM is now prepared to provide citations from MEDLINE and its backfiles on magnetic tape (and later on diskettes) for storage and re-use locally. Those wishing to receive MEDLINE subsets are allowed considerable latitude in defining the portion of the database they require. Subsets may be defined by subject, time period, language, journal title, or other delimiting factors. The charge for the service varies with the size of the subset and the medium of distribution, whether updates are chosen, and whether the subset is intended for use by one or more persons. For an information packet, write MEDLARS Management Section, National Library of Medicine, Bldg. 38A, Room 4N421, Bethesda, MD 20209; (301) 496-6308.

•Searchmart Corporation has produced a free access Software Library that can be accessed by calling (305) 845-6466. Anyone with data communications capability can locate descriptions, prices, and other details about thousands of software products stored in the Library. Updated facts on applications, operating systems, language compatabilities, memory, and configuration requirements are provided for mainframe, mini, and microcomputers. Searchmart does not sell the software products it advertises; it merely offers software shoppers a convenient marketing tool that can offer advertising messages directly to end users. Contact: Searchmart Corporation, Suite 101, 745 U.S. Highway One, North Palm Beach, FL 33408; (305) 845-2996.

•Sydney Dataproducts has formed a consortium that will work with the company on expanding their Easy Data Integrated Library System. The consortium, made up of Exxon, Southern California Gas, andPanCanadianPetroleum Corp., is creating design specifications that will automate serials control in corporate and special libraries in early 1985. The new software package will extend the system currently available, which handles cataloging and circulation. Contact Sydney Dataproducts, 11075 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90025; (213) 479-4621.