ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

NEW TECHNOLOGY

• Bell & Howell’s Microfilm Products Division has introduced a series of bond paper reader/prin- ters that produce high quality prints from silver film and diazo or vesicular duplicates. The 5100 model is designed for fiche, jacket, and aperture card applications, and is available with interchangeable fiche carriages and index grids. The 5500 and 5600 models are dedicated to roll film applications. The latter model features a controller that enhances speed and accuracy by providing six functional retrieval modes to accomodate a variety of microfilm formats and record systems. All the printers can print up to 99 copies of a single image at the rate of ten per minute. For more information, contact Bell & Howell Company, Microfilm Products Division, 6800 McCormick Road, Chicago, IL 60645.

• The California State Library has awarded $52,000 to the University of California Division of Library Automation for the development of a “talking” terminal for the visually impaired. The terminal will interface with the university’s MELVYL online catalog, which combines the library holdings of all nine University of California campuses into one source. The project is targeted for completion in September. Marion Bourke, principal librarian of the California State Library’s Braille and Talking Book Library, is primary consultant for the project.

• The Knogo Corporation’s electronic article surveillance (EAS) system has been successful in combatting theft in Europe’s second largest library, the new Rotterdam Public Library in the Netherlands. Each book protected by the EAS system has a small magnetic strip concealed in the spine that triggers an alarm at the exit unless it is first deactivated at the circulation desk. Rotterdam has been tagging new books with electromagnetic strips as they arrive, and older books in stages. Knogo has also adapted its system for use in bookstores and supermarkets. For more information, contact Knogo Corporation, 100 Tec Street, Hicksville, NY 11801.

• Fourteen libraries of the New Hampshire College and University Council are developing a statewide integrated online library system for acquisitions, circulation, cataloging, serials, and interlibrary loan. The Council, a consortium of the four-year, private and public postsecondary institutions in the state, is coordinating and funding the development phase. An RFP will be ready by June 1, 1985. The Library Automation Project, co- chaired by Philip C. Wei (Plymouth State College), Michael York (Merrimack Valley College), and Susan Epstein (SBE Ltd.), will complement and coordinate with the automation of the state’s public libraries.

• Newport Communications International has introduced VHS and Betamax versions of a theft- prevention device for videocassette recorders. VI- DEOLOK inserts into the recorder like a cassette; when an attempt is made to tamper with or remove the VCR, a startling 98-decibel alarm is set off that can only be disengaged by an individual key. For more information, contact James Bartolomucci, Newport Communications International, 4120 Birch Street, Suite 101, Newport Beach, CA 92660; (714) 476-0855.

• OCLC, Inc., now offers microcomputerbased services for retrospective conversion and serials control. MICROCON is a batch retrospective conversion service that enables libraries to input local information onto a microcomputer for later searching on the OCLC database. SC 350 is a serials control system that allows for serials data transfer to the local site from the OCLC Online Union Catalog or vice versa. Both systems run on the M300 workstation provided rent-free by OCLC. Contact: OCLC, 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017-0702; (614) 764-6000.

• Union College Library, Lincoln, Nebraska, is installing an EMILS/3000 library system from Electric Memory, Inc., of Monterey, California, that features an online catalog and automated circulation system. In 1983 the college had a computer terminal placed in every dormitory room on campus. The same terminals will soon be able to access the library catalog in several formats ranging from full Marc record to specific copy information. Reserve, acquisitions, and serials subsystems will be added in the future.