ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

NEW TECHNOLOGY

•The British Library, supported by the Library of Congress, has begun preparation of an interpretive handbook for UNIMARC, the international MARC format. The work is sponsored by the Conference of Directors of National Libraries and its International MARC Network Study Steering Committee. UNIMARC will allow national libraries and bibliographic agencies to obtain maximum benefit from the resources already expended in the development of MARC-based library systems by facilitating access to MARC records produced by other national bibliographic agencies. Although several national agencies are already using UNIMARC, the interpretive handbook will allow it to be used in a standard way. The Library of Congress Cataloging Distribution Service is currently preparing specifications for the conversion of Library of Congress MARC records into UNIMARC and expects to be able to distribute records in UNIMARC late this year.

•Capital Systems Grouphas become the eastern distributor for library applications software developed by the California Library Authority for Systems and Services (CLASS). The software packages, designed to operate on the IBM/PC, HP125, and TRS-80 II computers, include serials control, bibliographic storage, catalog card production, and indexing functions. Contact: Marilyn Bielory, Capital Systems Group, 11301 Rockville Pike, Kensington, MD 20895; (301) 881-9400.

•General Meters Corporationhas developed a computing system to monitor copying machines in colleges and universities. The model accomodates faculty who use a credit card and records all copier use in its memory. Students can have access to the same copiers by either acquiring a debit card or using the coin box. The system is a self-contained computer based on the Intel 8085 microprocessor. It has a capability for instant data read out, either by a display or interfacing with a lightweight printer. Contact: General Meters Corporation, 433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 1200, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; (213) 274-2617.

•Maxwell Library Systemsnow has a data formatter for the TRS-80 III microcomputer that provides for the use of OCLC data in the company’s database management system. The new program allows the user to dial up OCLC, download the data found, and merge it with the data base manager.

The contents can then be edited, sorted, searched, and printed out as a bibliography, catalog cards, or in several report formats. The complete software package includes an MLS100 Terminal Emulator, an MLS200 Data Base Manager, an MLS410 Formatting Program, Word Processing and a Catalog Card Production database and print format. The Terminal Emulator enables the TRS-80 to be used as a smart terminal to the OCLC system and has an automatic log-on routine function and a recurrent search function. For further information, contact the Sales Department, Maxwell Library Systems, Suite 21, 271 Great Road, Acton, MA 01720; (617) 263-2277.

•The National Audio-Visual Association has changed its name to NAVA: The International Communications Industries Association, to emphasize its inclusion of a wide range of new technologies. In a vote during the Second General Session of NAVA’s annual convention in New Orleans in January, the NAVA membership approved the new name, culminating many months of careful consideration by the Board of Directors.

•PL Systems, Inc.,has developed a touchsensitive, user-friendly package that is designed to answer routine library information. When a student touches the Data Touch System’s screen, a computer is activated which displays a selection of information, such as how to use the card catalog or locations in the library. Detailed information about each subject is accessed by touching the screen adjacent to that item on the menu. An optional built-in printer provides students with a printout. The system can control terminals to display graphics such as library floor plans, charts, or maps in either single or multicolored images. The text can be in multiple languages. Data Touch can be configured to control any number of terminals and can operate off the library’s host computer. For more information, contact PL Systems, Inc., 222 Williams St., Providence, RI 02906; (401) 751- 1252.

•The Research Libraries Group, Stanford, California, has been awarded a grant of $250,000 by the Carnegie Corporation to plan the implementation of a distributed processing environment for RLG’s automated information system, RLIN. A research team headed by John Schroeder, RLG’s director of research and development, is visiting member institutions to discuss individual needs and examine thoroughly the requirements for a distributed architecture for the entire membership. The goal is to set up a system that has a central computer for storing files and performing large tasks, but in addition has geographically dispersed smaller computers to perform many processing and some data storage tasks, connecting with the central machine as needed.

•TexasA&M University’s Sterlinge. Evans Library, College Station, recently completed its first full semester of providing microcomputer services to the university community. Using supplemental funds provided by the university, the library was able to acquire microcomputer equipment for educational use by students, faculty, and staff. The equipment included 34 Apple II Plus microcomputers, 10 TRS-80 Model III microcomputers, 2 Balcones state contract microcomputers, and 16 Epson dot-matrix printers. The library expects to have over 100 units by June 1983. Many of the Apple II microcomputers have full color monitors, while others have two disk drives, 64K memory, and CP/M operating system capability.

Use of the microcomputers reached almost 20,000 hours for the 1982 Fall Semester and ran very close to full capacity when due dates on assignments drew near. Commercially available and faculty-developed software have been used for specific tasks as well as to teach subject content. The software can only be used within the library’s Learning Resources Department, which also maintains a growing collection of reference materials on microcomputers, languages, programming, and equipment directories.

Also underway is a pilot program using the PLATO system for computer-assisted teaching of Fortran. The project will utilize 20 CDC-110 microcomputers for student use, with lesson management and progress reporting done on a Cyber minicomputer. A successful test program at the library will open the door for campus-wide use of the PLATO system. ■ ■