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January 1992
Library Online Systems - Making it Work
The Library Online Catalog. You have internationalsiteofINNOPAC,itisalsothe all seen it: a main catalog showing Library first to load additional databases into holdings, three journal citation databases INNOPAC. Months of discussing, testing, available from the main catalog, and almost modification, and adjustment were needed two dozen cd-rom databases loaded onto a before we could bring the first journal local area network. It looks straightforward citation database online. We continue to and effortless. A user can hardly imagine work with the ILS vendor to make im-the amount of work involved in pulling provements, such as exploring different
these together. ways to index the terms used in the subject
INNOPAC is an Integrated Library Sys- searches,inordertomakeitmoreeffective. tern (ILS). System software keeps track of Another first for us has been the coop-all the items in the collection, from the erative development and implementation moment they are ordered. It 'knows' where of a Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) they are, when they are due back, who else character entry and display capability for has asked for them, what courses items are INNOPAC. For the past year, we have been reserved for, and what fines need to be coordinating a team of designers and
en-levied. gineers from four companies in three
At each stage, information is routed to countries. Hardware versus software theManagementlnformationportionofthe concerns, analysis of different entry op-ILS. Here, statistics are collected and tions, discussion of various network analyzed for patterns, budgets are main- transmission and display protocols ( CCCII, tained and fund allocations adjusted in a Big 5, etc.), and exploration of data entry constant ballet of electronic synergy. formats to be used in cataloguing prior to
HKUST's Library is not only the first
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Collection Spotlight - Online Databases
We continue to spotlight databases Abstracts on INNOPAC. There are now 23 available on the Library online system CD-ROM databases on CD-NET and 11 becausemanypeopledonotyetknowwhat standalone CD-ROM databases available. is available. The University Library pro- Business Periodicals Ondisc (BPO)
-vides access to materials far beyond what This standalone fulltext imaging database most libraries are able to offer. Combining supplements the indexing and abstracting this with effective document delivery ar- of ABI/lnform with a periodical directory rangements and inter-library loan services, to locate complete articles and provide we believe we will be able to adequately laser-quality output of the original maga-support our faculty members' research zme pages. For example, Technology needs. We will soon release Periodical continued on page 2
Spotlight- continued from page 1
Review is available fulltext since Novem-ber 1987 and The Economist from 20 Feb., 1988 to the present. BPO offers fulltext for more than 300 periodicals indexed in AB I/
Inform.
Computer Select is accessible on CD-NET. It includes the full text of 65 compu-ter journals as well as abstracts from an-other 101. H you want to browse, for example, through MacUser, PC Maga-zine, AI Expert, Communications of the ACM, Datamation, IBM Systems Journal, WordPerfect, or Dr. Dobb's Journal, you may do so online, or download articles to disk.
Chembankis four databases combined: HSDB (Hazardous Substances Data Bank) from the U.S. National Library of Medicine; CHRIS (Chemical Hazard Response Infor-mation System) from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation; OHMTADS (Oil & Haz
-ardous Materials TechnicalAssistance Data System) from the U.S. E.P.A., and RTECS (Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances) from the U.S. Health &
Hu-Exhibition - Library Lobby
When you enter the Library you will notice the two exhibits in celebration of the opening of the University. One is a photo-graphic exhibition-"Building a Univer-sity: Through the Lens of Lee Ka-Sing." Lee Ka-Sing was named Photographer of the year for 1989 by the Hong Kong
Art-ists' Guild. These framed and wall-mounted photographs show HK UST from a unique perspective.
The second exhibit is a collection of documents, photographs, and mementos from HKUST's beginnings. There are publications, such as planning reports, as
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man Services. Tropag and Rural provides Abstracts on TropicalAgriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics.
H you want to locate a specific Shake-spearean sonnet, the easiest way to do it is to search it in Shakespeare On Disc. You can also verify book citations using Books in Print Plus, or search a journal title in the
Ulrich's Plus. You can even download share-wareMS-DOSprogramsfromPC-SIG! The three most noticeable databases on CD-NET are Medline, Science Citation In-dex, and Social Science Citation Index.
Because of the number of discs in these databases, and because we want to make the network as efficient as possible, such large databases will have current years only on CD-NET with earlier discs avail-able on a standalone terminal in the Data-base Search Room in the Reference area.
Fulltext Micropatent, which has an added disc every month, is available only on the standalone terminal.
In the next month we plan to produce a series of quick guides to the databases on CD-NET.
well as videos about the founding of HKUST. Another case displays photo-graphs of the early and later stages of building construction. Other documents and photographs highlight events from 1988 on, such as the laying of the founda
-tion by HRH The Prince of Wales. And finally one case is devoted to the Opening Ceremony. These records provide an over-view of HKUST's brief history.
They will become part of the perma-nent collection of the University Archives. We would like to thank the Office of Public Affairs for bringing these handsome ex-hibitions to the Library.
Bibliographic Instruction Update The Library, in cooperation with the Language Centre, has conducted 23 "Li-brary Skill" classes for our undergraduate students. fu addition, two focused semi-nars on "Library Resources and Services" have been given to the graduate students and faculty of the Biochemistry and Chemistry Departments. Similar services are available to other departments upon request.
General "Library Orientation" sessions are now available to the University com-munity, including family members. Each session includes a short tour of the facility., an introduction and explanation of the Library Online System and services.
These classes are currently held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 3:30. You may sign up for a class at the Reference Counter or by calling x6760. Otherwise, send e-mail to LBREF.
Systems - continued from page I
the actual implementation of the display capability are being explored. A prototype version is now operating on one terminal in the Library. Development continues, with the goal of providing this capability to terminals all across the campus net-work. A great deal of work remains.
The CD-NET was yet another substan-tial undertaking for the Library. fu just a few short months, we have built the largest cd-rom network in the world. Deciding on a platform took almost a year, as we worked with DEC, CCST, and our ILS vendor in a mostly successful attempt to provide full systems integration. Each database and its search software must undergo thorough testing. Problems in memory allocation,. search engine protocol conflicts, and
dif-Faculty Studies
The Library now has eight faculty stud -ies available. These are located on LG 1, and equipped with a desk, chair, and book-shelves. A computer (PC) with network connection will be provided on request.
Faculty in need of research space in the Library may request the use of one of these studies at the Reference Counter. The studies may be reserved from one day to one term. Library materials, including bound periodicals and reference books, may be checked out and left in the studies during the reserved period.
Children Nof Allowed [or "Aloud"?] You may have noticed a sign on the front door of the Library asking children not to enter the Library. We have had a large number of visitors to the Library, especially on the weekends, equipped with picnic supplies and cameras. Students have complained about the noise and dis-tractions while they are trying to study, and staff have had to quiet the children and get them away from computers. The sign was posted in an effort to preserve an appropri-ate study atmosphere for the library users. ferential software expectations have to be solved before a disc can be mounted on the network. Efforts now are shifting to the task of making the network available to a wider array of display platforms. It is important to us that our non-DOS users be able to utilize these resources with the same degree of ease as their fellows.
A great amount of work has gone into making all of this look easy. Our staff are committed to continuing their efforts to expand and improve the variety and range of services available to you, our users.
Suggestions, We get suggestions •••
"Dear Library, can you arrange for less homework, longer hours, perfect temperature, just the book I want to read .... " We do read your suggestions. While there is no way to respond to most of them since no return address is given, we want to use this space to answer several common suggestions. More than one person asked what to do when a book shows a status of "available" but cannot be found in the stacks. We suggest that you ask for help at the Circulation or Reference counter. The book may be mis-shelved - that is why we ask that users never reshelve books. Or maybe you misread the call no. or its location. If the book cannot be located immedi-ately, you may request that it be traced using the Search Slip at the Circulation counter. We will inform you of the result.
Several have asked for "more fiction." We agree that we need to acquire more fiction, some hobby material, and more Chinese novels and newspapers, but we do have a growing collection of fiction in the "P" class. Please ask for assistance at Reference if you have trouble finding them.
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Many have complained about the temperature and ven-tilation systems in the Library. The Estates Management Office is working diligently to balance and equalize these systems to maintain a comfortable environment.
Photocopy Services
It will help us to more efficiently handle your recommen-dation of items to purchase if you enter them in "Additional Items to Acquire." If you would like a response, please leave us an e-mail address or a telephone number. You may also send your suggestions and comments to "Library" through the campus e-mail system.
Your suggestions are useful to us. We appreciate very much the few "thank you" notes. Thank you for helping us stay in communication.
Expansion of Services
Photocopier cards may now be pur- In response to the needs of the
Univer-sity's MBA program, Saturday hours.have been extended until 7pm. To do this with our limited personnel, without cutting hours elsewhere, the Reserve and Circulation areas have been combined. The result has been a significant improvement in serv-ices. For the time being, the former Re-serve area will be used for special collec -tion, such Fine Arts and large book sets. chased, with values up to $95. Self-serve
copies are $0 .20 each.
The Library's Photocopy Service is located on LG 1. Copies are provided at the cost of $0.30 per page -you may pay cash or charge the cost to your depart-mental account. Call x6792 for details.
