Notes From The Library, Issue No. 21

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Library Bu1ldin

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The library is carrying out building modifications to LG/1 this summer. These modifications will create additional space for the Media and Microform collections as I well as the library classroom. The computer lab and photocopy service will be relocated. Both the computer lab and classroom will be redesigned to improve their teaching function. Work is scheduled for completion by early October, although photocopy services will return to normal in a new location by early September.

While work is in progress, the media and microform collections will be housed in temporary locations on LG/4 and LG/1, and

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Library Modifications - continued on page 3

The Archives and Special Collections will officially open on 2 September. This collection includes both the archives of the University and rare and fragile materials in a variety of formats. Richard Hollinger, the Archivist, is currently surveying the records of campus offices, in order to identify those materials that have historical value and should be preserved in the Archives. The archival holdings currently include university publications; photographs of HKUST; newspaper clippings about HKUST; planning documents; agendas and minutes of the

The Library of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Senate, the Council, and the Court; and other materials documenting the history of the institution. While use of some documents are restricted, others, which may be viewed by the public, will eventually be made available electronically.

One copy of each student thesis or dissertation is also kept in Archives; another copy is in the general book collection (LG/4). Books known to be published by HKUST faculty are also housed in this collection.

The Special Collections include antique maps and atlases from the 16th-19th centuries, focusing on China but with a few covering other parts of Asia; these maps were featured in a Library exhibit in the fall of 1995. Facsimile reproductions of famous Chinese paintings and calligraphy form another collection, also featured in a Library exhibit in the foll of 1994. There are also rare books on Chinese history and culture. Additionally, the Library is developing a collection of significant early science books. Archives and Special Collections materials do not circulate, but HKUST staff, students, and faculty may use the unrestricted materials in the reading room, which will be open at stated hours beginning in September.

A variety of enhancements and upgrades have recently taken place in Library Systems. The most noticeable is a new version of the PowerPages database software. You can now view the full-text article images on

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your PC.

The new software generally requires that 490 kb of conventional memory and 10-20 kb of upper memory (UMB) be available to run. If you have a problem (such as the error "Sorry, your search could not be completed as entered."), contact CCHELP for assistance in reconfiguring available memory (e.g., unloading CD-ROM drivers, etc.)

A Web interface to the Library Catalog is now available. You can try it out at http: //ustlib.ust.hk/ It does not have as many features as the terminal interface, but it can be a convenient alternative.

Unix users will be especially pleased to find that the ERL databases that were available only through PC and Mac clients are now available through a web interface at http://library.ust.hk/info/db/webspirs.html

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INTERNET: Alta-Vista

In last month's column we introduced you to search engines for locating information on the World-Wide Web. One of the best of these tools is Alta-Vista (http://altavista . digital.com/). Alta-Vista can be used to search either Web pages, or postings to Usenet newsgroups. Both "Simple" and "Advanced"

search options are available. For most people, the default "Simple Query" capabilities will be very effective.

Alta-Vista ranks its search results in several ways. It returns all pages which have any of the words entered, with those which have more of them, and those which have them early on the page being displayed at the top of the list. In most cases, this still results in huge lists. A search for chia wei woo, for example, yields 30,000 hits.

There are a number of ways which can help to narrow your search for just those pages you need:

Capitalization: Words entered in lower

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case will match both upper and lower case. Those entered in upper case, or a mix of the two, will only return exact matches. This is especially useful when searching for proper nouns, places, and names. For example, searching for Chia-Wei Woo reduces the 30,000 hits above to 7,000.

Phrases: You can designate a series of

words as a phase by putting them in quotes. This way, only those pages with these words together in this order will be displayed. Using

"Chia-Wei Woo" finally provides a manageable 25 hits!

Requiring/Excluding: You can require

that all words entered be present by preceding each word with a plus sign(+). Using a minus sign (requires that the word NOT be present in the document. "Hong Kong University" yields 4,000 hits, of which those relating to UST can be removed by using "Hong Kong University"

-Technology, which gives only 500 hits.

Truncation: Variant spellings and word

roots can also be found by using the asterisk truncation symbol. colo*rwill find both color and colour; and univers* will give both university and universities.

Constraining: You can also select

certain fields to search. This is most useful when searching Usenet postings, where you can retrieve based on the from or subject fields, for example .

In most cases, some combination of these capabilities will enable you to locate what is available. If you find that you need more sophisticated search options, take the time to read the help file for Alta-Vista's "Advanced Query" option.

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MEDIA: Animated Shakespeare

The Emmy Award winning series

Shakespeare: the Animated Tales that has captivated audience of all ages is now available on video (PN1992.77.A12S52 1993

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v.1-6 30 mins each).

The current series was animated by

leading Russian artists using

a

variety of

styles - including eel animation and stop-action puppetry. The adaptations were prepared under the supervision of prominent Shakespearean scholars, and voices for the characters were supplied by members of the Royal Shakespearean Company and Britain's National Theatre.

The library now has the following titles: Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night.

A new series, hosted by Robin Williams,

will be forthcoming in 1996/97. Titles will

include: As You Like It, Julius Caesar, King

Richard III, Othello, and Taming of the Shrew.

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WEB: What's New

We invite you to visit the Library Web

Server resource page (http://library.ust.hk/

res/resource.html#path) to use the new

HKUST Library Pathfinders on Biotechnology

Information, Technical Reports, Working Papers, and Job Hunting.

Biotechnology Information links you to some of the best biotechnology sites on the web and relevant materials available at

HKUST Library. Technical Reports leads you

to collections of technical and research reports from universities, companies, and

governments. Working Papers guides you to

resources on economic working papers and

management research reports. Job Hunting

shows you information on job advertisements, the job searching process (resumes, cover letters, interviews, etc.), and the occupational outlook in Hong Kong.

Extel Financial has become one of our most heavily used databases. A detailed

hypertext Extel Database Search Guide is now

available at http://library.ust.hk/res/guides/

extel.html, and includes links to some very helpful FAQs.

For tips on writing a research paper, see

the updated Library Research Skills pages at

http://library.ust.hk/serv/skills/

Two Cambridge Scientific Abstracts

databases (Environmental Sciences and

Pollution Management and Water Resources Abstracts) can be accessed on campus at

http://library.ust.hk/cgi/csa_link.pl

The Library is also expanding online services. You may now send ILL requests

online using the form at http://library.ust.hk/

cgi-auth/req-ill. pl

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Where are the Bound Periodicals?

During the past five years, the Library's collections have grown rapidly. To lessen the shelving pressure, the Library staff have shifted most of the books and periodicals in the Library.

Classes A-P of the Bound Periodicals have been moved from LG 1 to the beginning

sections of the LG4 shelving.

Classes Q-Z of the Bound Periodicals were then spread out on LGl.

The entire Book Collection on LG4, Clas-ses A-P, has also been shifted and spread out.

Library Modifications - continued from page 1

Photocopy Services will provide limited service

from a temporary location on LG/1. The

media collection will continue to be available for circulation, but there will be no viewing or listening facilities. The computer lab and the library classroom will also be closed during

the construction period. We believe our users

will be better served once the building work is completed. Please bear with us.

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Suggestions and Answer

Express Copier: The public photocopier on

the ground floor is an Express Lane copier.

This copier is reserved for users needing to

make 10 copies or less only.

Pagers and Mobile Phones: Please

remember that mobile phones should be

turned off in the Library. Pagers should be set to vibrate mode, or turned off.

Warm Bodies

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Seat 'Reservations': People

(including UST students) trying to reserve study spaces by leaving their belongings

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Who to Contact

unattended remains a problem. The Library

has repeatedly informed UST students that

they themselves can remove articles from

seats/rooms that have been unoccupied for a long time. Seats can only be occupied by warm bodies.

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Library Classes and Wor h

During the Summer months, the Library has stayed busy preparing and conducting classes for students and staff.

Searching the Web workshops have

received an overwhelming response. Classes

filled rapidly, with a number of people on the waiting list. More classes on the Web will be offered in the Fall to meet this heavy demand. Introductory classes were held for engineering F. 7 summer students. "Library

-the Wonderland" sessions were organized for about 300 new students during the

orientation camps. The workshop for

engineering final year projects was also well attended.

Many different kinds of classes targeting different information needs will be offered in the Fall. For suggestions or questions, please email to [email protected] or call ext. 6 7 63.

University Librarian 2358-6702 MINMIN

LBJOTSUI LBHOLLIN LBDONW LBCAROL LBLTLEE LB RUTH LBPCHU LBDIANAC LBLKT

Min-Min Chang

Josephine Tsui Richard Hollinger Don Wassink Carol Liheng Linda Lee Acquisitions 2358-6711

Archives & Special Collections 2358-6785

Bibliographic Services & Projects 2358-6 709

Cataloging 2358-6737 Circulation 2358-6771 Collection Development 2358-6704 Media Resources 2358-6786 Reference 2358-6765 Systems 2358-6741 4 Ruth Miller Patrick Chu Diana Chan K. T. Lam