Notes From The Library, Issue No. 3

March 1991

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System Going Live!

The Library Online Catalog will be unveiled to the university at large in March. To access the system select "Library Online Catalog" at the network main menu, then enter "library" when prompted for a login and "v" for vtlOO terminal type. The Library has been running the Acquisitions and Serials Control modules since last October and the Cataloging module since December. This release of the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) module keeps the Li-brary on schedule for a fully operational integrated system by the time classes begin.

The database presently contains records for all material received in the library: approximately 40,000 records for books and 1500 records for journals. While most of the books and bound journals are boxed and kept in storage, . the online system should prove useful for tracking journal issues as they are received and keeping up with current reading.

One exciting feature we have been waiting for on INNOPAC is the recently released journal citation module. The first two indexing/abstracting databases to be loaded onto the library system will be ABI/INFORM (1985-present) cover-ing business j oumals, and INSPEC ( 198 9-present) covering science and technol-ogy journals. Loading is currently under-way. You will read more about these two databases in the April issue of :J{ptes.

Demonstration sessions are being planned during March to introduce to the university staff the use of the system and its capabilities. A brochure which de-scribes the various features of the system will be sent to all staff and may be kept as a quick reference to the use of the system. Everyone is encouraged to log on and "play" with the library system. The dem-onstrations will provide useful informa-tion, but are by no means a prerequisite for the use of the system. Please feel free to contact Don Wassink (xl 752 or LBDONW) or Ki-Tat Lam (x1552 or LBLKT) at Library Systems with any questions or comments.

Collection Spotlight -Chinese Books

The Library has so far acquired ap-proximately 4,400 volumes of Chinese books, and will continue to acquire classics and contemporary works, cover-ing history, philosophy, art, and literature as well as science and technology. The following are a few examples:

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A monumental sixty-volume analysis of five thousand years of Chinese art, elaborately illustrated. Organization is chronologically within five major areas: painting, sculpture, calligraphy, architecture, and art objects. Emphasis

is on newly discovered and previously unpublished works.

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The most complete catalogue of Chinese materia medica ever published, containing 5,000 items with superb colour illustrations. Each entry in this ten volume set includes the Latin name, morphology, distribution, property and application.

An anthology of selected works by hundreds of contemporary Chinese writers who reside outside of China. Poetry, fiction, prose, drama, and literary critiques from 1970-1989 are incorporated into these

fifteen volumes, compiled by ~

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survey of Chinese history from the Paleolithic Age through the Ch'ing dynasty, in twelve volumes.

A standard collection of Chinese

historical works ranging from

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history from prehistoric times through 1911.

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Collected in 100 volumes nearly all Chinese imprints from 1912-1949.

Library Without Walls:

Expanded Access to Library Materials

Many faculty members have asked about the acquisi-tion of journal back files. How does a new library cope with not owning many early years of bound journals? In the past a library would usually obtain these journals in microform, but advances in information technology and telecommuni-cations enable us to provide our users broader access to more titles than any single library could ever own.

In addition to loading indexing and abstracting databases onto the library system, the Library plans to install a CD-ROM LAN, which will greatly expand the number and variety of databases available. The Library is also con-nected to Dialog online services and OCLC, the largest bibliographic database in the world. Inter-library borrow-ing and document delivery arrangements with academic libraries in Hong Kong and overseas, and with ISI's Genu-ine Article, UMI's Article Clearing House, and the British Lending Library provide support. Plans are also underway for access to other university online catalogs and databases through the Internet.

While we are not actively acquiring earlier volumes of journals, if we become aware of important exceptions,

consideration can be given to purchasing some back files

Textbooks and Other Reserve Items

In order to be ready for October classes, we need to purchase text-books and any other materials required for reserve soon. Please send your list to Ruth Miller at Collection Development by the end of March ( or call xl 769), or send your list by e-mail to LB COLL.

g{ptes Are Available Online

'J{ptes !From tfie LiGrary

may be read online in the NEWS area of the University's computer system. Look for the 'Library_News' newsgroup.

on microform.

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