Watch Your MailDecember 1996
NEW TECH NEWS--Update on Java-Based Software
Staff Profile: Network Program Specialist Steve Kerchoff
Insights on Federal Web Navigation From Online World '96
FEDLINK Offers Discounts for the 1997 Computers in Libraries Conference
Workshop Teaches Librarians to Apply OPM Library Position Classifications
Praise for the FLICC Workshop on Writing Library Position Descriptions
FEDLINK Exhibits at Online World '96
REMINDER: Course Registration Process
Members Take Advantage of End-of-Year Database Subscriptions
Erik Jul, Project Manager for OCLC's Internet Cataloging Project, spoke on "Cataloging Internet Resources: Emerging Strategies." The Internet Cataloging Project (http://www.oclc.org/oclc/man/catproj/overview.htm) ran from October 1, 1994 through March 31, 1996. It involved academic libraries which volunteered to identify, select, and catalog Internet-accessible electronic information objects under the guidance of OCLC.
The objective of the project was to test and evaluate the use of USMARC format bibliographic records to provide description, location, and access information--including USMARC field 856 (electronic location and access information). A secondary objective was to create a database of USMARC format bibliographic records for electronic resources held locally at major institutions of higher learning. Seventy-two hundred records were compiled during the course of the project. Participants found that there were limitations in cataloging image data, hierarchical relationships between different online resources, and multiple versions of the same information. The bulk of participants in the project agreed that the USMARC format accommodates the cataloging of Internet resources. They were less sure, however, about the utility of AACR2.
Problems not withstanding," said Jul, "I think librarian can catalog [electronic resources] with the confidence that what they're doing is valuable and won't be lost if information migrates to a different platform."
Eighteen percent of the project participants provide direct link access to the cataloged resources through their Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs). Jul suggested that OPACs must move towards providing integrated, Internet-accessible search reports. "In two years, if a local system vendor doesn't offer Internet access," he warned, "they're not going to be in business."
Jul also presented an explanation of OCLC's Persistent Uniform Resource Locator (PURL) software, which allows the managers of Web sites to create a permanent, Web-accessible link to their electronic resources. See the October issue of Technical Notes for more information on this emerging Internet standard.
Marcia Talley of the Naval Academy and Lee Hadden of the US Geological Services presented OCLC Users Council reports.
Talley reported that the October 6-8 Users Council Meeting focused on strategic partnerships between libraries, library consortia, businesses, professional organizations, and educational institutions. Lee Hadden reported on upcoming changes in OCLC hardware and software support. In order to provide online access to a variety of digitized materials and multimedia products, OCLC will phase out support of DOS-based and Windows 3.1-based workstations. For more informationon both of these reports, see OCLC News, below.
FEDLINK Network Program Specialist Erik Delfino demonstrated the FLICC/FEDLINK Home Page (http://lcweb.loc.gov/flicc). He showed members email links to FEDLINK Advisory Council (FAC) and FLICC Executive Board (FEB) members; links to federal library Home Pages; a database of FEDLINK vendor services; and a new feature--an online registration form for FEDLINK training courses.
Delfino urged FEDLINK members to contact him at edel@loc.gov if they would like to see changes or additions to the Home Page. He also encouraged members to let him know if they would be interested in courses on HTML and writing programs which automatically update database information on the Web. He cautioned the audience that creating--and maintaining--a Web site takes a considerable amount of staff time.
Information Technology Working Group: Alta Linthicum of the National Defense University reported on the development of an automation survey for federal libraries. The Working Group hopes that the survey will serve to create a network of contact points to help libraries plan future technology and help FLICC/FEDLINK to plan training, support and advocacy initiatives.
The Working Group encourages all federal libraries to participate. "Maybe you won't be able to check any blocks," said Linthicum, "but you can read the questions and perhaps learn something." The ITWG has given a draft survey to the FLICC Survey Working Group to review; a final version will be sent out at the beginning of 1997. They hope to provide access to survey results--and the option of updating your library s information--on the FLICC/FEDLINK Home Page.
Survey Working Group: FLICC Executive Director usan Tarr reported for Working Group Chair Elizabeth Yeates, of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The cross-tabulations of the 1994 Federal Library and Information Center survey results are now available in print form from the Government Printing Office (GPO) and in machine-readable form from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) via their gopher (gopher://gopher.ed.gov). A story in the September issue of Technical Notes provides a sampling of survey results. The Working Group has been collaborating with NCES to produce an analysis of the survey results and a directory of survey participants; they hope to issue these documents by February of 1997.
Nominating Working Group: Two elections have been completed: the election of FEDLINK rotating members to FLICC and the FAC and the election of FLICC rotating members. A total of five new members were elected to serve three-year terms as FEDLINK rotating members: Nancy Cavanaugh, National Library of Education; Barbara Huckins, Department of Veterans Affairs; Bonnie Klein, Defense Technical Information Service; Denise Lomax, Federal Bureau of Prisons; and Janet Wright, National Agricultural Library. Klein, Lomax, and Wright received the highest number of votes, and therefore were also elected to the FAC. The new FLICC rotating members, who will serve a three-year term, are Ann Parham, National Defens University; Jewel Player, Army Materiel Command; and Mary Augusta Thomas, Smithsonian Institution.
FLICC Executive Director Susan Tarr reported that library advocacy has been the focus at FLICC's 1996 meetings. At the February meeting, Phyllis Christenson of the GAO described her defense of the agency's information center against efforts to downsize it. In September, Betty Turock, immediate past President of the ALA and a current professor in the Rutgers University School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies, described methods for measuring the success of library programs. The speaker at the November meeting, James Matarazzo, Dean and Professor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College, Boston, MA, discussed impact measurement, which allows a library to measure its success in helping patrons to meet their goal. FEDLINK staff members are also participating in a joint project with other library networks to write a marketing guide for libraries. FLICC's focus on advocacy will culminate in a day-long event on December 10, "Getting the Word Out: Marketing Your Library's Services." Tarr encouraged FEDLINK members to attend.
Tarr thanked staff and Working Group members for their help in launching numerous FLICC/FEDLINK projects and programs for the first time:
Tarr also noted other accomplishments. The budget for FY97 is 2% lower than that of FY96, and fees have been maintained at the current level. FLICC/FEDLINK sponsored twenty-six educational events in FY96, at least half of which were free to attendees. The FLICC Membership and Governance Working Group and the FEB have reviewed and revised the FLICC Bylaws. The FLICC Personnel Working Group has issued its 1993 Qualification Needs for Federal Librarians: A Position Paper Prepared for the Office of Personnel Management; call FLICC at (202) 707-4800 if you would like a copy. FLICC also published ten issues of the FEDLINK Technical Notes, and five issues of the FLICC Newsletter in FY96, as well as other educational and member service documents.
Abacus Technology Corporation is performing ongoing studies to assess the value of using FEDLINK to members and vendors (see the November Technical Notes for a partial report on their findings); to determine the efficacy and fairness of FEDLINK's current fee structure; and develop a five-year FEDLINK business plan. Members are invited to talk to FAC representatives about the business plan and any other concerns.
Milton MeGee, Network Coordinator of FEDLINK Network Operations (FNO), reported on recent FNO accomplishments. FNO completed an FY97 contract with the Copyright Clearance Center which provides copyrighted permission for agencies to make copies of documents for internal use. FNO Network Program Specialists have been exploring the use and distribution of electronic journals, and are planning to offer a solicitation for electronic journals in FY98. FNO trainers conducted more than 100 classes for 1,122 students at the Market Square Annex facilities in FY96. They also conducted six brown bag sessions on the Internet to determine member concerns about rapidly evolving communications technology. FNO staff members have helped to plan major FLICC events and education programs, including FLICC's annual Forum, a workshop on copyright issues, the recent FLICC Symposium on the Information Professional, and the upcoming advocacy event. Staff members have presented talks on information and procurement issues at the Online World conference and the SLA meeting.
FNO staff also provided OCLC support. In FY96, FNO Network Program Specialists traveled to ten different air force bases to offer OCLC training. Lynn McDonald has been named the OCLC Program Coordinator, and will also continue to serve as the COTR for serials.
Joe Banks, FEDLINK Business Manager, reported on FEDLINK Fiscal Operations (FFO) activities for FY96. "What a difference a year makes," he noted, citing the disruptions caused by last year's congressional funding debates and blizzard. During the past fiscal year, FFO: processed 12,005 member service transaction requests for current and prior years, representing $53.3 million for transfer pay and $66.2 million for direct pay FY96 service dollars; expanded vendor services for FY97 to include 5 new technical processing vendors, 4 new electronic information retrieval vendors and the Copyright Clearance Center; vouchered 67,583 invoices for current and prior year orders; incurred virtually zero net interest expense for late payment of FEDLINK vendor invoices; completed FY91 member service dollar refunds to close out obligations for expired appropriations; successfully passed the General Accounting Office audit of FY95 transactions performed by Price Waterhouse; successfully completed work associated with the FY95 Price Waterhouse task order to conduct a compliance review of FEDLINK's financial sytem and identify opportunities for electronic commerce; and ensured that administrative expenditures/obligations did not exceed program fee projections. During FY96 FEDLINK saved its member agencies an estimated $10.3 million in discounts and contracting cost avoidance.
Shirley Courtney, FEDLINK Supervisory Contract Specialist, reported that the Contracts and Logistics office ended the fiscal year having issued $114 million worth of delivery orders--25% more than in FY95. C&L made over 200 solicitations available electronically in FY96, issuing no paper-based solicitations. They competed ten new vendors and negotiated the prices for ninety-one other vendors, to arrive at a total of 101 vendors for FY97. Twenty-three percent of the contracts were issued to small businesses. In FY97 C&L will recompete the database retrieval services. Courtney noted that her office is no longer under the oversight of the General Services Administration (GSA), but remains under the oversight of the Library of Congress.
The Spring FEDLINK Member Meeting will take place in May of 1997.
Marimba, a Silicon Valley startup that has been watched closely since its founding less than a year ago, (http://www.marimba.com) recently announced a couple of products after a round of top-secret development. The one receiving the most press play is software called Castanet, while a second program, Bongo, appears to be a "sleeper" at this point.
Before taking a look at both of these offerings, it may be useful to take a look at Marimba's pedigree. It was founded by four of the core members of the Java development team at Sun. Their goal: to produce products that actually realize the potential presented by Java. In contrast to the plethora of animations, stock tickers and badly-performing games, the Marimba principals sought to put together programs that actually performed useful functions over the Internet and relied on Java as their source language. They appear to have succeeded, and may in fact change the complexion of the Internet even more than the Web phenomenon itself.
The major product, Castanet, uses the metaphor of broadcast communication to define its elements. "Channels" are files that contain both software and data. Sending channel files are software "transmitters" (similar to servers). Receiving these files are "tuners" on individual users computers, or "repeaters" that serve to "amplify" the reach of transmitters.
There are at least two sorts of roles that the Marimba developers see Castanet fulfilling. The first is to serve as the principal delivery method for major content providers. Instead of surfing the Net to receive your personalized electronic Wall Street Journal it is automatically delivered to your computer overnight, while it's idle, with incremental updates as new news becomes available. Similarly, you could instruct your tuner to receive channel information from online entertainment magazines, information utilities of various sorts, or vendors with which you regularly deal.
The second role is one that is much more interesting in certain ways to computer users. One of the biggest problems that users face is in keeping their software up-to-date. Because software vendors are constantly updating their software, through formal releases of completely new versions, emergency upgrades to fix bugs and even releases of enhancements and fixes for only particular subsets of users, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep on top of software versions.
Although this is somewhat easier when software support is centralized in large companies or campuses, even in these circumstances version control is difficult. In contrast, it is almost impossible for small offices, libraries and individuals who have other interests and responsibilities. Castanet can obviate these problems by keeping applications constantly "in sync" with the latest developer releases of selected software.
In the cases mentioned above, the channels contain mainly data delivered to an end user plus supporting viewing software. In this example, the software predominates over the data, with the transmitter sending out fixes and upgrades which are received by the tuner and patched into the program files. This ongoing update process is the way most software will be delivered in the near-term future, particularly in organizations with many computers. It makes software distribution and the maintenance of synchronized versions across masses of PCs a much easier process.
One important feature of Castanet is that the transmitter and tuner provide the mechanism to insure that while information on the client PC is always "complete, current and self-consistent," only differential updates are applied, i.e., a minimum of new data is delivered. This contrasts to traditional upgrades, which ordinarily consist of downloading a file consisting of all of the data and files that are part of the application. This makes it feasible to perform upgrades even while the computer is in use, and Marimba suggests that it is possible to update even while the current version is running, although their example is couched in terms of the first role, content delivery, rather than software upgrades.
The potential downside to Castanet, in my view, is that it can promote the implementation of a broadcast model across the Internet. In other words, it can foster an attempt to turn the Internet into a kind of cable television system. What's so bad about that? Maybe nothing. However, it could mark a turn from the model of content seeking, client pull sort of behavior to content receiving, server push programming.
While this may encourage more "couch potatoes" onto the Net, this is not necessarily a good result. The Web has already put a strain on available bandwidth, and the movement of pushed content, even where the push is minimized through off-hours delivery and update of changed data only, will increase the strain. Also, it will tend to continue the push toward commercialization, wich has been a mixed blessing to the Internet. In other words, I am doing a certain amount of hand wringing about the possible impact of Castanet, but I cannot really provide concrete evidence for any ill effects.
In spite of my hand wringing, I don't think Castanet will change much of anything in terms of the state of learning, culture or intelligence in the United States. First of all, people will certainly have a choice in the kind of content they download. Second of all, readers will still be readers, and non-readers will remain non-readers. Finally, as I often suggest, librarians can play a role in content dissemination and information seeking, and in fact some databases may have content delivered to library customers using the Castanet distribution method. The fact that it only delivers changed content argues for its use as a possible mechanism for updating commercial databases.
The other product that Marimba introduced, Bongo, is either going to be a sleeper hit or, at least, a quietly popular programming tool. Bongo is described by Marimba as a "visual tool for designing and implementing graphical user interfaces for Java applications." Whether it will be a hit or not depends on the richness of the Java tool kits that become available for it plus whether its capabilities are expanded to allow other scripting languages in addition to Java.
What makes Bongo different from other interface development tool kits is its emphasis on allowing development of rich graphical elements by designers as well as programmers. For example, JPEGs and GIFs, instances of two image formats, can be included in the visual interface. This means that buttons and other controls can actually be put together by designers or artists.
More importantly, Marimba suggests that the simplicity of the incorporation of visual elements into a program's appearance facilitates the collaborative efforts of "multi-talented development teams". Other features also bode well for development by groups without a preponderance of software developers. For example, objects such as buttons have default scripts automatically attached. These default scripts can be modified and enhanced by people with limited software development experience.
It is more than likely that Bongo will be relegated to the niche market of software developer tools. In spite of this, Bongo is important for the reasons suggested above: it facilitates more of a team approach to software development, and given Java's platform independence it could mean the more rapid proliferation of applications programs written in Java with rich graphical user interfaces. Additionally, there is some chance that if it is reasonably easy to use Bongo could reach a wider market, potentially similar to the market for HyperCard in its breadth.
As I suggest above, Castanet is potentially an important tool for content delivery. Although there is always the possibility that entrepreneurial libraries could create content to be so delivered, it is far more likely that libraries will be receiving content via Castanet. If Castanet can deal with delivery of quite large content files (channels), it may well be used to deliver commercial databases and, more likely, updates to those databases.
Castanet wil also be quite important in the delivery of software and software updates, both from software companies or other sellers, and within a library or library system with a large number of personal computers. This will alleviate many of the current problems associated with keeping software up-to-date.
Bongo is less clearly associated directly with the library world. However, libraries will begin to see a proliferation of both specialized and general purpose software written with the aid of Bongo. Additionally, large libraries may choose to deploy certain sorts of software with public access front ends authored with Bongo.
FEDLINK Network Program Specialist Steve Kerchoff recently met with praise for his
presentation on government information at the Online World Conference, detailed below.Kerchoff first became interested in document reference work as an intern at the Library of Congress in 1988-89. "I realized that documents play an important role in reference in many subject areas," he said. "The area has become more interesting as government documents migrate online; questions have cropped up about access, archiving, reference, and the organization of information."
However, document reference is only one of Kerchoff's professional interests. A FEDLINK Network Librarian since 1990, Kerchoff supports the OCLC program through training in EPIC, FirstSearch, and PRISM ILL. He also conducts Internet training; and moderates FEDREF-L, a listserv for the discussion of reference, public services, ILL, and collections management in the federal library context.
What I enjoy about working at FEDLINK is the variety of tasks," Kerchoff said. "Our jobs require a knowledge of technology and public policy; training and professional development; familiarity with transitions in the library profession; and attempts to improve the government's ability to provide and utilize information."
For the past year, Kerchoff has helped the FLICC Education Working Group to develop a training curriculum for library technicians. The Group is building a certification program geared toward staff in the GS-1411 (Library Technician) series which will include courses in library systems, acquisitions and processing, online searching, and Internet skills.
I decided to work on this project because I've had technicians in my classes throughout the time I've been here," explained Kerchoff, "and I've worked as a technician myself." Kerchoff completed his MLS at the Catholic University of America while working in LC's Educational Liaison Office, and has also worked in the Shared Cataloging Division, and the Preservation Microfilming Office.
Kerchoff recently completed the course work at Georgetown University for his second graduate degree, an MA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Humanities. He holds a BA from Houghton College.
Current Director of the ALA Federal Librarians Round Table (FLRT), Kerchoff is also a member of the ALA's Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) and Government Documents Round Table (GODORT). In addition, he has served as President of the Library of Congress Professional Association (LCPA), and is a member of the District of Columbia Library Association (DCLA).
In addition to his professional library activities, Kerchoff is an accomplished singer and has sung recently with the Washington Bach Consort, Early English Ensemble, and the Woodley Ensemble, which will make its New York debut in February.
The staggering proliferation of US government Web pages has rendered it impossible for one individual to keep track of every site. Several Web sites, however, offer "one-stop shpping" for federal government information, convenient starting points for Web navigation. The following list, based on my presentation at the Online World '96 Conference, presents a sampling of these sites.
Maintained by the Villanova Center for Information Law and Policy, the Federal Web Locator is intended to be the one-stop shopping point for federal government information on the Web. This site provides links to a nearly comprehensive listing of federal Web sites, and also allows users to search for sites by agency name.
The GovBot server has gather information from over 185,000 .gov and .mil Web sites, and allows the user to search exclusively within those two domains. The Govbot will not locate all federal Web pages, since some federal agencies (e.g., Smithsonian, the service academies) fall within the .edu domain, and other federal information is mounted on .com servers. Because it searches directly for keywords, the GovBot obviates the user's need to know where a particular bureau or program or office fits within the government s administrative structure.
Recently launched by GSA's Federal Telecommunications Service, Office of Network Applications, GIX features links to federal directory and yellow pages information, state, local and foreign government information, international organizations, and intergovernmental collaboration. Of particular interest to federal agency personnel is the "Electronic Shopping Networks" section, with links to electronic federal and commercial acquisitions sources.
Pathway Services provides a suite of tools for locating federal government information on the Web, based on the way real human beings search for real information in real life. The service indexes federal government Web sites which have been carefully selected for their content value. Pathway Services allows users to search for government publications by subject and by title, to search the Monthly Catalog of US Government Publications, and also to perform keyword searches on selected Web sites.
The University of California GPO Gate offers a user-friendly gateway interface to the databases available via GPO Access, which include the Congressional Record, the Federal Register, the US Code, and the Budget of the US Government. The enhanced search capabilities for the newly-added Code of Federal Regulations are particularly useful. Users can search the CFR by title number, part number and page number, and can combine these elements with a keyword search.
Yahoo is one of several commercial sites which provide Web indexing and which offer access to a search engine. When a search on Yahoo yields nothing, the server provides links to other Web search engines and allows the user to re-execute the search using a different engine. Yahoo provides a useful starting point not only for US government information, but also for foreign governments, embassies and consulates, international organizations, and state governments.
FEDLINK has arranged with Information Today, Inc. for a network discount for the 1997 Computers in Libraries Conference. The special rate of $99 for this three-day event will be available to FEDLINK members who register via FEDLINK and pay through their FEDLINK training account (FT). Travel and per diem, if involved, will not be covered by the FT account. Instructions and registration forms will be available in December. For further information email Miton McGee mmcg@loc.gov.
Agencies are required to classify positions consistent with the criteria and guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). With considerable help from FLICC, OPM revised the antiquated 1966 Librarian standards to reflect the dramatic changes in library and information science work resulting from computer technology and telecommunications. The new standards for the Librarian Series, GS 1410, were issued in August 1994 and now use the Factor Evaluation System (FES) in lieu of the old narrative format to assign grades to non-supervisory positions on the basis of duties, responsibilities and qualifications for the positions.
On October 30 and 31, forty-three librarians and library managers came from as far away as Panama, Illinois, and Kentucky to attend the first of two identical FLICC workshops on Writing Library Position Descriptions. These workshops are designed to help federal librarians understand the scope of position classification work so that they will be better able to interact with human resources specialists, and to enable federal library managers and librarians to describe the duties of professional non-supervisory library staff in such a way that personnel specialists may easily apply the GS-1410 classification standard.
Attendees were masterfully guided through the 1994 OPM Classification Standards: FLICC Annotated Guide and tenets of FES by D. Annette Gohlke, currently the President of Library Benchmarking International and formerly the Director of Libraries and Information Services for the US Air Force. Under contract to FLICC, Gohlke developed the two-day workshop, which includes a 60 page workbook incorporating hands-on group exercises for several breakout sessions and four supplemental appendices covering library work breakdowns, sample library duties, sample librarian position descriptions and sample librarian COREDOC position descriptions. As background material, attendees were also provided with copies of Qualification Needs for Federal Librarians: A Position Paper Prepared for the Office of Personnel Management, written by the FLICC Personnel Working Group in 1993.
The class was very informative," said Janet Ormes, head of the Library Information Services Branch of the NASA Goddrd Space Flight Center. "[Gohlke] described the roles of supervisors, managers, and classifiers and what each can and cannot do. The handouts were excellent."
Participants contributed significantly to the content of the workshop. The results of the break-out sessions were excellent; participants paid great attention to the use of terms such as "basic," "high degree," and "expert." The position descriptions created by the groups also reflected a significant understanding of the digital environment--to the extent that Gohlke collected them for incorporation into the next edition of the workbook. Mike Conklin, Department of the Treasury, noted the timely release of the Special Libraries Association brochure, Competencies for Special Librarians of the 21st Century (http://www.sla.org/professional/comp.html). Elaine Finch distributed copies of the position descriptions recently written for the Defense Information Systems agency. Participants suggested that FLICC build a resource of sample position descriptions written to the new standards for the future use of federal librarians. The workshop will be repeated February 19-20 for those who could not attend in October, and has been scheduled to coincide with the American Library Association Midwinter meeting in Washington, DC.
"I think this course is very useful for most librarians who are working in smaller libraries and for beginning supervisors."
"Well-done workshop....I recently drafted a PD for my staff and I was encouraged to learn that I was on track."
"Presentation [was] especially good on the subject of the political and social aspects of the process."
"Very comprehensive and smooth. Annette is a wonderful trainer."
"The instructor was very knowledgeable and related that knowledge well."
"Outstanding! Best FEDLINK course I have taken."
FEDLINK Member Services Coordinator RubyThomas and FEDLINK Network Coordinator Milton MeGee were also on hand to answer questions about FLICC/FEDLINK programs. FEDLINK Network Program Specialist Steve Kerchoff presented a content review of government information on the Internet for conference attendees (see previous story), and Network Program Specialist Erik Delfino provided technical help for exhibitors displaying online products and services.
A number of FEDLINK vendors were also in attendance. "It's a pleasure to work with Jim and the rest of the FEDLINK staff, and it's a nice vehicle to gain business in the federal arena. We couldn't do it without them," said David Brown, who was staffing the Knight-Ridder Information booth. "Participating in FEDLINK allows federal agencies quicker access to our company's services," noted Elena Penta, Marketing Representative for Database Technologies, Inc.
Presentations and workshops at Online World focused on tools for electronic journalists and researchers; developments in Intranet technology; corporate information strategies; marketing and recruiting on the Internet; and finding specialized content online. Look for information on next year's conference on the Online Web site, at http://www.onlineinc.com.
We have recently received a number of questions concerning course registration procedures. If you are interested in registering for either a FEDLINK training class or a FLICC event, we would like to remind you of a few things:
To register for FEDLINK Training courses, complete the workshop registration form (see below) and fax to (202) 707-4873. (Space is limited, so it is advisable to call first to check the availability of any given session.) You can also register online through an electronic registration form in the "Member Services" section of the FLICC/FEDLINK Web site: http://lcweb.loc.gov/flicc. Submit one (1) form per registrant per session.
Many FLICC programs are free, but still require call-in registration. To register for free programs, call (202) 707-4800. To register for FLICC education programs that require payment, submit the appropriate special program announcement by fax to FPE at (202) 707-4818. Because each program requires a different program/registration announcement, the current announcements have not been included in this issue. To request a copy of a specific program announcement, call and ask for the FLICC Public Events Specialist at (202) 707-4800.
If payment is being made through a government training form, call or fax the Registration Form FIRST, then either forward the training form or bring it with you on the day of the class. Please don't rely on the mail to get forms to us in time!!
Registrations for FEDLINK courses only will be confirmed by fax or email when all appropriate documentation has been received. If you have not received confirmation one week prior to the start of the class, please call the appropriate office (FEDLINK Training: 202-707-4848; FLICC Events: 202-707-4800) to confirm that you are registered. Unconfirmed attendees may have to be turned away, at the discretion of the trainer, depending on seating requirements and the availability of training materials.
Enrollment limits have been established for each session. In the event that minimum enrollment is not met, cancellation will be determined one week prior to the event and the registrants notified. When the enrollment maximum has been met, additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list and will be notified if space becomes available.
Please call as early as possible if you are not able to attend a session for which you are registered to allow registrants on the waiting list to be notified. If you do not call to cancel prior to the start of the session, you will be billed the full registration fee.
FLICC/FEDLINK education and training programs must be paid for either from a member library's FEDLINK (FT) account or through the use of a government training form (SF182, DD1556, etc.). If payment is being made through a government training form, add the FEDLINK administrative service fee (8%) to the regular fee (i.e., $100 class plus 8%=$108). FLICC/FEDLINK cannot accept cash, checks, or purchase orders from individuals attending classes.
The October 6-8 Users Council Meeting focused on strategic partnerships between libraries, library consortia, businesses, professional organizations, and educational institutions. David Brunell, chair, Regional OCLC Network Directors Advisory Committee (RONDAC) noted that OCLC's partnership with regional networks has lasted 24 years, while the average commercial partnership lasts less than two years.
K. Wayne Smith, OCLC president and CEO, reviewed OCLC's progress in three areas: reference services and electronic publishing, enhancements to cataloging and resource sharing services such as FirstSearch, and the international expansion of services such as the OLUC. Dr. Smith also spoke about OCLC's strategic alliances, and noted that OCLC had completed the items outlined in its 1991 strategic plan, "Journey to the 21st Century," ahead of schedule. RONDAC is now working on new goals for the organization s next strategic plan.
Notable OCLC projects include a strategic partnership with the Florida Gulf Coast University which will outsource all library acquisitions and cataloging functions to OCLC; the CIC Virtual Electronic Library project, which will provide seamless access to information to the students and faculty associated with the CIC's twelve major teaching and research universities; and GALILEO, the Georgia Library Learning Online system that uses OCLC SiteSearch software to host a suite of databases providing journal citations and abstracts as well as full text to libraries throughout the state.
Interest groups met to discuss communications and access, reference services/electronic publishing, resource sharing, and technical services. The technical services group strongly urged OCLC to explore integrated resources for cataloging and pursue partnerships with LC to develop a "true catalogers workstation." Delegates also met in small group discussions based on library type; each group discussed ways in which information organizations can strengthen their partnerships and improve services they provide. Libraries asked OCLC for help with training, licensing, and copyright issues.
Following the regular Users Council meeting, delegates participated in the dedication of the K. Wayne Smith Building, the new office, training and conference center on the OCLC campus named for its current president and CEO, and the naming of the two other buildings on campus for Frederick G. Kilgour, OCLC president from 1967-1980, and Rowland C.W. Brown, 1980-1989.
The next OCLC Users Council meeting will be held Jan. 27-29, 1997, in Dublin. Minutes for the October meeting will be available via the Internet on November 15. To receive meeting minutes, send an email message to listproc@oclc.org. Commands should be typed on separate lines in the body of the message, not in the subject line. Enter the command index uc to receive the index of archived minutes. Enter get [path] [file name] for the requested meeting minutes. For example, enter the command get uc minutes.oct94 to receive a copy of the October 1994 Users Council meeting minutes.
OCLC has begun the process of identifying specifics in future trends for equipment, software and telecommunications. OCLC's and the networks' goal is to help libraries manage the changes necessary to allow the use of technology to remain efficient and effective. One key aspect will be remaining in step with other leaders in automation. For example, compatibility with MicroSoft's Windows 95 and Windows NT is advisable in the library environment. Libraries should plan to upgrade equipment to Pentiums or higher as soon as possible, in 1997 or early '98.
Recently, OCLC offered a special discount for users who traded in old OCLC equipment for new, more powrful machines. Members should watch for announcements for similar programs in the future. OCLC will also announce dates beyond which DOS software such as Passport and the MicroEnhancers will not be supported. Many automation experts believe DOS applications generally will not be supported beyond the end of 1998, unless vendors make rare special exceptions.
Telecommunications will need to accommodate delivery of full text, images, and possibly video and sound in the future. OCLC has identified technologies in addition to Internet that will allow them to phase out, over the next three to five years, their proprietary synchronous network (i.e., multidrop dedicated lines) and replace it with more open network options. Frame Relay is one likely option. Point-to-Point (PPP) dial access is another. PPP will not only be faster than current dial access, but will take advantage of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) functionality, making transmission of text and images more efficient. OCLC can then, for example, provide expanded online help and documentation, in addition to facilitating the integration of OCLC access with other information services.
Over the past twenty-five years, OCLC has moved from a completely proprietary network to an array of access options that have migrated gradually towards an open network. As in the past, OCLC will consider carefully how to price and configure the new access products and services, minimizing impact as much as possible and continuing to meet their mission of reducing the rate of rise in costs for libraries.
FEDLINK members who need more information or assistance in justifying equipment requirements should contact FEDLINK Network Operations.
Reminder: OCLC is on the World Wide Web at http://www.oclc.org.
In June 1996, FLICC issued Information Alert 96-7 which announced the availability of subscription pricing for online database retrieval services. More than half of FEDLINK's FY96 online vendors offered subscription pricing options and more than thirty FEDLINK members took advantage of the subscription pricing options before the end of FY96.
As with other subscriptions, online database subscriptions can now be ordered and paid for with current fiscal year funds and will be delivered over the course of the subscription period. With subscription pricing, members can predict expenses and limit open access by setting up finite subscriptions for particular units in an organization. Subscription pricing helps control database services costs, stretches service dollars and provides service into the next fiscal year.
Just a few days into FY97, a librarian at one of the national laboratories called FEDLINK to express her great satisfaction with an end-of-year subscription purchase which enabled her library to continue providing database services to the laboratory s research staff. Researchers were able to continue their research, drawing down the balance on a subscription account, while the library s budget office processed the library's FY97 IAG.
Please note: because subscriptions are prepaid, FEDLINK members are reminded to carefully monitor their statements to be sure that usage is charged correctly. The subscription vendors are required to report monthly usage so that members can track the number of hours or searches remaining, the funding amount available, or the extent of monthly usage under the open subscription.
The following database retrieval vendors currently offer subscription pricing:
Watch Your Mailfor the following FLICC/FEDLINK materials:
Mailed:
FY97 Services Directory, Mailed with Information Alert 97-1 FY97 Vendor Services
Meeting announcements for FLICC/FEDLINK educational programs
Forthcoming:
Proceedings of FLICC's 1996 Forum, The Public's Information: Striking a Balance Between Access and Control
Mark Your CalendarA presentation and reception sponsored by the District of Columbia Library Association/Management Interest Group, FLICC and Federal Librarians Round Table, and generously supported by Gaylord Bros.
Guest Speaker: Brigadier General Donald L. Scott, Deputy Librarian of Congress
Wednesday, December 11, 1996
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
This event is free of charge
Library of Congress
Madison Building--Mumford Room
101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC
Registration by December 5 is required.
For further information or registration form, contact Andrea Gruhl at:
(202) 512-1128
(301) 596-5460 (evening)
email agruhl01@aol.com
Or contact Maria Pisa at:
(301) 504-5834
(301) 504-5472 (fax)
email mpisa@nal.usda.gov.
REMINDER:
Also, join the FLICC Education Working Group and your information professional colleagues for "Getting the Word Out: Marketing Your Library's Information Services," December 10, 1996 at
the Library of Congress, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
FEDLINK Technical Notes
Federal Library and Information Center Committee
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540-4935
FLICC/FEDLINK:
Phone (202) 707-4800
Fax (202) 707-4818
FEDLINK Fiscal Operations:
Phone (202) 707-4900
Fax (202) 707-4999
Executive Director: Susan Tarr
Writer/Editor: Jessica Clark
Editorial Assistant: Mitchell Harrison
FLICC was established in 1965 (as the Federal Library Committee) by the Library of Congress and the Bureau of the Budget for the purpose of concentrating the intellectual resources of the federal library and related information community. FLICC's goals are: To achieve better utilization of library and information center resources and facilities; to provide more effective planning, development, and operation of federal libraries and information centers; to promote an optimum exchange of experience, skill, and resources; to promote more effective service to the nation at large and to foster relevant educational opportunities.
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