_Current_Cites_ Volume 3, no. 12 December 1992 Library Technology Watch Program University of California, Berkeley Edited by David F.W. Robison ISSN: 1060-2356 Contributors: Teri Rinne, Vivienne Roumani, Lisa Rowlison, Mark Takaro, Roy Tennant --------------------------------------------------------------------- Electronic Publishing Myers, Judy E., Thomas C. Wilson, and John H. Lienhard. "Surfing the Sea of Stories: Riding the Information Revolution" Mechanical Engineering 114(10) (October 1992):60-65. These authors present some ideas about the future of scholarly publishing in the electronic environment. They argue that the print deluge is already upon us and electronic publishing and access will provide some relief for the information weary. Myers, et al. also focus on some the technical, economic, and social issues that need to be addressed in order to reach this bright future. The authors, two of them librarians, devote the last section of the article to the role that libraries and librarians may play in this future. - DR Information Transfer Lang, Laura. "Mapping the Future of Map Librarianship" American Libraries 23(10) (November 1992):880-883. Libraries are making electronic maps available to their users through PC's by using TIGER files, electronic maps distributed by the U.S. Census Bureau and geographic information system (GIS) technology. This combination of technology and information allows users to create thematic maps. "such as population distribution or transportation routes." - VR Perez, Ernest. "ZyINDEX: Quick & Not-Too-Dirty Text Databases" Database 15(6) (December 1992):45-52. In his introduction, Perez gives an overview of text file index software products and their capabilities. He then goes on to describe the ZyINDEX text file index searching and retrieval capabilities in particular. - VR Stigleman, Sue. "Pro-Cite 2.0: Steady Evolution" Database 15(6) (December 1992):68-72. This article thoroughly describes the new version of the bibliographic software, Pro-Cite. The changes in the new version include a more convenient procedure for creating authority lists; more compatibility with WordPerfect 5.0 and 5.1, and Microsoft Word 4.0, 5.0, and 5.5, allowing for easier "manuscript searching" (previously known as "in-text referencing"); and other changes, ranging from the subtle to the obvious. - VR Networks and Networking "Accessing the NSA: John Gillmore Files Suit with the National Security Agency" EFFector Online 4(0) (December 11, 1992). Electronic Frontier Foundation Board Member John Gillmore has filed suit against the NSA to obtain certain documents on data encryption under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. Find out what happens when Gillmore obtained copies of some of the documents from a publicly accessible library. - DR Arms, William Y., et al. "The Design of the Mercury Electronic Library" EDUCOM Review 27(6) (November/December 1992):38-41. After a year of production, the electronic library at Carnegie Mellon University is beginning to take shape and fulfill its promise. Included here are descriptions of the user interfaces currently available and in the works, the three search engines that can be used independently or in concert, the way compression is handled, as well as a sample retrieval of a scanned document. - DR Electronic Networking: Research, Applications and Policy 2(3) (Fall 1992). Special issue on the commercialization of the Internet. The articles in this issue of ENRAP cover a wide range of issues pertaining to the ongoing development of the Internet and its commercialization, one of the more controversial network issues today. o Brown, Alison. "Whither Regional Networks" pp. 5-6. Brown opines that the regional networks will not whither away and toss their research and education clients to the commercial providers, but grow and diversify into regional businesses providing a range of services to both commercial and research and education clients. o Eldred, Susan M. and Michael J. McGill. "Commercialization of the Internet/NREN: Introduction" pp. 2-4. Eldred (the Guest Editor) and McGill provide a clear and succinct description of the current mixed public-commercial environment and introduce some of the issues and concerns facing users and service providers. o Estrada, Susan. "Commercialization and the Commercial Internet Exchange: How the CIX Can Help Further the Commercialization of the Internet" pp. 24-28. As President of the CIX, Estrada describes how this commercial trade association is working to enhance the network environment. Composed of unrestricted network service providers, the CIX works to ensure interconnectivity among its member networks and the rest of the Internet that can be accessed by commercial traffic. The CIX also works as an advocate for the development of a more robust network that better meets the needs of commercial users. o Maloff, Joel H. "Selling Internet Service: An Ancient Art Form on a New Canvas" pp. 17-23. Maloff argues that selling Internet services (access, support, information resources, etc.) requires somewhat traditional sales techniques, but in a consultative mode. Most business users are unaware of the Internet and its possibilities, and therefore may not realize how they might benefit from its use. Like a reference librarian, the salesperson must listen to the client and read between the lines to offer the best solution to their data communications needs. o Perritt, Henry H., Jr. "Tort Liability, the First Amendment, Equal Access, and Commercialization of Electronic Networks" pp. 29-44. Perritt provides a detailed look at what liability, obligations for equal access, and First Amendment protections a network service provider may have. The answers Perritt provides are not definite, as the laws are not yet codified, and depend on the type and range of services being provided. Perritt points out that traditional laws and guidelines for communications and publishing may be applicable, and new rules should not be laid out until more case law has been established with respect to the digital environment. o Weis, Allan H. "Commercialization of the Internet" pp. 7-16. While describing the history of the Internet's development, Weis highlights those aspects of the network that have made it a success (e.g., Acceptable Use Policies, shared protocols, etc.). With these aspects in mind, he goes on to encourage a mixed-use internet that provides economies of scale, protection for publicly-funded networks, and unhindered commercial and technological development. - DR Emtage, Alan. "Musings on the Infostructure" posted on PACS-L@UHUPVM1 (December 11, 1992) in two parts. Emtage offers some very interesting thoughts about the future of networked information, librarians, and technologists. Although he is an admitted non-librarian, Emtage displays a fairly good understanding of many of the issues librarians are facing. He also believes, I think rightly, that technologists and librarians must establish a more cooperative and robust relationship. As with most good postings, this one has generated some response, and hopefully there will be more, just as the author invited. - DR Hoffman, Ellen. "National Science Foundation Network Achieves Major Milestone: T-1 NSFNET Now Part of Internet History" posted on com-priv@psi.com and nren-discuss@psi.com (December 3, 1992). Hoffman reports on the final transfer of NSFNET backbone (ANSnet) traffic to T-3 lines running at 45 Mbps! This is equivalent to 1,400 pages of single-spaced typed text per second, and network traffic is increasing at a rate of 11% a month. - DR Optical Disc Technologies Flanders, Bruce. "Optical Imaging Project Links Spain to Southern California" Computers in Libraries 12(9) (October 1992):27-28. Flanders describes a truly impressive and ambitious project utilizing optical disc storage technology. Housed in Spain's Archivo General de Indias is a computer-based archiving system in which over nine million pages of historical documents and maps are being scanned and stored onto optical discs. The original documents which represent over 5.5 miles of shelving space will ultimately be contained on 450 5.25-inch discs. Flanders discusses the temporary satellite link with the Huntington Library in Southern California, and outlines the technical specifications of the project, including a description of Plasmon Data System's "moth-eye" technology. - TR Schuler, John A. "Democracy on a Disc" CD-ROM Librarian 7(10) (November 1992):24-29. This article sets the tone and the agenda for what is destined to become a lively monthly column on the pages of CD-ROM Librarian. Schuler will ambitiously attempt to "examine the myriad of social, political, technological, practical, and economic debates shaping the application of CD-ROM technology by public agencies." In this first column, he poses general questions of philosophy and public policy. He invites readers to contribute their own "insights into the struggle for dominance in the new information order...." - TR York, Vicki and Audrey Jean Haight. "Government Information: CD-ROM Roundup" CD-ROM Librarian 7(10) (November 1992):14-19. In this review of government information CD-ROM products, the authors describe what is going on in the rapidly expanding area of government CD-ROM product development. They also suggest products with the widest applications for non-depository libraries. - TR General Clarkson, Mark A. "The Information Theater: You've Never Seen Your Data Quite Like this Before" BYTE (November 1992):145-152. Clarkson describes some of the recent work in data search, retrieval, visualization, and manipulation coming out of Xerox PARC. The Information Theater (a GUI) provides users with a number of impressive search techniques that employ natural language processing, user disambiguation, and data clustering to help searchers manage searches on huge full-text databases. - DR Hilton-Chalfen, Danny. "Information Technology, Campus Libraries, and Patrons with Disabilities: Emerging Issues and Access Strategies" EDUCOM Review 27(6) (November/December 1992):47-49. The author describes some of the ways IT can assist libraries in providing users with disabilities with better services. CWISs, CD-ROMs, GUIs, and full text sources, all made available in a distributed environment, are fairly easy ways to use what many libraries already have to maximize access to information for this clientele. - DR Lucier, Richard E. "Towards a Knowledge Management Environment: A Strategic Framework" EDUCOM Review 27(6) (November/December 1992):24-31. Lucier illustrates the rather striking position that the UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management has put itself in. They intend to became an active part of the creation of knowledge and its management by employing information technologies. Lucier writes, "Knowledge management constitutes a new model for scientific communication in which faculty and a multidisciplinary team of computer scientists, software engineers, and research librarians share responsibility for the collection, structuring, representation, dissemination, and use of knowledge through the use of information technologies." - DR Lynch, Clifford A. "Beyond the Ordinary Card Catalog: MELVYL Learns from Years of Experience" EDUCOM Review 27(6) (November/ December 1992):20-23. Lynch provides us with a quick review of the history of the MELVYL system, and update of the current status, and a glimpse at the future of one of the more complex and powerful information systems around. - DR NewsBits "Teaching with Technology" Chronicle of Higher Education 39(14) (November 25, 1992):A14. o DeLoughry, Thomas J. "California State University at Long Beach Is Using Computers to Enable Students of Art History to Study Drawings More Closely." o --."Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Has Found That a Computer Program Can Do Better Than Professors in Turning Freshmen into Computer Users." o Wilson, David L. "Students at Williams College Are Participating in Classroom Discussions With Their Counter-parts in Finland Through Live Television." Wilson, David L. "Community Colleges Seen Leading in Instructional Use of Computers" The Chronicle of Higher Education 39(15) (December 2, 1992):A21-A23. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Current Cites 3(12) (December 1992) ISSN: 1060-2356 Copyright (C) 1992 by the Library, University of California, Berkeley. All rights reserved. All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Mention of a product in this publication does not necessarily imply endorsement of the product. Copying is permitted for noncommercial use by computerized bulletin board/conference systems, individual scholars, and libraries. Libraries are authorized to add the journal to their collections at no cost. This message must appear on copied material. 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