IOLS '99 Program

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Opening Plenary Session
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's
• Sutton Parlor South •

Project URL: A Resource for Professional Librarians Seeking IOLS Information
Thomas R. Kochtanek, School of Information Science and Learning Technologies, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia
Karen H. Hein, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Project URL is a team effort which originated during the course of identifying electronic resources that promote access to information about Integrated Online Library Systems (IOLS). A class of 40-plus graduate students, enrolled in a Fall 1998 Web-based offering entitled Library Information Systems, were asked to search the Web for resources that contribute to and advance the topic of IOLS. A large number of sites were initially identified, and a project team was assembled for the purposes of identifying duplicate sites and organizing those URLs identified by their peers in the class. The team objective was to review these Web-based sources in depth with the task of adding value and commentary to those sites that met certain criteria of excellence.

The resulting product is a meta-site of URLs that points to information about IOLS vendors, e-journals and e-journal articles that address IOLS topics of interest, and general information sources that might be accessed to support library professionals involved in decision-making processes for integrated library systems.
The completed site for Project URL will contain an introductory text for beginning automation professionals, a glossary of terms and acronyms, links to vendor URLs with value-added commentary, links that provide links to vendor Web sites with commentary, and links to e-journals and specific articles available via the Web that address IOLS topics.

The presentation outlines the steps taken in gathering the Web sites, in evaluating those sites for inclusion, and in adding value-added commentary to Web site links.
 

Track A
• Sutton Parlor South •

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
A1 • IMPROVED ACCESS TO PERIODICALS
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's

TITLE INDEXES FOR REMOTE HOST FULL-TEXT DATABASES: ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL SERIALS CATALOGING
Marc Langston, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico

In an environment of stagnant materials budgets and rising serials costs, the collection of journals at California State University, Chico has been greatly expanded through the use of full-text enhanced online indexes. While these indexes have improved access to journal literature, they present bibliographic control challenges to which traditional cataloging methods cannot easily respond. A journal title index to seven full-text enhanced indexes has been developed which includes coverage dates and links from journal title to the appropriate database. Data used in the index was provided by the database vendors. The amount of work required to construct the index was a fraction of that required by traditional cataloging methods. The library can respond to changes in database holding with quick updates to the local title index. Construction of the index and its actual use is discussed, as are future enhancements and opportunities the index offers in collection management analysis.

AUTOMATING DATA ENTRY FOR ONLINE BIOMEDICAL DATABASES
George R. Thoma and Daniel X. Le, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland

The effort in creating online bibliographic databases from information in journal articles continues to be heavily manual. The Lister Hill Center for Biomedical Communications, an R&D center at the National Library of Medicine, is engaged in developing systems for automating the extraction of information from biomedical journals to create bibliographic records in MEDLINE. The first phase of this project has resulted in a system that involves scanning and converting (by OCR) the abstracts that appear in journal articles, while keyboarding the remaining fields. A second-generation system is being designed to scan/OCR other fields such as author names, institutional affiliations, page number, etc. This system will employ scanning and OCR as well as modules that automatically zone the scanned pages, identify the zone as particular fields, and reformat the field syntax to adhere to conventional practice in MEDLINE. The first-generation system currently used for production and the work toward the design of the second-generation system are discussed.
 

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
A2 • ACCOMODATING VENDOR REQUIREMENTS
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's

STRATEGIES FOR CONTENT INTEGRATION: WORKING WITH VENDORS
Steven Ellis, Becton, Dickinson & Co.

With content and systems vendors vying for position in the knowledge management marketplace it is becoming increasingly difficult to select products which will work effectively with other products. The first step to making right decisions is establishing a baseline every vendor must meet in terms of both systems and content. This can be accomplished by establishing an integration strategy and making sure each vendor has something to offer it. Mr. Ellis presents such a strategy, taking into account the requirements of (and sometimes tension between) quality content and effective intranet integration. Participants will take away an understanding of how to work with both content and systems vendors in a complementary way.

SETTING UP A SECURE PUBLIC WORKSTATION
Sharon Yang, Systems Librarian, Rider University

It seems simple to set up a public access workstation. In reality the task is formidable. A systems librarian has to settle many issues before a workstation can be secured and made ready for use. The key is to get new ideas and discover software that can help achieve the goals.
Rider University Library, a government depository library, is given one free subscription to Stat-USA, a database which contains information used heavily by students. But according to the agreement with Stat-USA, the library is limited to one user at a time on the database. No faculty, students, or patrons shall have access to the password. This mandates the use of several levels of security and encryption which Rider University accomplished with a combination of software including Winselect Kiosk, Keytext, TweakUI, Everybodys Menu Builder.
 

12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK - A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Workshop •  REPLACING LEGACY LIBRARY SYSTEMS
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's
Tamm Sissac, Information Systems Librarian, SUNY New Paltz

This workshop identifies and briefly addresses issues involved in the process of replacing legacy library systems, including:

• Rationale for replacement
• Internal and external environment scans
• Next generation library system trends
• Usefulness of a vision statement
• Creating a budget
• RFP, RFI, RFQwhich to use
• Creating the RFx
• Utilizing task forces
• Evaluating the RFx and selecting a vendor
• Negotiating the contract
• Implementation timeline
• Data conversion
• Workflow
• Policy and parameter setting
• Training
• Keeping library staff informed
• Marketing and involvement of campus.

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
A3 • EXPANDING THE REACH OF LIBRARY COMPUTERS
Moderator: David Hoffman, Information Today, Inc.

DEVELOPING AN INFORMATION LITERACY CENTER
Yona Jean-Pierre, Information Literacy Professional, Bern Dibner Library of Science and Technology, Polytechnic University

In the spring of 1997, the Bern Dibner Library of Science and Technology obtained a three-year grant from the Dibner Fund to establish and maintain an Information Literacy Center (ILC). The mission of the ILC is to enhance the overall learning environment of the university community by utilizing innovative methods to educate and train faculty, staff and students concerning new technology. Also, ILC facilitates the universitys stated commitment to incorporate new technology throughout the curriculum. The Library, in collaboration with other university departments, uses digital technology to make information more accessible to the university community.

The goals of the Center include: (1) Producing information packages on CD-ROM on library use for undergraduates. (2) Creating discipline-specific information packages on CD- ROM for graduate students, which will be custom generated on demand. (3) Assisting faculty in translation of lecture material to CD-ROM and/or mounted on library server for distance learning. (4) Mounting reading materials for specific academic programs on library server to enhance access. (5) Training and supporting faculty and graduate students challenged by new information technology. (6) Providing a workplace and access to professional expertise to help staff increase their productivity and effectiveness through use of computer resources. (7) Designing and conducting workshops on the applications and use of the new multimedia products.

The Library Instruction Program, currently runs 13 hands-on workshops and short classes: seven on various new technology applications, and six on using the librarys electronic resources. Numerous new technology software products, CD-ROMs, and educational videos were evaluated for inclusion.
 

MULTIMODE DELIVERY OF MULTIMEDIA INFORMATION
Frank L. Walker and George R. Thoma, Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, National Library of Medicine

Many libraries are using the Internet for document delivery, not only for interlibrary loan, but for delivering documents directly to the patrons desktop computer. This has been made possible through the widespread adoption of software such as Ariel and DocView. The National Library of Medicines DocView is primarily designed for library patrons to receive, display, and manage documents received from Ariel systems. While libraries and their patrons are beginning to reap the befits of new technology, there are still areas where improvements can be made. An R&D division of NLM is developing software code-named HotMed to increase the options for delivering library information over the Internet. The HotMed software permits delivery of; multiple files to multiple recipients and goes beyond monochrome bitmapped images to any multimedia file type, such as color and grayscale images, audio and video information, and word-processing documents. By incorporating a Java applet for delivering documents via the WWW, the HotMed software gives the librarian a new option that potentially solves several problems commonly associated with Internet document delivery.
 

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
A4 • DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING AND WINDOWS NT: THE IDEAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LIBRARY CONSORTIA
Moderator: David Hoffman, Information Today, Inc.
John Richardson and Michael J. Frasciello, Gaylord Information Systems

Library consortia require automation systems that adequately address the following questions:

• Can the system support centralized and decentralized server configurations?
• Does the softwares architecture accommodate changing requirements?
• Does the system provide seamless behavior?

Standards-based distributed processing is the key to the n-tier client/server paradigm. While some technologies (i.e., Unix) provide for a single standard on which to define distributed processing, only Microsofts Windows NT supports multiple standards. From Microsofts perspective, the Windows NT operating system is the middle tier of the n-tier client/server environment. To truly exploit the middle tier, an application must utilize Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS). Native Windows NT automation systems utilizing MTS are best positioned for the future because MTS assumes an n-tier architecture with the middle tier (or tiers) deployed on Windows NT Server. Native NT applications are built in and for Microsoft Windows NT.

Library consortia considering a native Windows NT automation system should evaluate the systems distributed computing capabilities to determine its applicability to their needs. Library consortia can test a vendors claim to scaleable distributed processing by asking three questions:

• Does the software care about the type of data being used?
• Does the software support logical and physical separation (distribution)?
• Does the software require me to shut down the system to perform database or application updates?

Track B
• Regent Parlor •

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
B1 • EXPEDITING AND STREAMLINING THE SYSTEM PROCUREMENT PROCESS
Moderator: Richard Boss, Information Systems Consultants, Inc.
Anita Wagner, Gaylord Information Systems

A librarian may participate in 4-5 procurements of library automation systems in his/her career. Because the typical procurement process can take 18-24 months, a significant portion of a librarians career will be spent in system evaluation and selection. While the steps involved in system selection should not be short-changed, how can a librarian expedite and streamline this process?

This paper offers practical advice about automation system procurement that can be applied in any type of library. It describes ten sure time-savers, ranging from the straightforward (make the Request-for-Proposal or Request-for-Information document available to vendors in electronic format) to the complex (how to obtain buy-in from your stakeholders). Emphasis is placed on starting the process far enough in advance to avoid a crisis situation with your current system. Because the technology specified in an RFP may be outmoded by the time you select a new system, the author offers suggestions to supplement the RFP as the primary tool used to evaluate systems. An outline for the content of RFPs is provided as well as advice about the requirements for vendor demonstrations. The role of library consultants is also explored. The paper concludes with an outline of the ideal procurement process, starting with the initial planning efforts and ending with the announcement of the award decision.
 
 

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
B2 • USING WINFRAME/MICROSOFT TERMINAL SERVER TO PROVIDE REMOTE ACCESS TO INFORMATION PRODUCTS
Moderator: Marshall Breeding, Vanderbilt University
Frank Cervone, DePaul University

The purpose and functionality of WinFrame/MTS is explained and related to how it can be used to make resources in the library available to patrons outside of the physical space of the library. Using a proxy server to provide authenticated access to these applications will also be discussed.
 

12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK - A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Workshop •  AUTHENTICATION ISSUES IN TODAY'S LIBRARY
Marshall Breeding, Vanderbilt University

One of the main challenges in the university environment has to do with integrating the library automation system with the authentication infrastructure in the campus environment. Unfortunately, not many IOLS include support for Kerberos, X.500, or other mechanisms for patron authentication for tasks such as ILL and document delivery. Various approaches are discussed.
 
 

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Workshop •  LIBRARY AUTOMATION — AN INDEPENDENT VIEW
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's
Robert Rowen, President, Library Automation Management, Inc.

This workshop provides a graphic overview of the present and future of technology for the small and medium-sized school, public or special library.
It includes side-by-side comparisons of the major circulation/catalog systems currently used in these libraries, recent advances, what is practical and affordable now, tips and tricks that lower costs and improve quality.

Also covered will be: fitting the library project into the bigger picture; selecting software, hardware and services; budgeting; and projecting timelines that work. Using affordable software to retrieve MARC records from the Internet will be demonstrated. A listing of recommended free and inexpensive utilities that have helped working librarians will be available.

Time will be allotted for questions and answers throughout the presentation.
 
 

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Plenary Session
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's
• Sutton Parlor South •

INDEXING LIBRARIES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Peter Scott, University of Saskatchewan

Peter Scott will talk about his work with indexing library resources during the past 9 years. He will touch briefly on his first index, HYTELNET, which was the first electronic directory of Internet resources. webCATS, a current index of web-based OPACs, will be shown. LIBDEX, a new resource, currently under development, will be presented. This resource amalgamates information from HYTELNET and webCATS, and will also contain links to library home pages. He will also discuss how libraries may obtain web space, use online web-creation resources, and download software, in order to create home pages.
 
 

Track A
• Sutton Parlor South •

10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
A1 • LIBRARY WEB SITES
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S LIBRARY WEB SITE
Tom Rogers, Director for Internet Services and Legal Technology, Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University continues to integrate technology into the curriculum and library through a requirement for laptops by all students. As the World Wide Web continues to expand as a primary information distribution resource, libraries are challenged to make this vast amount of information available to students and patrons. Tom Rogers will present Novas system for maintaining a library web site which offers links to over 12,000 resources. This system involves a highly customizable online database which manages and delivers to the user links to resources created on-the-fly based on user input. The system allows for access for staff to add, modify, and delete links to resources (internal/external) and to identify the topic or category of the subject matter. The resource is instantly available on all the appropriate topic pages throughout the Web site.
 

NITTY GRITTY NT: CREATING POWERFUL & SECURE PUBLIC ACCESS WORKSTATIONS WITHOUT THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE
Beth Goodman, Victoria College, University of Houston-Victoria Library

Faced with growing numbers of Public Access Workstations how does a systems librarian deal with the spiraling demands of individual system administration? One effective solution is to harness the inherent capabilities of Windows NT 4.0 Server and Workstation software.

With the application of User Profiles, User Policies, Registry Settings, NTFS and file permissions, a public access workstation can be configured to offer outstanding performance to the user, insure the configuration is unalterable, and to be so reliable that 99% of operating errors can be corrected by restarting the machine. This configuration enables the public service librarians to handle almost all public workstation problems and frees the systems librarian for other concerns.
 
 

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
A2 • EFFECTIVE LIBRARY WEB SITES
Moderator: Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's

LIBRARY WEB PAGES: WHERE TO START, WHAT YOULL NEED, AND HOW TO SUCCEED
Helene Gold, Electronic Services Librarian/Assistant Professor, Eckerd College Library

Library Web sites are created with one key issue in mind—how to organize and present electronic information to patrons in a useful, well-organized manner that will not only broaden the user base of the library, but ensure repeat use. The very first steps Web developers for library sites will need to take are deciding what to offer to your new Web patrons and audience: operating hours? library event information? online reference? a Web-based catalog? a virtual library? database access? Each of these aspects takes careful planning and consideration, not only among the library staff, but also the many people who might be involved in the creation process (i.e., graphic designers, Internet Services Providers, technology support staff, etc.). This tutorial will address issues faced when building a site from the ground up (as I have done in the previous year and a half for a small, liberal arts college), what software products or books will be helpful in writing HTML and planning a design structure, and steps you can take to ensure the success of your Web site (visibility, search engine inclusion, links from other local resources to your Web site, etc.). The two most important aspects of library Web site development will also be addressed: infinite patience and a great sense of humor!
 

EFFECTIVE LIBRARY WEB SITES: HOW TO ASK YOUR USERS WHAT WILL WORK FOR THEM
Karen Diller and Nicole Campbell, Washington State University, Vancouver

Librarians at Washington State University Vancouver Library decided to test the effectiveness of their library's Web pages to find out if the organization and content of these pages were useful to their reference staff and patrons. Since the library had limited staff time and budget to spend on this project, the methods used needed to be simple, time efficient and involve little cost. Two librarians sorted through the various methodologies for testing and selected three tests: card sorting, category membership expectation, and a short survey. In addition to testing the current organization and content of the librarys Web site, the combination of these three tests also demonstrated how the users would organize the librarys Web pages. This session will cover the general principles of each of these test methods, the planning involved in implementing each test, and the analysis of the test results.
 
 

12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK - A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 
 

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
A3 • DYNAMIC WEB SITES
Moderator: Marshall Breeding, Vanderbilt University

BEYOND STATIC HTML: CREATING DYNAMIC PAGES FOR A WEB SITE AND A WEBPAC
Paul T. Adalian Jr., Assistant Dean for Information and Instruction at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo
Judy Swanson, Multimedia Specialist for the Kennedy Library at California Polytechnic State University

Dynamically created Web pages utilizing Access, a database program, bring a new dimension to developing and maintaining a Web site along with expanding the access to online and print sources through the Librarys Webpac.

To enter sources on the Librarys Web site, a Web-based template is used to enter a title, URL, summary, subjects, and categories. Knowledge of HTML is not required to add or edit entries, and all information is available immediately, thus eliminating the most time-consuming part of maintaining and updating a Web site. The need to transfer files to the server, another time-consuming and potentially troublesome area, has also been removed. Once each element is entered into the database it can be assigned to any number of categories within specific subject guides such as GIS, Maps, Employment Sources, etc. Subject guides are then cataloged and are available from the Webpac as well as the Librarys Home Page.

When a user selects a subject guide from either the Web site or the Webpac, all the elements that have been assigned to it are culled from the database, presenting the user with a dynamic, current listing of the librarys offerings within a particular subject area.

In addition, utilizing a database program has provided an avenue to adding value to the sources and services of the library. For example, the MyLibrary page and the Data Genie interface gives users the opportunity to create their own interface of resources to meet their unique and individual research needs.
 

Track B
• Regent Parlor •

10:00 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.
B1 • NEGOTIATION OF CONTRACTS WITH LIBRARY VENDORS
Richard Boss, Information Systems Consultants, Inc.

Contract negotiation is one of the least documented aspects of library automation.  One of the most respected consultants in the field of library automation shares his insights into the process. Boss will suggest substantive issues which should be included in most contract negotiations and will provide specific language to present in negotiation.
 
 

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M.
LUNCH BREAK - A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 
 

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Workshop •  INTRANETS: ISSUES AND ANSWERS
Howard McQueen, editor IntraNet Professional, and President, McQueen Consulting

Intranets have become a hot topic among librarians because they involve so many complex issues. The editor of IntraNet Professional will provide pointers and suggestions for succeeding with your intranet.
 
 

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Workshop •  LIBRARY AUTOMATION SOFTWARE
Pamela Cibbarelli, Cibbarelli's

Pamela Cibbarelli, editor, Directory of Library Automation Software, Systems and Services, will profile the leading IOLS software, including features and functions of the most successful library automation packages on the marketplace today and user satisfaction ratings for many of the packages.
 

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