_Current_Cites_ Volume 4, no. 6 June 1993 Information Systems Instruction & Support The Library University of California, Berkeley Edited by David F. W. Robison ISSN: 1060-2356 Contributors: Teri Rinne, Vivienne Roumani-Denn, Lisa Rowlison, Mark Takaro, Roy Tennant -------------------------------------------------------------------- Note From the Editor: Current Cites, along with a number of other databases are being made available for online searching using the BRS Search system by the Coalition for Networked Information. To access the system, telnet to a.cni.org (URL=telnet://brsuser@a.cni.org) or go through the Coalition gopher (gopher to gopher.cni.org 70, select Coalition BRS- SEARCH Services, Search Coalition Databases; URL=gopher:// gopher.cni.org 70/Coalition BRS-SEARCH Services?Search Coalition Databases) and login as "brsuser." From there you may select from the seven databases currently available: Current Cites; postings from PACS-L@UHUPVM1, NETTRAIN@UBVM, CNI-BIGIDEAS, CNI-COPYRIGHT, CNI-DIRECTORIES; and the TOPNODE Directory Resource. This implementation of the BRS Search system supports menu-driven searching, command-line searching, and printing and e-mailing of search results. Current Cites is also implementing Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). These labels are intended to provide information on the location of electronic resources at the time of the writing of the citation. URLs will be indicated by the notation: "URL=". The source for the definition of the URL is the Internet Draft of 30 March 1993 written by Tim Berners- Lee and published by the IETF URL Working Group [available via gopher as text and PostScript (draft-ietf-uri-url-00.txt and draft-ietf-uri-url-00.ps) by searching Veronica using the term "URL"]. For those who are unfamiliar with URLs, they provide information on the location of an instance of a networked document. They are formulated so that they may be easily readable by computer and human alike. Simply, the URL is the concatenation of the access scheme, the host location, the file or path, and any mode of access, (such as "search"). - DR --------------------------------------------------------------- Hyper- and Mulimedia Lemke, J. L. "Hypermedia and Higher Education" Interpersonal Computing and Technology 1(2) (April 1993) [available via e-mail from LISTSERV@GWUVM.BITNET with the command GET LEMKE IPCTV1N2]. The author provides a useful perspective on the "possible futures for scholarly hypermedia literacy" and suggests the range of impacts that hypermedia may have on education. This insightful paper explores the changes brought on by scholarly dialog about a subject as opposed to the present "curricular" models of learning. - MT Information Transfer Brody, Roberta. "End-Users In 1993: After a Decade" ONLINE 17(3) (May 1993):66-69. Database producers, software publishers, and information professionals are developing systems in response to the "end-user revolution in information access." Two corporate librarians have designed and developed a multifunction front end system using Lotus Notes (described in this issue). - VR Delfino, Erik. "Getting an Electronic Bulletin Board System Up and Running" ONLINE 17(3) (May 1993):106-108. Among the issues to consider when selecting an electronic bulletin board system (BBS) software are the skill level of the intended audience, the purpose of the bulletin board, security requirements, menu design, file transfer protocols, maintenance and backup. A selected list of BBS software is provided. Liberman, Kristen and Jane L. Rich. "Lotus Notes Databases: The Foundation of a Virtual Library" Database 16(3) (June 1993):33- 46. Liberman and Rich have developed a virtual library environment for the end-user using Lotus Notes, a workgroup software product. With Hoover (SandPoint Corporation), a Lotus Notes add-in program, and Company Profiles Plus, a Hoover- enabled product, end-users are able to access, track, and organize information, including search databases, retrieve documents, and create on-demand profiles of companies. - VR Krumenaker, Larry. "Virtual Libraries, Complete with Journals, Get Real" Science 260(5111) (May 21, 1993):1066-1067. Krumenaker describes the CORE system for electronic retrieval of journal literature as an example of a virtual library (or at least a pat of one). The text of articles stored using CORE can be searched, but graphics are also included, though stored separately on optical discs. Included in this discussion is an examination of some of the pros and cons of such a search and display system. - DR Stigleman, Sue. "Papyrus: Good Bibliographic Value at a Reasonable Price" Database 16(3) (June 1993):82-87. By making a plea to developers to create more flexible bibliographic software, Stigleman provides us with more than a review of this bibliographic formatting software package and its CD-ROMs importing functions, its Boolean searching capabilities, and its word processors support. - VR Stover, Mark. "PsychNet: A Niche Network for Psychology" ONLINE 17(3) (May 1993):74-81. PsychNet, a software package which combines a telecommunications module, a text editor, e-mail, and database search capabilities, provides information services, forums, and document retrieval in the field of Psychology. While still underdeveloped, and the information it provides is available online from other sources, Stover describes it as an "innovative and promising concept...in the future of information retrieval and document delivery." Will these kinds of customized packages be the wave of the future? - VR Networks and Networking "Accessing the Federal Government" EFFector Online 5(10) (June 11, 1993) [available via anonymous ftp, URL=ftp://ftp.eff.org/ pub/EFF/newsletters/effector5.10]. This issue of EFFector Online is devoted to the recent announcements of e-mail access to the President, the Vice-President, a number of congressional representatives. There is also information on accessing other government agencies and information via the Internet and BITNET and a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about accessing the Federal government electronically. As expected, the President's address actually is "PRESIDENT@WHITEHOUSE.GOV". - DR Anderson, Christopher. "The Rocky Road to a Data Highway" Science 260(5111) (May 21, 1993):1064-1065. Anderson provides a brief analysis of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) plans for the NSFNet backbone which, if implemented, would preserve the high- speed backbone to high-end users who require very high bandwidth. This would mean that the typical member of the research and education community would need to rely on a commercial network service provider. [Before pandemonium erupts, it should be remembered that most research and education users do not pay the existing fees to the regional networks, but rely on their institutions to do so.] In answer to concerns this proposal has raised, Stephen Wolff, director of the NSF, explained that the NSF might allow researcher to charge networking costs to their NSF grants and institutions to bill their indirect cost accounts. - DR Atkinson, Ross. "Networks, Hypertext, and Academic Information Services: Some Longer-Range Implications" College & Research Libraries 54(3) (May 1993):199-215. Atkinson provides a fascinating examination of the effects of a fully mature networked hypertext system of scholarly communication. Atkinson contends that librarians and other information professionals must plan and act now to participate in the developing networked environment. Among the developments the author foresees are: three dimensional texts, the network as textual canon, an increase in unreferreed publishing, and the necessity of information services to provide selection and evaluation of documents. - DR Bauwens, Michel. "Corporate Cybrary Networks: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?" The Internet Business Journal 1(1) (June/July 1993): 25-27. Baumens describes the model of a virtual library system that he has begun implementing at BP Nutrition. In this model, the cybrarian (librarian in cyberspace) places him or herself in the center of a collaborative environment, providing information to user where and when desired. In this way, the cybrarian can fully participate in an innovative and user-centered organization. - DR Caplan, Priscilla. "Cataloging Internet Resources." The Public- Access Computer Systems Review 4(2) (1993): 61-66 (available by sending the following e-mail message to LISTSERV@ UHUPVM1.BITNET: GET CAPLAN PRV4N2). Caplan describes the work of MARBI, the American Library Association committee which has been revising USMARC rules to accommodate networked resources. In addition to describing these new rules, Caplan also explains how the Internet Engineering Task Force Uniform Resource Numbers, Identifiers, and Locators (URN, URI, and URL) relate to the new USMARC format. Clearly this is an issue crucial to the ongoing development of libraries. - DR Cozzolino, Thomas J. and Thomas H. Pierce. "Internet User Survey Results" The Internet Business Journal 1(1) (June/July 1993):23- 24. The authors present their survey of Internet use in business (primarily chemical companies). Not too surprisingly, those that responded to the survey felt that the Internet was a very valuable tool in their work. - DR DeLoughry, Thomas J. "NSF Releases Long-Awaited Plan to Reduce US Role in the Internet" The Chronicle of Higher Education 39(38) (May 26, 1993):A17. DeLoughry describes the NSF solicitation for bids from network service providers that would change the funding model of research and education networking in the US. In the proposal, regional networks would no longer use the NSFNet backbone, but contract lines from commercial telecommunications providers. The NSF would provide funding directly to institutions to help pay for networking and reserve the NSFNet for supercomputing applications (its original intended purpose). - DR DeLoughry, Thomas J. "Regional Networks Prepare for change in the Internet" The Chronicle of Higher Education 39(40) (June 9, 1993):A16. Regional networks respond to the change in NSF networking policy by joining forces and creating their own commercial network service - the Corporation for Regional and Enterprise Networking (COREN). Since these networks have long- standing relations with research and education networkers (in some cases, they are one and the same), many believe that the new company will be more attractive to educational institutions than traditional commercial providers. COREN has reached agreement with MCI Telecommunications for backbone service that will include asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), a key method for providing high-bandwidth service. - DR "EFF Comments to the NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology)" EFFector Online 5(9) (May 28, 1993) [available via anonymous ftp, URL=ftp://ftp.eff.org/pub/EFF/newsletters/ effector5.09]. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) expressed its concerns about the Clinton Administration's "clipper chip" proposal, a voluntary, government controlled data encryption system. Among their concerns are questions about whether the system will in fact remain voluntary (that is, will it become the only legal encryption scheme for US users), and if not, would the government then be imposing unconstitutional restraints on speech. In addition, the EFF has 4th and 5th Amendment concerns, as well as concerns about the involvement of the National Security Agency in the proposed scheme. - DR Feeney, Ann. "Internet Applications: Stumpers-L" Computers in Libraries 13(5) (May 1993):40-42. Feeney founded the electronic conference STUMPERS-L as library school student as a forum for solving really tough reference questions. In this article the founder describes the success of the list and notes that as the Internet reaches more people, the possibilities for its use increase. - DR Larribeau, Robert, Jr. "The Rise of Commercialization of the Internet" The Internet Business Journal 1(1) (June/July 1993):10- 12. An independent network consultant, Larribeau provides a very lucid description of the development of commercial network service providers and services. Not only is this information interesting in its own right, but it also helps inform the current discussion of the future of the Internet. - DR Locke, Christopher. "RFC/FYI - Editorial" The Internet Business Journal 1(1) (June/July 1993):3-4. Locke introduces the premier issue of The Internet Business Journal by making the argument that businesses that want to remain competitive must participate in the developing communications revolution. According to Locke, this means that they will need an Internet address: "Companies that have no presence in this new arena will quickly fade from view." - DR Nickerson, Gord. "The Virtual Reference Library" Computers in Libraries 13(5) (May 1993):37-40. Nickerson describes the history of the highly successful Internet Hunt which is issued each month by Rick Gates of the University of California at Santa Barbara. The Hunt is a list of could-be reference question that participants vie to be the first to answer. Also included in this account is information on locating previously issued Hunts and their answers. - DR "NIST Crypto Resolutions" distributed on CPSR@GWUVM.BITNET (June 4, 1993). The Computer System Security and Privacy Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology says that the Clinton Administration's "clipper chip" proposal has too many unresolved issues to be implemented beyond the executive branch of the US government. They also recommend that there be further investigation and discussion of the public policy and technology issues surrounding this particular encryption scheme as well as others. - DR Notess, Greg R. "Using Gophers to Burrow Throughout the Net" ONLINE 17(3) (May 1993):100-102. Notess describes how using the Internet Gopher can make an Internet connection more valuable. Unlike most articles on the subject, however, Notess provides constructive criticism of the interface. - DR Roberts, Michael M. "A Two-Lane Road Is Not a Superhighway" EDUCOM Review 28(3) (May/June 1993):12-13 [available via anonymous ftp, URL=ftp://educom.edu/pub/EDUCOM-Review-1993/ EDUCOM-Review-May93-Roberts]. Roberts argues that the push to make ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) service ubiquitous is misguided and that the public policy effort to create a national data superhighway should be focused on ATM/ SONET (Asynchronous Transmission Mode/Synchronous Optical Network) technology. While ISDN can be made available sooner to a larger number of users, Roberts writes that the improved bandwidth of ATM/SONET (2,000 times greater) more than makes up for the delay in implementation of a digital network. - DR Sakkas, Lee. "Politics on the Internet" Interpersonal Computing and Technology 1(2) (April 1993) [available from LISTSERV@ GUVM.BITNET by sending the e-mail message: GET SAKKAS IPCTV1N2]. In what many consider to be an important change in political history, the 1992 US Presidential campaign went online. One instance of this was the establishment of three BITNET discussion lists: CLINTON, BUSH, and PEROT. The founder of these lists describes the motivation behind them, their history, and ongoing development. In addition, Sakkas describes the ways in which various list subscribers participated and benefited from the lists and writes that "We were witnesses to the beginning of what I believe will be recognized as a communications revolution." - DR Stockman, Bernhard. "EBONE: The European Internet Backbone" ConneXions 7(5) (May 1993):2-8. Stockman describes the newest addition to European networking: the IP-based EBONE, the European Internet backbone. Started in 1992 with the full participation of commercial providers, EBONE has been so popular that certain sections of the network have already experienced service degradation due to excess traffic. This article covers the history, organization, and future plans of the backbone. - DR Wilson, David L. "Array of New Tools Is Designed to Make It Easier to Find and Retrieve Information on the Internet" The Chronicle of Higher Education (May 26, 1993):A17-A19. Telnet, FTP, Gopher, Archie are all familiar names which this article describes and explains thoroughly. - VR Optical Disc Technologies Atkinson, Roderick D. and John R. Yokley. "Multiplatform CD-ROM Networking" CD-ROM Professional 6(3) (May 1993):73-81. This article describes how the Naval Research Laboratory Library successfully implemented a campus-wide multiplatform CD-ROM networking system, utilizing both a Novell Access Server and a UNIX Access Server. Descriptions of six other alternative solutions are also included. It is encouraging to note that each of the seven scenarios integrated commercial, off-the- shelf hardware and software products. - TR Davis, Denise and Ruth Hennessy. "PAIS on CD-ROM: Compliance with Sigcat's CD-CINC Guideline" CD-ROM World 8(5) (June 1993): 18-22. Sigcat's CD-CINC (CD-ROM Consistent Interface Committee) recently released its guidelines for a consistent CD-ROM interface, divided into three general categories of functions: top level, operational, and navigation. Davis and Hennessy critique two different versions of PAIS on CD-ROM, published by PAIS, Inc. and SilverPlatter, respectively, according to the basic functions outlined in the CD-CINC guidelines. - TR Davis, Trisha L. "Acquisition of CD-ROM Databases for Local Area Networks" The Journal of Academic Librarianship 19(2) (May 1993): 68-71. This article examines the factors involved in the acquisition of CD-ROM databases for local area networks (LANs), written from the perspective of an acquisitions librarian. The marriage of LAN technology and CD-ROM products, the author contends, provide the opportunity for the acquisitions librarian to develop a new role that links collection development, technical services, and CD-ROM publishers. Among the new challenges that need to be faced are the widely varying subscription and pricing options, complicated licensing issues that extend the order process, and a thorough understanding of CD-ROM networking technology. - TR Dyson, Rick and Kjestine Carey. "User Preference for CD-ROMs: Implications for Library Planners" CD-ROM Professional 6(3) (May 1993):86-89. The authors examine how the CD-ROM revolution is changing the nature of patron-librarian interaction, especially with regard to the appropriateness of library users' selection of CD-ROM databases. - TR Grossman, Becky Lockwood. "The Next Generation of CD-ROM Drives: Profiling the Toshiba 3401 Series" CD-ROM Professional 6(3) (May 1993):137-139. Grossman profiles the newest generation of "double speed" CD-ROM drives which have the ability to spin the compact disc twice as fast as prior models. - TR LaGuardia, Cheryl and Chuck Huber. "Tomorrow's CD-ROM: Realizing Progress" CD-ROM Professional 6(3) (May 1993):90-95. LaGuardia and Huber poll several of the leading CD-ROM vendors to find out what new developments and improvements are in store. Among the subjects covered by the questions posed include standardization of user interfaces, network applicability, Z39.50 compliance, and print vs. disc issues. - TR Parker, Dana J. "A Rainbow of Standards" CD-ROM Professional 6(3) (May 1993):151-154. Parker provides a coherent overview of the "bewildering array of standards" and platforms that characterize the optical disc technology industry. Perhaps most helpful is the author's elucidation of the often confusing areas of overlap between the standards. - TR Terbille, Charles. "Cheaper than College?! CD-ROM Sources in the Humanities: A Crash Course" CD-ROM World 8(5) (June 1993):55-61. Terbille reviews major CD-ROM resources in the humanities, considering the content, retrieval engine, and the effect of the two in combination. Among the databases described are MLA International Bibliography, Dissertation Abstracts Ondisc, the British Library General Catalogue of Printed Books before 1975, and the Oxford English Dictionary. - TR Worrell, Diane. "End-User Database Aids: How to Create Guides That Get Used" CD-ROM Professional 6(3) (May 1993):82-84. Worrell provides tips on creating quick reference guides or "cheat sheets" for CD-ROM database searching. Types of information to include are outlined, the basic principles to adhere to are articulated, and a helpful list of dos and don'ts conclude the article. - TR General Berlis, Jane, ed. "Special Theme: Adaptative Technologies for Accomodating Persons with Disabilities" Library Hi Tech 11(1) (1993):29-80. This special section of Library Hi Tech examines the progress being made in the area of adaptative technologies for persons with disabilities. This is a particularly valuable collection of articles in light of the recent Americans with Disabilities legislation. - TR EDUCOM Review 28(3) (May/June 1993) special section devoted to EDUCOM's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Electronic Learners which is still under development [availabe via anonymous ftp, URL=ftp://educom.edu/pub/EDUCOM-Review-1993/]. These articles are intended as an investigation of the ethical issues surrounding electronic learning and the ways that the Bill addresses them. EDUCOM plans to formally adopt the Bill by the end of this year. o "Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Electronic Learners," pp. 24-27. An introduction to the Bill and a copy of the complete text of the Bill as it stands to date. Very briefly: article I states that all individuals have the right of access to information and computing resources and the required training to use such resources; article II states that individuals are responsible for their own actions; article III states that educational institutions must have access to information resources in the way that individuals do; and article IV states that institutions have the responsibility to exercise their rights in a way that promotes their own mission as well as the values of society at large. o Connolly, Frank W. and Chuck Schneebeck. "The Community of Electronic Learners," pp. 36-37. Connolly and Schneebeck explain what the community of electronic learners is, and the implications of the community of some of the ethical issues that come to the fore in such a community. o Connolly, Frank W. and Sally Webster. "New Policies for an Evolving Future," pp. 28-30. Connolly and Webster, co-chairs of the EDUCOM committee that developed the Bill, provide and introduction to the Bill and explain the reasons behind its various parts. o Spetalnick, Terrie. "Privacy in the Electronic Community," pp. 38-40. Spetalnick notes that the shift of personal and professional data from print to electronic format brings a whole slew of privacy issues with it. In the academic community this issue is complicated by the fact that most of this information is created and stored on institution-owned equipment. Spetalnick examines how the EDUCOM Bill addresses these issues so as to protect individual rights. o Stager, Susan. "Individual Rights Versus Institutional Responsibilities," pp. 41-44. Stager examines areas where the rights and responsibilities of individuals might clash with those of the institution of learning. Her intent is to provoke a discussion that will help make the Bill a document that helps to resolve such conflicts. o Tannenbaum, Robert S. "A Code of Rights and Responsibilities for Access to Computing Resources," pp. 19-22. Tannenbaum, the editor of this section of the Review, describes the work of a task force he chaired at the University of Kentucky that was charged with developing a local code of computer ethics. o Van Bergen, Marilyn. "Electronic Citizenship and Social Responsibility," pp. 45-47. Van Bergen begins her examination of social responsibility by warning readers that the seeming ubiquitousness of technology should not taken as reason to rest easy. Van Bergen writes: "As an electronic citizen, each of us has the right and the responsibility to create a technology and a society that reflect our values." o Webster, Sally, and Frank W. Connolly. "Responsible Citizenship in the Electronic Community," pp. 32-35. Webster and Connolly explain how the Bill works to preserve what are considered traditional values in education: equality of access to resources; active, responsible citizenship; control over personal information; freedom of speech; respect for the work of others; responsibility to conserve and protect limited resources. - DR Gleick, James. "The Telephone Transformed - Into Almost Anything" The New York Times (May 16, 1993):6:26-29, 50, 53-56, 62, 64. Gleick examines some of the social issues surrounding the convergence of the telephone, computer, television, and other related appliances. Already e-mail and voice mail have transformed much of American business, and along the way have created new styles of communication. Glieck covers the broad range of modern communications services without missing important details. - DR ------------------------------------------------------------------- Current Cites 4(6) (June 1993) ISSN: 1060-2356 Copyright (C) 1993 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. An archive site is maintained at ftp.lib.berkeley.edu in directory /pub/Current.Cites. This message must appear on copied material. All commercial use requires permission from the editor, who may be reached in the following ways: drobison@library.berkeley.edu // drobison@ucblibra // (510)643-9494 -------------------------------------------------------------------