Southern Man - ALA Dallas

Southern Man

     The last week in June the American Library Association held their annual convention in Dallas, and thanks to the good help of some our readers your humble editor was privileged to attend.  We started a practice of giving awards away for product offering, and all of the following carry the Wired Librarians seal of approval:

            Best new offering:   Innovation 45 Plus     Scribe

             Best hard disk circ:   Circulation Plus         Library Software Co.

                 Best floppy circ:    Book Trak                  Follett

         Record downloading:    Micro Cat                   Micro Library Software

                        Most Hype:     Eastwind                    Data Phase

     I am sure this going to cause a stir, but as always WLN: not the bibliographic utility we call ‘em as we see them.  Now for the narrative.

     Scribe is a MS-DOS hard disk circ system that ventures where few have dared.  An incredibly large record (240 characters) it incorporates acquisition nicely into the picture.  The record / meg count is low, only about 1,000 per meg, but the large record accounts for this.  This was their first show, and there screens in particular need a lot of work: data base junkies will love it but Marion and her librarian friends are going to be very intimidated by them.  Also the fields are layed out in data base rather than bibliographic form; but this sort of stuff is simple to clean up.  Extreme flexibility in reports and nice on screen helps.  They lose a few points for using the INTERTEC bar wand (awfully steep $ investment) when cheaper technology is available.  It will be interesting to see the progress they make by AASL.  (Scribe Software Inc., 4435 North Saddlebag Trail, Suite #1, Saddlebag Trail Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251).

     I saw nothing to challenge Book Trak’s superiority in the floppy world.  I knew they weren’t going to show the hard disk version but I think the delay in the release is technically oriented.  I am assuming that the hd release is going to be based on PRODOS the new (Jan 84) Apple operating system and this is fresh water.  I still want to see if Bob Stevens can do on a hard disk what he did on a floppy – put more records on a track than anyone else.  Only time will tell, but if you’re a single user site with less than 25,000 volumes I still say Book Trak works pretty well.  (Follett Library Book Co., 4506 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, IL  60014)

     MLS is a high power, multi user system.  They have devoted their effort to streamlining the downloading of records into a catalog system.  If you’re a school district with a half dozen or more libraries and want a union catalog, this is the system I would look at.  They use Minimarc records that are pulled off and then customized for local use.  Their “public access” screen looks more like a standard catalog card than anything I’ve seen in the micro world.   Ron Evans (their software wizard) was running the demo and saying the “magic words” (and they are going to have to make the administrative screens a lot more friendly) but they have the slickest downloading yet.  The demo was running on a Compaq, but they have a new soldering iron man who lives in the S-100 world so the system is transportable six ways from Sunday. (Micro Library Software, World Towers, 15600 Drummet, Houston, TX  77032)

     I suppose it may be unfair to pick on Data Phase for the most hype award, but I have yet to meet a mainframe mentality (save Hillis Griffin at Argonne) that has adequately coped with the micro world.  The Data Phase crew was the ultimate Dvorak “Real Soon Now”, claimed their software would run on IBM, Apple, Data General. I asked if it was in CPM but the demo person didn’t know (would have been cute because they claim it runs on a  “c” and I have yet to see an “add-on” board for that hardware.)  They said it wasn’t multi user, and exuded an air of “just wait and see what we’re going to do for you.”  The mainframe mentality really comes out when they are going to store only 650 records per meg.  I just hope the mainframe folks (consultants included) take their bat and their bits and go back up to the gigabyte world.  If this sounds like bias, you better believe it.  But that’s what’s neat about WLN: not the bibliographic utility (at least in our opinion.)

Other Exciting Stuff

     Vic Rosenberg showed me the souped up version of Personal Bibliographic Software (unfortunately it only runs on blue) and I was summarily impressed.  All of the things I had wanted to do with the old version were there; the editor has been improved all and an impressive package is even more impressive.  He’s working on a  Mac version of PBS for an October release.  I’m impressed that this very fine package will be the first library piece for that fine hardware.  I can’t wait to get my copy.  They are also hard at work perfecting their data transfer setup – you dial up a bibliographic utility and download the record into your micro and then edit it to your hearts content.  Very slick. (Personal Bibliographic Software, PO Box 4250, Ann Arbor MI, 48106)

     Ruth Sather and James Daines from Combase had a booth demoing their Elementary Library Media Skills package.  I found their new brochure rather embarassing : it contains a quote from one of my reviews of the package “neater than sliced bread”.  Well, it is as far as library instruction is concerned. (Combase Inc., Suite 890, 330 Sibley St., St. Paul MN  55101)

     Library Software Company was passing out it’s new catalog which includes all of their stuff plus some other things (Bookends, Crossward Magic) that they are marketing.  Included in the catalog, but not demoed were two new LSC projects.  Skills Maker is a tool to create library instruction exercises tailored to your library.  Quick Card is their new catalog card production system.  If these hold up to the outstanding standard already set by their earlier offerings, then they could be hot stuff.  Dying to get the software. (Library Software Co., PO Box 23897, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523)

     Information Access gave me a demo copy of their Search Helper, software designed to use their data bases.  Had a pleasant discussion with one of their R&D folks because I’ve wanted for a long time a micro based tool to help kids find information.  For most small libraries you could get away with 100 titles updated quarterly.  We’ll tell you more as we bootski their disk and scope it out.   (Information Access Co.,

11 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA  940020

     Interesting dialog went on with the Grolier folks.  They have developed a tie in with the New Book of Knowledge using software and the book to solve mystery.  When we get the software we’ll tell you more…

also look for some sort of micro based reference tool on the horizon . More, later. (Groiler Inc., Sherman Turnpike, Danbury CT 06816)

     John Magoon from University Products again had the best sample pack of library supplies for the micro world.  Their latest offering is archival quality form feed paper for the thesis world.  (University Products, PO Box 101, So Canal St, Holyoke, MA  01041)

     An old soldering iron junkie always saves the best for last, and Anybook has announced bibliographic records on videodisc.  Scope out 250,000 titles on a platter in seconds!  Blew me away so bad the first time I had to go back for a second helping.  The data comes off the disk in RS232 protocols.  Goodbye Ma Bell.

Scheduled for release in October, I look for exciting development using this technology.  Expect the college/university folks to pick it up first, who knows what it’s going to do for us little folks. (Library Corporation, PO Box 40035, Washington DC  20016)

Wire Librarians Intelectual Development and Social Hour

     We snuggled into my room and rapped four about five hours.  Some folks confused room 703 at 9:00 with room 903 at 7:00 and missed it (I apologized profusely for their wasted $30 in cab faire).  The hottest topic was downloading bibliographic records into micro based systems.  Unless something happens so publishers put zebra coded ISBN numbers on books, we are still going to have to match our holdings someway.  We considered videodisc, labeled shelf list cards, checklist solutions, and some others.  No conclusions were drawn, but it definitely was fodder for thought.

Final Dallas Words

     On the train ride home, I put the meeting in perspective.  My presentation (literally moments before I had to catch the train) on the clearinghouse had as it’s central theme developing your own sophistication  with the micro so you could make inteligent decsisions about what sort of circ/cat system you might want to put up.  I degraded into a tyrade against blue, but then again I figured I’d never be asked to speak again so take the one shot.  I tried to give Apple tips and got over everybody’s head.  Try and describe taking DOS 3.3 files to PRODOS in fifty words or less.  Maybe I’m just better on paper.

     Sunday night I almost killed Betty Costa by dragging her to the BookTrak users group meeting.  What I was told was a three block walk turned out to be a mile and in 100 degree heat it was horrendous.  We got their late, but I was blown away by the interaction the users were sharing with each other.  To me, it was neat that these folks would take time out of their busy convention schedules to share with each other problems and solutions they had worked out.  Excuse my old 60’s values, but I think that’s what microcomputing is all about, especially library microcomputing.

     I got to meet the faces behind phone calls, and share ideas with a lot of folks.  We haven’t begun to see what micros can do for libraries.

The Library Works

      Apple has always produced better hardware than software, but their most recent software release shreds this all to pieces.  AppleWorks is an integrated word processor, data base, and spreadsheet that does something all of the other “integrated” products have failed to do:  it doesn’t give up power or performance in any one of the functions in the name of integration.  AppleWorks limitation is that it is “memory” based, so no single application can be larger than memory.

     They’ve really thought this one out – you can load in old Visicalc or text files as long as they have been transferred to PRODOS.  Commands for all three applications are the same so the nightmare of “what program am I running now’ doesn’t exist.  Screens are clean, and help is always available.  It runs nicely on a “c” with one drive or an “e” with two:  it will not run on a “plus”.  I also advise running it with 128k.

     I contend that for everything except circ, catalog, or large data bases, Appleworks will handle all of the library management tasks small libraries face.  This definitely carries the Wired Librarians Seal of Approval.  I’m so excited about it I’m preparing a book (actually I just want to ship the disks – why kill trees for me?) entitled The Library Works that will include examples of program function from the library world.  Now all’s I have to do is find a publisher.

Other New Software

     Last month I promised some details of Roger Wagner’s The Write Choice.  It’s neat because the emphasis is on writing correctly; it comes with a copy of Strunk and Whites Elements of Style.  The Analyst, reports word and sentence length, syllables/word, and minimal reading level required to read the piece.  Tut’s Typer is touch keying tutorial/game included with the package.  The Correspondent, the word processor, is medium power, medium ease to learn.  Works best on “e” or “c” (but does not recognize “delete” key) and perhaps is you get all of this for $49.  Quite the Wired Librarian’s deal!  (Roger Wagner Software, 10761 Woodside Ave, Suite E, Santee CA  92710)

     We are very bad with our finances here at WLN: not the bibliographic utility and this month received our copy of Dollars and Sense from Monogram.  I am not an accountant (nor would never pretend to be) and this program is a godsend from our friend Reneski at the bible of Lisci.  You can set up 12 different checking accounts and 14 cash distribution accounts with 120 “accounts”; mark things for taxes, automatic fund removal, and write checks from the program.  Multiple data disks are provided for.  Nice, easy to use, and all I’ll need until we reach Fortune 1400000 status (dream on Eric).  Might work well for a small business, definitely handles the home stuff (except for those of you with real bizarre stuff (Right WWWIII?).  Works best for those of you with 80 column – Scope it out. (Monogram Software, 8295 S. La Cienga Blvd., Inglewood A  90301)

Calling all Catalog Card Production Systems

     I hope to devote one (it  might run to two, depending on the number I receive) of my Book Report columns to the myriad of catalog card typing programs.  I am striving to do the definitive work: compare all I can come up with and develop a scope and sequence chart (see what writing for EL does for your head) so that I can quit answering all the phone calls I get.  So far I have copies of Harvey Hahn’s, Book Trak’s, Library Software’s and Delmar’s.  I have requested copies of Catalog Card and Label Writer (K-12) and Winnebago’s.  If you know of any other (Especially the home – grown stuff!)  I would appreciate your taking the time and dropping me a note.  I’d, in my pure and prurient poor habit like to do them all and settle this issue for once and all (to the best of my word processor’s ability that is.)

A few words on the Library Market

(a continuing debate)

                The tortoise and the hare

     I have harped and harped over and over how librarians need to develop a little micro skill in using the basic micro tools – WORD PROCESSING, SPREADSHEET and DATA BASE – before they begin considering such full blown tasks as online circulation/catalog.   It’s so easy to cowtow to an administrator who wants to keep up with the district down the road, blow a whole lot of bucks, and get yourself into a real mess because you need to sort in a particular manner and the program you’ve chosen won’t do it.  If you don’t know about sorting or editing or statistics then any demo given by the Zambesie Software Company can blow you away.

                How good a record is it?

     I have several good friends who work in school districts with the resources and staff to convert their card catalogs to a micro version.  They haven’t made a move (although they have looked at a great number of offerings) because the bibliographic format provided the software is not up to their standards.  It is extremely important to resist the temptation to become a trendsetter and accept a less than standard format.  Software producers need to understand that we have to have screens that look like formats our users are used to seeing.  As far as I am concerned anything less than the accepted library standard of AACR2 makes me wonder about the program.

                Single or Multi user

     A great number of libraries are single, stand alone institutions.  They can survive quite nicely with stand alone circulation systems in a floppy environment.  They merely need to know what’s out, who has it and when it is due.  Their paper card catalog is quite sufficient; and at max they add 500 titles to their holdings per year.  Sometime along the road they will need to electronify their holdings to share with a regional data base, but that is at least ten years in the future.  I would guess that about 30,000 libraries fall into this category.

     The next level is the district with two to thirty libraries or sites.  They need an electronic card catalog for several reasons: the most important of these is cooperative collection development.  Expensive refrenence tools can be purchased for one site and accessed by many.  This can also be a boon for “popular” fiction and other items that live a short life.  They need to know what library has what title and whether or not it is on the shelf  for interlibrary loan.  Their  combined collections would be in the 50,000+  range and of course hard disk is the only way to go.

                Downloading records

     In this second setting, the real trick is downloading bibliographic records from a commercial vendors such as OCLC or MARC and reformattin them to the local setting.  No matter what happens a system does not come out of the box and immediately recognize your holdings. Zebra labels on titles would be one alternative but the publishers can’t cope with this option.  Perhaps we could get catalog vendors to provide ISBN or LC call numbers in a standard format on their cards.  Wand the shelf list, do a hit or miss with the bibliographic utility and download as much as possible.

                The last word

Smitty’s Corner

     I am looking for a good copy utility that supports PRODOS.  If someone has heard of one that has flexibility, I would like to hear of it.

Template Clearinghouse

     The response to our offerings has been very strong.  In the month since the catalog has been published we have shipped 17 sets of templates.  We announce here that we are supporting AppleWorks because all you need do is transfer the files to PRODOS and load them directly into the works.  If you have developed templates, please consider sharing them with the clearinghouse.

65535

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Statement of Responsibility

   WLN: not the bibliographic utility, is the sole responsibility of Micro Libraries, 145 Marcia, Freeport IL 61032.  Product names are of course the copyright of their owners.  All opinions expressed are solely those of Eric S. Anderson.  If you are going to sue, remember I still haven’t paid off the loan for my plus so you’ll have to go into work tomorrow.

     Subscriptions are $15 a year.  We would really appreciate it if you would send a check; but if you have an invoice we’ll work around it somehow.  WLN:  not the bibliographic utility is published whenever we feel like it: historically this has been once a month.

     You may feel free and Xerox this and share it with your friends.  We are sure they need something to wrap fish or train puppies with.  No part of WLN: not the bibliographic utility may be republished or sold.

Dedicated to Robert Elliot Purser

An Index to the Online Issues

1983 - When there were four microcomputers at the ALA show

December 1984

1985 - wow we've got hard drives !!!