_Current_Cites_ Volume 3, no. 1 January 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 Expert Systems Schank, Roger C. "Where's the AI?" AI Magazine 12(4) (Winter 1991):38-49. This is an excellent article giving a non-technical perspective on the present state of artificial intelligence development. Mr. Schank presents four common viewpoints on what AI is, and gives his opinions on their misconceptions or their limited implementation value. He concludes the article with a discussion of what is necessary to produce "real AI." Mr. Schank's ideas do much to turn old conceptions of AI over on their backside, but the ideas are clear and well-reasoned. -- LR Information Transfer Butler, Brett. "The Electronic Library Program: Developing Networked Electronic Library Collections" Library HIGH TECH 9(2) (1991):21-30. Butler, director of development for Memex Research Institute, describes the Electronic Library Program. The E-Library, "conceived as a collection within a library organization, not an independent electronic replacement for a library," uses existing catalogs or published indexes, scanned published documents, etc. to create a large, publicly available indexed electronic image collection for access and retrieval. -- VR Grotophorst, Clyde W. "CLS: An ILL Management System for User- Generated Requests." Library Software Review 10(5) (September/ October 1991):320-326. This article describes an ILL system that promises to reduce ILL costs drastically. By allowing the user to create ILL requests using an interface to common databases, the need for staff involvement in verification of bibliographic information, selection of location, etc. is minimized. -- VR Hyper- and Multimedia Tiefel, Virginia "The Gateway to Information: A System Redefines How Libraries Are Used" American Libraries 22(9) (Oct. 1991):858- 860. A description of the Gateway at the Ohio State University. Composed of an online catalog, periodical indexes, CD-ROM databases and special databases, Gateway provides a common interface to these systems, allowing the user access to multiple sources with a single search query. Gateway also offers a library guide similar to the UC Berkeley Library's Hyperguide, but with the addition of an online catalog. An exciting development in the integration of hypermedia in bibliographic instruction and as catalog search engine. -- MT EDUCOM Review 27(1) (Jan/Feb 1992). An issue devoted to Multimedia in education featuring the following articles: * "Integrated Technologies: An Approach to Establishing Multimedia Applications for Learning" by Garland C. Elmore where multimedia projects from Integrated Technologies at Indiana University-Purdue University are described. * "Institutional Support for Improving Instruction with Multimedia" by Fred Hofstetter of the University of Delaware. Support for Multimedia projects is most effective when integrated throughout the institution. A coordinating group, the Instructional Technology Center, provides the leadership and instruction for an increasing number of campus instructional applications. * "Collaborative Design in a Networked Multimedia Environment" by Geraldine K. Gay and Robert J. Thomas describes the enhancement of an engineering curriculum through the use of networked multimedia for design projects. * "Imaging Systems: An Overview for Management" by Gene Sherron. Diverse imaging projects highlight the potential for organizational improvement of catalogs and filing systems. Digitized documents can enable simultaneous use and make document filing and retrieval more accurate and less time-consuming. * "Can Multimedia Instruction Meet Our Expectations?" by Loretta L. Jones and Stanley G. Smith. A theoretical perspective on the impact of multimedia on education, weighing the costs and benefits of the medium in this setting. -- MT Networks and Networking "America Online Flap" EFFector Online 2(3) (January 7, 1992). EFF reports on the reaction of America Online following the report that someone had loaded "kiddie porn" GIFs on the system. Included in this article is a letter from Steve Case to AO members restating their policy on the privacy of e-mail messages, instant messages and private chat rooms. -- DR Butler, Brett "The Electronic Library Program: Developing Networked Electronic Library Collections" Library Hi Tech 34/9(2) (1991):21-30. As director of development for the Memex Research Institute at CSU Chico, Butler is one of the few people actually proposing the establishment of electronic library collections now. In this article he discusses the possibilities of creating electronic versions of library collections using a combination of image databases and indexes. Included here are hardware specifications, the economic issues, a collection development strategy, and a list of applications already being implemented. -- DR Coalition for Networked Information. News and Views from the Director #2 (8/1-12/31/91)--available from PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET in two parts. This CNI Director Paul Evan Peters' round-up of the last four months of activities related to "the network." Among the highlights: the NREN bill was passed, the Coalition Task Force met in November, and the Library of Congress Network Advisory Committee met in December. -- DR Computer Systems Policy Project "Expanding the Vision of High Performance Computing and Communications: Linking America for the Future: a report" (December 3, 1991)--Available via anonymous ftp to ftp.apple.com in the alug directory or from the Project at 4921488@MCIMAIL.COM. The Computer Systems Policy Project is an affiliation of major US computer systems companies which has written this report summarizing its findings and recommendations on the High Performance Computing and Communications Initiative. In this report the Project shows how government investments in higher performance computing and communications can benefit both the industry and the public which uses the resulting products. The benefits they list are: better health care; lifelong learning; improved services for senior citizens, the disabled, and the housebound; enhanced industrial design and intelligent manufacturing technology; and broader access to public and private databases, electronic mail, and other unique resources. -- DR Godwin, Mike "The CompuServe Case: A Step Forward in First Amendment Protection for Online Services" EFFector Online 2(3) (January 7, 1992). CompuServe just won a libel suit in which Cubby Inc., held CompuServe responsible for libelous material on their system. Judge Leisure held that CompuServe is more like a bookstore than a publisher, and is therefore not responsible for the action. -- DR Hockey, Susan "Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities" Posting on LIBRARY@INDYCMS.BITNET and EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET (January 3, 1992). Hockey, the Director of the Center, provides and introduction to this new organization established by Rutgers and Princeton Universities to "become a national focus of interest for those who are involved in the creation, dissemination and use of electronic texts in the humanities, and it will act as a national node on an international network of centers and projects which are actively involved in the handling of electronic texts." -- DR Kalin, Sally W. "Support Services for Remote Users of Online Public Access Catalogs" RQ 31(2) (Winter, 1991):197-213. Kalin discusses some of the problems and issues facing library staff in the age of remote access OPACs. Covered here are such issues as Who Are Remote Users?, Expectations of Remote Users, Problems Encountered by Remote Users, and what support services should be offered for these users. -- DR Van der Leun, Gerard "EFF Opens Washington Office" Posting on eff-news@eff.org (January 15, 1992). The Electronic Frontier Foundation has opened a permanent office in Washington DC headed by Jerry Berman, former head of the ACLU Information Technology Project. Berman stated that one of his goals for the organization is to "enhance First and Fourth Amendment rights" of users of the NREN. Also included in this posting is an EFF activities update. -- DR Optical Disc Technology Arnold, Stephen E. and Linda Rosen. Managing the New Electronic Information Products, 2nd ed. Sudsbury, MA: Riverside Data Inc., 1990. 200p. HD9696.O672.A75 1990 LSL In the first of two monographs devoted to CD-ROM collection development issues featured in this month's Current Cites, Arnold and Rosen seek to assist librarians in making informed decisions regarding CD-ROM acquisitions and management. The structure of the book follows the progression of the CD-ROM evaluation and purchasing process, starting a discussion of the critical first step of developing a strategic information plan. -- TR Corty, Brad "Disc-overing Laser" Wilson Library Bulletin 66(3) (November 1991):26-29. Carty provides an overview of the laserdisc industry and technology, explaining its many merits over the conventional videotape format. He outlines numerous arguments in support of including laserdiscs in library collections, urging librarians to place themselves one step ahead of marketplace trends. -- TR Nicholls, Paul T. CD-ROM Collection Builder's Toolkit: The Complete Handbook of Tools for Evaluating CD-ROMs. Weston, CT: Pemberton Press, Inc., 1990. 180p. Z692.O68.N53 1990 LSL Nicholls' collection development handbook for CD-ROM provides an overview of the medium and the documentary tools available to support CD-ROM collection development, evaluative descriptions of commercially-available CD-ROM databases, a directory of published CD-ROM product reviews and a selective bibliography of recent library applications literature. -- TR Nicholls, Paul T. "Sex, Lies and CD-ROM: The Seven Deadly Sins of CD-ROM Revisited" CD-ROM Professional 4(6) (November 1991):126-129. This article examines the so-called seven deadly sins of CD-ROM, coined in the late 1980s by a "vocal group of devil's advocates [who] dared to run against the stream and point up a number of shortcomings of CD-ROM in the midst of a generally mad climate of optimistic hoopla." The deadly sins are hardware compatibility, software compatibility, space requirements, training needs, scheduling and security, hidden costs, and licensing restrictions. Nicholls re-evaluates each of these sins, and concludes that while problems still remain, the initial barriers to CD-ROM implementation have been overcome. -- TR Rogers, Michael "Sony's Electronic Book: A New Library Format?" Library Journal 116(19) (November 15, 1991):26-28. Rogers introduces the latest release from Sony in his "Automation News" column. Weighing less than two pounds, the Data Discman Electronic Book Player is essentially a scaled-down, battery-operated CD-ROM workstation, and the electronic books are equally reduced CDs (approximately 3" as compared to the standard 4.25" discs). Acknowledging that a 3.4" screen may be hard on the eyes, Sony has added a video output jack that would allow the player to be hooked up to a TV just like a VCR. The Discman, bundled with three titles, retails for $549.95. -- TR General Langschied, Linda "The Changing Shape of the Electronic Journal" Serials Review 17(3) (Fall 1991):7-14. In this article Ms. Langschied gives a good review of the current state of electronic journals. The three commonly cited points in favor of e-journals (low cost; short or no publication lag; and interactive communication between scholars/writers) are reiterated and updated here. She includes an interesting treatment of the concern for the viability/ acceptance of e-journals and points to the pivotal role libraries and librarians may have in determining their future. -- LR Surprenant, Thomas "Can we Afford to 'Have A Nice Day'?" Wilson Library Bulletin 66(4):82, 84. While the technological future seems boundless, who will pay? -- DR ------------------------------------------------------------------- Current Cites 3(1)(1992) ISSN: 1060-2356 Copyright (C) 1992 by the Library, University of California, Berkeley. All rights reserved. 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. All commercial use requires permission from the editor, who may be reached in the following ways: drobison@library.berkeley.edu // drobison@ucblibra // (510)642-7600 -------------------------------------------------------------------