[WORLD 1]

WORLD 1 CONNECTIONS
all the news about WORLD 1, ABN and Ozline

Issue no. 5
September-December 1996
ISSN 1325-958X


In this issue ...

WORLD 1 Connections was edited and designed by Leora Kirwan-Judge using desktop publishing software. The publication was issued bimonthly by the WORLD 1 Services Branch of the National Library of Australia.


Pinyin database goes live

On 10 September, a new database became available to Australian and New Zealand libraries and library users. It is the National CJK Service's Pinyin database, which contains over 500 000 bibliographic records for items in Chinese, Japanese or Korean script. The

220 000 Chinese records are Romanised according to the Pinyin Romanisation scheme (ISO 7098). Most records contain CJK characters as well as Romanisation.

The creation of the Pinyin database, through a unique computer program developed by National Library of Australia staff, is a world first in a number of areas. It is the only database to provide such a large number of Pinyin records for copy cataloguing and it contains all the Library of Congress' Chinese MARC records converted to Pinyin-the first time LC's data has ever been available in Pinyin.

Australian and overseas libraries have long debated the merits of the two competing Romanisation schemes for Chinese-the Wade-Giles scheme, developed in 1859 by Sir Thomas Wade and later adapted by Cambridge academic Herbert Allen Giles-and the Pinyin scheme, published in 1958 as a national standard of the People's Republic of China. Although Chinese-speaking library users generally prefer Pinyin over Wade-Giles and most newspapers and international bodies have adopted Pinyin, many large libraries have retained Wade-Giles because of the huge practical difficulties of converting their catalogues to Pinyin. The creation of the National CJK Service's Pinyin database means that conversion to Pinyin is now achievable for Australian libraries.

Member libraries of the National CJK Service have responded strongly to the development of the Pinyin database. The University of Melbourne, which owns one of Australia's largest and oldest Chinese collections, is using the availability of the database to begin its own conversion to Pinyin. Monash University plans to make the conversion in the near future. Murdoch and Macquarie Universities are using the Pinyin database, as will Griffith University, the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales and the University of Western Australia. The growing numbers of public libraries that are becoming members of the CJK Service, including Hurstville City Library and Sydney City Library, will use the Pinyin database.

[Ms Sit-ling Tull & Dr Song Lin]

ABOVE: Ms Sit-ling Tull, Asian Studies Librarian at Murdoch University, Western Australia with Dr Song Lin (right), a lecturer in the Chinese Studies Program

The Pinyin database contains all the Chinese holdings recorded on the Australian Bibliographic Network as at the end of May 1996. In effect this means that all Australian libraries which recorded Chinese holdings on ABN have had a Pinyin conversion done for them; the data is waiting on the National CJK database for the time when their local circumstances allow them to take advantage of it.

The Pinyin database has been many years in the making. If it were possible to choose a beginning, it would probably be the ABN Annual Users Meeting in Melbourne in 1988, at which V. Nadanasabapathy, Murdoch University Librarian, made an impassioned speech in favour of Pinyin. Another milestone was the First International Seminar on Chinese Document Databases in Guangzhou, China, 1995. At that seminar, Karl Lo, international relations librarian at the University of California San Diego and an expert on the automation of the Chinese language, convinced the CJK project manager, Linda Groom, that an automated conversion of MARC data to Pinyin was feasible.

During 1995, a conversion program that reads USMARC bibliographic records, identifies the Wade-Giles words in them (the difficult bit), converts them to Pinyin and re-assembles the USMARC records, was developed by National Library programmer Murthy Manchella and CJK senior librarian C.P Tang, with advice from Karl Lo. In June 1996 the CJK Service's Wade-Giles database was created, and from July to early September the conversion program was used to create a Pinyin version of it.

Although the program converts most bibliographic records without the need for human intervention, around 12% of fields are flagged by the program as 'doubtful conversions' requiring human review. The enormous task of reviewing was undertaken by CP Tang and by part-time reviewers Susan MacDougall, Susan Xu, Shirley Johns, Belinda Law, and also by National Library staff Wan Wong, Lily Li and Angela Chan. As well as ensuring correct data conversion, the reviewers cleaned up the effect of many typing and other errors in the original data.

The member libraries of the National CJK Service will review the existence of the two databases-Wade-Giles and Pinyin-in 1998. It seems likely that the Wade-Giles database will be phased out eventually, particularly since the development of the Pinyin database seems to have accelerated the trend of overseas libraries towards Pinyin. This will meet the strong wish of the CJK Technical Committee, expressed in May 1995, that there be a single Chinese Romanisation scheme used in Australian libraries. It will also allow Australian libraries to concentrate on the larger task of providing online CJK script access to library catalogues. Although some leading Australian libraries already offer script access to their users, this is not yet a reality for many libraries, particularly public libraries. In this task as well, the CJK Service will provide support.

[CP Tang]

ABOVE: CP Tang, NLA, relaxes after the completion of the dataload.

[karl Lo]

RIGHT: Karl Lo from the University of California at San Diego, developed the logic to allow compound Pinyin words to be converted back to the Wade-Giles system.

Library of Congress recommends following the Australian standard

In August 1996 the Library of Congress initiated consultation with United States libraries on the issue of word division standards for the Pinyin Romanisation scheme. At present there is no single internationally-accepted standard, which results in search failures when library users search databases that contain records derived from different cataloguing agencies. As consumers of cataloguing data created in North America, Australian libraries have a strong interest in seeing a uniform international standard.

The discussion paper drafted by Philip Melzer and issued by the Library of Congress is reproduced in part below. While monitoring the development of the National CJK Service's Pinyin database, the Library of Congress sought information on the standards proposed by the CJK Technical Committee, and was impressed by the standards developed by the Committee. When the CJK Technical Committee members decided upon these standards in 1995, they were concentrating on a straightforward, practical solution, without the thought that their decisions would be proposed for international adoption!

Pinyin Romanisation: LC word division recommendation

New developments in technology and computer programming have prompted the Library of Congress to again consider converting from Wade-Giles Romanization of Chinese to the Pinyin system. The Library has begun discussing options for conversion with the major utilities and the library community.

In 1990, the Library of Congress indicated that it wished to explore, with OCLC and RLG, the possibilities of machine conversion of existing MARC records to Pinyin. It was recognised then that a preliminary step in preparing for conversion would involve discussion and agreement on a standard for word division...

The National Library of Australia (NLA) has sought to maintain consistency in applying syllable aggregation practice as it converts its files from Wade-Giles to Pinyin. NLA Pinyin word division guidelines are embodied in two of its CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) Technical Committee resolutions, which read as follows:

That, where a cataloguer inputs Pinyin data into the National CJK System, each Chinese character should be input as one Pinyin syllable, except for proper and geographic names, where the syllables should be joined.

That ... in the Pinyin database:

  • where the preferred form in LCNA is a pure Wade-Giles form, the preferred form in the Pinyin database should be that Wade-Giles form converted into Pinyin
  • where the preferred form in LCNA is an 'established' form i.e. not a pure Wade-Giles form, for instance Chang Kai-Shek and Confucius, the preferred form in the Wade-Giles database should be that 'established' form...

The Library of Congress proposes following the practice that has been adopted by the National Library of Australia. We believe that this approach would offer a number of distinct advantages:

  1. It is familiar. It offers the least possible change from our present practice, and therefore would be easy to learn and apply.
  2. It is straightforward. It eliminates the use of the hyphen entirely. The guidelines for its application can be written in a few words, making it easy to communicate and put into practice.
  3. As NLA converts its database from Wade-Giles to Pinyin, it is also converting hundreds of thousands of American MARC records. By adopting the same system of word division, libraries and major utilities in this country, could conveniently utilise Library of Congress bibliographic records just as they have been converted by NLA, without having to take the further step of accommodating different word division practices.
  4. Separating most syllables would make it possible for records to be changed to suit other institutional needs (i.e. it would allow for future syllable aggregation or connection).
  5. It does not seem to present a conflict with an established Chinese or European policy or practice (because practices vary so greatly).

For all of the above reasons, we believe that this would be the most economical approach for the Library of Congress, the major utilities, and individual libraries. Furthermore it would be easy for users to learn and apply.

National Library of Korea agrees to data exchange

In early September the National Library of Australia wrote to the National Library of Korea, Seoul, proposing an exchange of MARC records. Mr Choon-seop Kim, Chief of the National Library of Korea's Planning and Cooperation Division, has now replied to this proposal.

The two libraries have agreed to explore the exchange further, supplying samples of KORMARC and AMDS (Australian MARC Distribution Service) data to each other. Over half-a-million KORMARC records exist.

If the exchange comes to fruition as hoped, it will be several months before any KORMARC data appears on the National CJK System, and some interesting standards issues will need to be faced-KORMARC records contain no Romanisation and do not use LCSH. Nevertheless, the resulting increase in the hit-rate for CJK member libraries with Korean collections, and Korean researchers generally, would be a great benefit. The National Library will enthusiastically pursue the exchange and will keep readers of WORLD 1 Connections informed.

CJK Service -new members

The CJK Service welcomes the six new member libraries that have joined since July. This brings the total number of member libraries to 16. The first 'Search and Holdings' level member-La Trobe University-signed in September and was joined by the University of Adelaide in October.

Full member libraries of the National CJK Service

New CJK Service manager

Linda Groom has left the CJK Service to take up a position in the National Library's Web server team. Margarita Moreno, who is well known to ABN libraries through her work on the ABN Help Desk and as manager of Training and Documentation, is acting as the CJK Service manager until recruitment action is completed.

[Margarita Moreno]

Margarita (pictured) started work in the CJK position on 28 October.

Through the gate to CJK

ABN customers are now able to access the National CJK System and explore bibliographic records and their holdings through the National Library's Internet gateway. From the main NLA gateway just select CJK to arrive directly at the CJK System, where you simply follow the screen instructions to search.

The records you will see are in Romanised script. You need to be a subscriber to CJK to see the records in the original script.

Customers who do not use the Library's Internet gateway because they have their own telnet access to ABN will still need to have a gateway logon to access CJK. For this you can contact the Help Desk, tel.: 1 800 026 155; fax 06 273 1180; email networks@nla.gov.au.

There are no search charges for accessing CJK. Users will pay only 16 cents a minute connect time.

Unfortunately, we are not able to recommend access to CJK to our dialup users because of severe keyboard mapping problems.

ABN Wade-Giles, Pinyin updating

- by Margarita Moreno, CJK Service manager

At the Annual Users Meeting, the National Library was asked how it would keep both the Wade-Giles and Pinyin databases up to date. Here is the answer.

Maintaining parallel databases for Wade-Giles Romanisation and Pinyin Romanisation is a time consuming task. Ensuring that the data is available on both databases means viewing the same records back and forth several times as member libraries add their locations to the national system. The process is quite simple: we create a file of records updated in a given period, convert them from one Romanisation scheme to the other, review the tentative conversion errors (this is one of the time consuming parts) and load the data to the appropriate database. At this stage minor differences in the bibliographic record can result in duplicate entries on the databases. These need to be removed, preferably once a week.

This is the theory! In practice, we have had a few minor teething problems with the process. The first occurs when creating the list of records. How we select the data for cross updating can affect the down loading process for our members, so we are still trialing our selection methods. The second problem arises in duplicate removal where one of the tags used by some libraries for matching isn't transferring to the new record. Innovative Interfaces has been set to work on this. The third problem relates to local system numbers; however his has been resolved by asking member libraries to repeat their local system number in the call number field.

Despite the issues outlined above, we extracted data on 8 December and cross updated the two databases, and we expect to be able to begin cross updating on a regular basis later in January.

Last year, the National Library was asked by the Network Committee to investigate the possibility of updating ABN with the national CJK data, especially the holdings information. The main reason for this was to provide information for libraries which may wish to use the ABN interlibrary loans system to seek CJK materials.

The NBD section investigated the feasibility of extracting CJK data and loading it to ABN and discovered that those CJK members receiving ABN bibliographic change tapes would get another copy of the CJK records (without the CJK characters, as ABN doesn't store these) which would overwrite the earlier, more complete, records in their system. While technically we are ready to implement this service, we now have new issues to resolve after consultation with our users!

ROAR on to Ozline

The Australian Road Research Project's (ROAR) database is now available on Ozline. So that users can familiarize themselves with the database, all searching of ROAR will be free during December 1996 and January 1997. ROAR complements the coverage of roads and road transport currently provided on Ozline by the ROAD database.

ROAR is a directory and a record of current and completed research projects on road-related topics undertaken in Australia and New Zealand. The database covers subjects such as road safety, the environment, pavements, transport efficiency and other road-related projects. It is compiled at ARRB Transport Research Ltd in Melbourne from information provided annually by federal and State road and traffic authorities and from surveys, trials and tests of other organisations. The database covers the period from 1992 onwards and is updated every six months. By March 1996 the database contained 2,063 records.

Each ROAR record includes:

Some records also include details of publications issued as a result of the research.

A ROAR database fact sheet will shortly be sent to all Ozline users.

Annual Users Meeting 1996

The largest ever WORLD 1 / ABN Annual Users Meeting was held in Canberra last month. More than 270 delegates attended the meeting which was held at the National Convention Centre on 14 and 15 November.

Once again, the meeting was chaired by Helen Livingston, who contributed her usual expertise and enthusiasm.

[Andy McDonald]

ABOVE: Andy Macdonald, the chief government information officer, was guest speaker at lunch on the first day of the meeting.

The program began with an informative session on interlibrary loan and document supply issues presented by Warwick Cathro, Assistant Director-General National Library, Kerry Blinco, project manager for the Joint Electronic Document Delivery Software (JEDDS) Project, and Judith Greenaway, project manager for the Coordinated Interlibrary Loan Administration (CILLA) system project.

Warwick Cathro began his presentation by explaining that the NLA was making a strategic shift in direction for its document supply activities. This involved a move away from traditional service delivery, toward collaborative projects such JEDDS and CILLA.

The JEDDS presentation outlined moves to enhance the Ariel software, to enable the email transmission of documents over the Internet. Kerry Blinco explained that the project is a joint venture, led by the Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee, between the national libraries of Australia and New Zealand and the United Kingdom's Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC). The Research Libraries Group in the United States has been commissioned by the group to enhance the Ariel software.

The first phase of the development is almost complete and testing has proved successful. The project is now looking forward to implementing pilot software in a number of Australian libraries.

[John Myrtle]

RIGHT: John Myrtle from the Australian Institute of Criminology Library at the users forum

Judith Greenaway's CILLA presentation provided an interesting insight into that project which at this stage is conducting a feasibility study into the production of a local document request management system. The project is funded by a grant from the Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee, with additional funds from the Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services (ACLIS).

The meeting also heard reports about the ABN and Ozline services and the National CJK Service.

An informative session was held by NDIS Business Architect, Judith Pearce, and NDIS team member, Lesley Bezear, on the Z39.50 communications protocol. They explained the what, why and how of the protocol which many people have heard about but not all have understood in detail. Lesley Bezear also reported on her recent visit to the international Z39.50 Implementors Group meeting in Brussels where she presented a proposal to enhance the Z39.50 protocol so that it would support cataloguing activities over the Internet.

The social event of the AUM was a cocktail party to celebrate the official opening of the National Portrait Gallery's latest exhibition, 'Decade of Flair: The Seventies'. Ita Buttrose opened the exhibition which was curated by another 1970s celebrity, Richard Walsh. Both seemed please to sign autographs for many of the 130 delegates who attended the function.

Final Network Committee meeting for 1996

The ABN Network Committee held its final meeting for the year on 13 and 15 November 1996, either side of the Annual Users Meeting.

The Network Committee met to consider issues relating to all National Library Services, including WORLD 1, ABN and Ozline and it discussed a number of recommendations from the AUM (outlined in full in the Users Meeting report).

Reports

The Network Committee was given an update on the National CJK Service. Membership of the service, which enables the online input, viewing, editing and searching of Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters, has increased to 16 full service members and two search & holdings members. ABN users now have access to the service for a nominal gateway fee.

The WORLD 1/ABN promotion plan was presented to the committee and was endorsed. The plan reviewed promotional activities during the past year, described strategies which will be followed in marketing ABN, Ozline and UnCover, and provided a detailed schedule of promotional activities for the year ahead.

Reports were also received from the ABN and Ozline Services Branch and the NDIS Project.

Warwick Cathro reported on JEDDS. JEDDS is the Joint Electronic Document Delivery Software Project, led by the Australian Vice Chancellors Committee, which is enhancing the Ariel software. The Network Committee was told that phase 1 testing has been completed and that the development partners-the national libraries of Australia and New Zealand, the AVCC and the United Kingdom's Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)-have accepted the software.

The first training for the phase 1 service, which supports the transmission of articles via email between member libraries, took place in Canberra during November.

MARC records with books

In response to a rising interest in the outsourcing of cataloguing, the committee discussed a proposal to trial a 'MARC records with books service'. At this stage the National Library is investigating how it can cooperate with book suppliers to provide MARC records with books, with the records being supplied by ABN and the purchasing libraries holdings being added to the National Bibliographic Database. The Network Committee endorsed this recommendation.

Annual User Meetings

In response to a request from the AUM that Darwin be reviewed as the venue for the 1997 Annual User Meeting, the Network Committee proposed that future meetings be held in Canberra until the WORLD 1 executive board is functioning and decides otherwise.

The Network Committee meeting papers will be available early in the new year on the NLA server.

Governance

A number of issues about the governance of WORLD 1 were discussed at the meeting.

In light of the recent announce-ment about the cessation of the NDIS Project in its current form, these issues will need to be re-examined at a later date.

Where to find the marketing team in 1997

After 12 busy months, members of the WORLD1 / ABN marketing team unpacked their suitcases and took a welcome break over the holiday period. However, now they're back and looking forward to a new year promoting the National Library's network services

The first promotion in 1997 is the trade exhibition held in conjunction with the major Information Online & On Disc 97 Conference in Sydney. You are warmly invited to visit the National Library at stands 5 & 6, Banquet Hall, Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour.

The exhibition will be open during the following hours:

Tues. 21 January, 10:00am-6:00pm
Wed. 22 January, 10:00am-6:00pm
Thurs. 23 January, 10:00am-4:00pm

If would like to visit the trade exhibition but are not attending the conference, the marketing team has a limited number of free trade exhibition passes. If you're interested, please contact them on fax: (02) 6273 1180 or email market@nla.gov.au.

Marketing staff also look forward to meeting you at:

Public Libraries and Reference and Information Services Conference, Brisbane, 10-12 November.

Z39.50 Implementors Group meeting, Brussels

The Z39.50 Implementors Group meeting in Brussels, 1-4 October, was attended by approximately 100 people from a variety of institutions interested in information retrieval. Representation was from the United States/Canada, Europe, and Australia.

All delegates had the common purpose of implementing the Z39.50 standard. There was a range of presentations on specific implementations and profiles, and extensive discussion of technical issues. The main concerns of the meeting were progress on implementation of Z39.50, particularly version 3 implement-ations; interoperability issues and testing; profiles for specific types of implementation; and the future evolution of the standard.

Lesley Bezear from the National Library of Australia was the NDIS Project's representative. Her objectives for attending the meeting were twofold:

Lesley was supported in her presentation by Jan Gatenby, a representative of Stowe and a member of IT/19.

The catalog-uing profile was well received and generated some valuable discussion and suggestions for improvements which should ensure its wide applicability. There was general interest in the profile from a number of institutions and in particular a willingness to cooperate in its further development and refinement and, subsequently, implementation.

Options considered were:

[Jan Gatenby & Lesley Bezear]

Jan Gatenby (left) and Lezley Bezear

Over the next few months there will be further online discussion (via list) of issues relating to the cataloguing profile presented at the Z39.50 Implementors Group workshop. Based on the outcomes of the discussions, the profile will be amended progressively and a final version will be presented to the next ZIG meeting for formal approval.

Further information about the meeting and about Z39.50 are available on the Z39.50 Maintenance Agency Web page at: http://lcweb.loc.gov/z3950/agency. The profile is available on the National Library of Australia's information server at: http://www.nla.gov.au/2/NDIS/devproject.html and can also be accessed via the Z39.50 Maintenance Agency page.

Access to ABN using TCP 3270

It is strongly recommended that everyone accessing ABN via the Internet use a Tn3270 software product. ABN uses 3270 architecture and Tn3270 products provide 3270 emulation for Internet access. This means that Tn3270 software enables ABN users to send and receive a screen of information at a time. If you do not use Tn3270 software, information is sent one character at a time and this will slow your system response time considerably.

There are several Tn3270 products available, however National Library Communications staff are impressed by TCP3270, developed by McGill University in Canada. This product has the ability to support the ALA character set, which means that it will display real diacritics on the screen instead of asterisks. TCP3270 also has very good online help as part of the package and it is straightforward to install.

The National Library's data communications staff have tested and customised TCP3270 version 3.14 for Windows. Using this, customers connecting to ABN through the Internet are able to capture a complete session for editing at a later time. TCP3270 can also be used for capturing files of ABN ILL system requests and can be used with CASPAR, (a program available from the ABN Help Desk, which will sort and also print out files of requests).

The customised version of TCP3270 is fully supported by National Library data communications staff.

PC Requirements for TCP3270

Where to get your copy of TCP3270

The National Library is distributing the customised version of TCP3270 version 3.14 for Windows on disk. The cost is $95.

You may fax or email your order to the ABN/Ozline Help Desk. Please quote your customer so that the purchase can be charged to your monthly ABN account. Fax:(02) 62731180, email: networks@nla.gov.au.

CILLA explained

What is CILLA?

CILLA is the Coordinated InterLibrary Loan Administration Project. The aim of CILLA is to arrive at a local interlending and document request management system which will enable libraries to more efficiently handle their interlending and document delivery operations.

[Judith
 Greenaway & Susan Carey]

Judith Greenaway (left) with Susan Carey from ACLIS

Such a system would be based on international standards to allow interoperability with other systems-local, regional, national and international-and would allow for different operations to be customised to suit different environments in individual institutions.

The CILLA feasibility study

A feasibility study is being funded by a grant from the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) National Priority (Reserve) Fund, Improved Information Infrastructure Program 2(a), with additional funds from the Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services (ACLIS) and with administrative support provided by Cooperative Action by Victorian Academic Libraries (CAVAL) Ltd.

The specific objectives of the feasibility study are:

Likely options will be:

The feasibility study will conclude with a report, due in February 1997.

CILLA and NDIS

Because of the general nature and strong history of cooperation in the Australian library community, the academic libraries among which the project originated considered it imperative that a study of this kind be undertaken in close association with other major developments already underway in this country, specifically the successor to the NDIS Project and the JEDDS Project (see article in WORLD 1 Connections, no. 4, July/August 1996).

Expertise from JEDDS and CILLA is being shared, for instance, about the ILL protocol and Z39.50 Item Order standards and about interlending and document delivery workflows. Most importantly, the NDIS successor, CILLA and JEDDS projects will cooperate to ensure that the three systems-the first as a national ILL utility, CILLA as a local management system and JEDDS as a document transmission system-will inter-operate with and complement each other, for the benefit of Australian libraries and their users.

Further information about the CILLA project is on the Web at http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/docdel/cilla.htm Inquiries should be directed to Judith Greenaway, CILLA Project Manager, tel.: +613.9459.2722, fax: +613.9459.2733, or email: judgreen@lib.monash.edu.au.

ABN and shelf-ready books

Many libraries are considering the options for outsourcing cataloguing operations, and library suppliers are preparing to meet libraries' needs. One option is to supply 'MARC records with books', where the MARC record is delivered to the library's system before the book arrives in the library. Another option is to provide 'shelf-ready books', where the book arrives fully processed and ready for the shelf.

Whichever service Australian libraries choose to use, ABN is keen to continue to attract library holdings to the National Bibliographic Database. This is essential to support the interlibrary loan and document supply system in Australia. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of purchasing MARC records from ABN compares favourably with similar overseas services.

Some library suppliers already offer MARC records with books, and others are investigating the market. The National Library has begun working with interested suppliers to develop these services from ABN. ABN's preferred model is for the supplier to notify ABN of any titles which have been ordered or supplied to a given library. ABN will match the titles with the NBD, add a holdings statement (such as 'on order' or 'held') and trigger the supply of the MARC record direct to the purchasing library. The library will pay ABN for the MARC record in the usual way. The credits for the online contribution of holdings will not apply, but the libraries will achieve a saving in online searching costs.

Some people will remember that Baker & Taylor developed such a service with ABN in 1994, using the purchasing library's ABN password to automatically report the holdings to ABN online. However, the new model being discussed with library suppliers will report holdings to ABN using a batch system, and does not involve online access to the purchasing library's ABN account.

The first step in developing the new service will be to reach agreement on what standards are to be used for the library suppliers to transmit library holdings to ABN. The possible formats include a MARC-style record, or the BISAC standard which is used by the book trade. Some system changes may also be required to load the holdings to ABN and to trigger the down loading of MARC records to local systems. Although the service will be automated as far as possible, some human intervention will inevitably be required, especially in matching holdings with MARC records and in dealing with non matches. This work, previously performed by staff in the purchasing library, will probably be taken up by ABN. In the first instance, the emphasis will be on implementing a technically feasible service. Once the service has been trialled, and operational costs can be measured, the question of charges will be addressed.

ABN has discussed this model with three library suppliers, and the Network Committee has encouraged ABN staff to continue to speak with a wide range of companies about testing such a service.

The trial will identify further issues which need to be addressed. At this stage the following issues have already been identified:

Library suppliers wishing to work with ABN in delivering MARC records with books should contact Julia Trainor on 1 800 026 155 or jtrainor@nla.gov.au.

Copyright Agency digital copying licences

The National Library has made presentations about WORLD 1 at a series of seminars conducted around Australia by the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL). The purpose of the seminars has been to familiarise publishers and authors with the various voluntary licences, including New Media licences, being offered by CAL.

It is to the advantage of both the library and CAL members if as many copyright owners as possible provide CAL with authority to administer digital copying of works.

There have been author and/or publisher representatives on the program at each seminar, in addition to CAL and National Library speakers. At a number of the seminars, Jeff Leeuwenburg from SilverStream Pty Ltd has spoken about the Definite Article project, which uses APAIS images. Authors making presentations have included Dale Spender (Brisbane), Lynne Spender (Sydney), Judith Rodriguez (Melbourne) and Elizabeth Mansutti (Adelaide).

In each case, the strong message from all speakers has been for copyright owners to register with CAL-that digital copying of works is happening now, much of it unknown to the copyright owners. It is only with cooperation between agencies wishing to use copies and copyright owners who agree to participate in CAL's licences, that owners will receive a royalty for use of their works. It was pointed out at the seminars that this year CAL has distributed over $12 million to copyright owners, for photocopying of their works.

Readers wishing to find out more about the New Media licences, which allow for the copying of works into digital media, or about CAL's operations generally, should contact the Copyright Agency Ltd. - Tel.: 02 9394 7600, fax:02 9394 7601, email: info@copyright.com.au URL: http://www.copyright.com.au.

Internet performance

The performance of services that operate over the Internet has become an increasingly popular topic for discussion. Questions have arisen about the speed of services and the availability of support, so it is important that customers understand the variables that can affect Internet performance and how these can be managed.

Firstly, however, it is useful to dispel doubts about the viability of the Internet as a means of delivering ABN services today and WORLD 1 services in the future. For some long- term customers operating on leased lines, Internet access to ABN may appear to be a recent development. This is not the case, however, as ABN has been accessible via the Internet since August 1991. During this time the volume of ABN traffic over the Internet link has grown substantially and now accounts for 61% of all networked traffic.

Variables in Internet performance

The variables effecting performance over the Internet include the ABN service itself, the backbone networks provided by Internet service providers (ISPs), customers' links to the Internet and customers' internal networks. It is in the latter three areas that most problems arise so an awareness of the issues is useful for developing strategies to minimise their occurrence and for dealing with them when they occur.

The ABN service

Availability and response times are the two key issues when perform-ance problems are raised, and it is pleasing to note that, by all statistical measures, ABN has a very good record in areas under its direct control. For example, availability of the ABN and Ozline services was 100% in August and 99.99% in September and during this period an average of 85% of all ABN transactions each day were processed by the mainframe in less than one second. Availability and perform-ance for other components of the network which ABN manages, such as the Internet gateways, the Internet link and the SNA network, were also exceptionally good during this period.

The Internet service provider (ISP)

ISPs in most cases have their own network, sometimes referred to as the backbone network, which provides the means by which all their customers can communicate with each other. As the Internet is a network of networks, the ISP network will also include links to other ISP networks to allow customers to communicate with the rest of the world. For example Telstra Internet has links to the USA and Access One has links to Telstra Internet and also links to the USA.

ISPs are responsible for ensuring performance and availability of their backbone network and of the links to other ISP networks. As ISPs operate in a very competitive environment there are strong incentives for them to endeavour to ensure optimum availability and performance levels.

The customer's links and networks

Experience over the last five years, indicates that the major cause of performance problems is in the customer's own link to the Internet. Managing the organisation's link must be recognised as a key activity by all organisations. As key stakeholders, library managers should ensure that they can influence how the link is managed. This may be achieved by developing contacts with their organisation's network manager and network support staff. Another way is to request access to link utilisation information which should be readily available if the link is being managed effectively.

Customer support

A major issue for customers when confronted with Internet perform-ance problems is what to do about it? Whose fault is it? Where can it be solved?

With the SNA leased line and Austpac networks this was easy: it was ABN's responsibility. As support of the Internet is more complex and not directly under ABN's control, customers will have to rely more on their own network support staff and their ISP for answers.

However, as the success of ABN and WORLD 1 depend on good network performance, ABN and WORLD 1 network support staff will still be available as backup. Once the cause of the problem has been located, ABN staff will be able to work with the ISP or the customer's local network support staff to reach a solution.

ABN customers and people planning to access WORLD 1 are encouraged to migrate to Internet access as early as possible. This will allow more time to become familiar with the access method and resolve any initial problems. Internet access is proving to be an increasingly attractive option with many ISPs offering very good service levels at affordable prices. There are also benefits in migrating to Internet access early including the excellent MARC*LINK service for downline loading Marc records from ABN.

For further information, please contact Chris Ballantyne, Communications Manager, National Library of Australia. Tel: (02) 6262 1549, email: cballant@nla.gov.au.

Reading the Technical Future

[Andrew Wells]





Andrew Wells Director, NLA Technical Services



The ALIA Conference held in Melbourne from 6 to 11 October took 'Reading the Future' as its theme. Technical services librarians attending the conference will have found many opportunities to read the future of the operations they manage.





The business of technical services involves selecting, acquiring and organising information sources. A large number of systems vendors and library suppliers exhibited new and efficient ways of performing these functions. Electronic data interchange (EDI) is transforming the ways libraries and suppliers communicate information relating to prices, orders, invoices and missing issues. Z39.50 cataloguing clients (see last issue) are becoming a common feature of library systems. The key feature of these systems is integration of different types of data: catalogue records, full text files, images and remote databases are made accessible to users in increasingly seamless and intuitive ways.

Most libraries are working out how to integrate print and electronic information, and decide on the types of print materials which will be replaced by electronic collections or electronic document delivery. What would libraries choose to do if the constraints of the past were lifted? Min-min Chang from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology described how a new university library decided to provide the majority of its information in electronic form. For existing libraries, there are no easy answers in solving what combination of print and electronic formats, collections, and document delivery methods should be adopted. This part of the future is hard to read.

The challenge of managing electronic information sources was a constant theme. In the opening plenary session, the Director-General of the National Library, Warren Horton, reminded us of the continuity of librarianship's role to organise, codify and ensure long term access to information sources. The networked electronic environment is providing a set of new problems, but the goals of acquiring and organising information remain. These issues have been outlined in a position paper recently issued by the National Library, National Strategy for Access to Australian Electronic Publications (http://www.nla.gov.au/policy/paep.html). In his presentation, Geoff Payne pointed out that the sheer quantity of electronic information requires better means of access than are currently provided by search engines. Data which assists in the organisation of this information are now commonly referred to as 'metadata'. During its existence, the NDIS Project achieved considerable progress in managing information through adoption of metadata standards. Access difficulties were also addressed by Geoff Huston, who regarded navigating the content of the Internet as a key issue for finding and reading what is produced in the future.

The conference theme was also taken up in a pre-conference seminar organised by the ALIA Acquisitions Group, titled 'Accessing Information 2001-the Role of Acquisition Librarians in the New Millenium'. Jerelynn Brown described the State Library of New South Wales initiative to provide public library access to full text databases using ERL technology. Christine Maher described the CAUL datasets trials. These projects illustrated the close connections developing between collection development and document delivery services. Again, library functions are integrating to enhance service delivery to users.

This seminar asked participants to forecast technical services in 2001. Many libraries saw an increasing use of outsourcing of technical services operations. The option to outsource also featured in the trade exhibit. The development of shelf-ready books and consolidation services from serial suppliers will change the ways in which technical services depart-ments operate. Common to all readings of the future for technical services were improved service delivery through the use of information technology. However, that chaotic creation of information technology, the Internet, means a new publishing medium. Selecting, acquiring and organising information sources on the Internet will keep technical services librarians occupied for some time.

ABN Standards Committee report

The ABN Standards Committee met at the National Library on 17 & 18 September, with Philip Keane as chairperson. Ann Huthwaite was elected deputy chair. There were plenty of practical cataloguing matters on the agenda.

Australian subject access

To ensure that there is a good number of Australian subject headings for implementation in WORLD 1, the committee agreed to fast track the integration of ALIA's

List of Australian Subject Headings (LASH) into the Library of Congress subject headings on ABN. The National Library's NBD staff will check the LASH headings, consult the Subject Headings Review Panel, and implement the headings in ABN. Australian headings which conflict with existing LCSH headings will be reserved for implementation in WORLD 1.

The former Technilib practice, of translating Library of Congress subject headings into the language of the item being catalogued, is being continued by CAVAL. The practice has attracted interest among New South Wales public library cataloguers. The committee supported the compilation of translations of LC subject headings into community languages as part of cataloguing activities in New South Wales and Victoria.

The committee endorsed plenty of new Australian headings. A highlight was the heading Native title, which is modelled on the form used in the Aboriginal thesaurus, and was adopted instead of the LC form Native title (Australia). Other topical headings include: Stock horses, Road trains, Australian of the Year, Allan Border's Cricket (Game), and Wetsuits.

Non-print serials

The implementation of USMARC format integration in national agency cataloguing is under way. The Library or Congress has announced that it will catalogue primarily in terms of the physical format of the item, so that non-print serials will not be catalogued in the serials format. The Standards Committee resolved to consult Australian libraries about the implications of following LC practice for the cataloguing of non-book serials in ABN. The adoption of LC practice may prevent the display of serial holdings which are linked to non-book records. However, the number of affected records will be small, and non-book serials would not usually be available for interlibrary loan.

Internet resources

When a printed serial is also available on the Internet, separate records are created for each version of the serial. A new idea, where the record for the printed version includes a reference to the URL of the Internet version, is being trialled by the National Library of Australia and by CONSER in the USA. The Standards Committee recommended that ABN accept this practice as an optional interim standard, in order to provide cost effective practical access to the electronic versions of printed material. Separate records for each version of a serial may also be created.

TV programs

Individual episodes of TV programs are catalogued under their own titles, but the cataloguing record also refers to the series of which the episode is a part. ABN cataloguers have tended to refer to the series in a series statement, while LC and BNB cataloguers mention the series in a uniform title. The inconsistency makes it difficult for users to search for TV programs in online catalogues. While the Standards Committee acknowledged the practicality of using the series statement to identify the TV series, it recommended that ABN follow the same practice as the Library of Congress and the British Library, to ensure consistency of access in the future.

Dewey

The 21st edition of Dewey is now available. Cataloguers are acquiring the new edition and becoming familiar with it. The ABN standard for high level cataloguing requires the use of the latest edition, and ABN cataloguers will be required to use the 21st edition of Dewey for high level records created after 1 July 1997.

The resolutions of the meeting will be distributed to full service users with the Summary of Changes to Manuals. The papers of the meeting are available on the Internet at http://www.nla.gov.au/2/abn/committees/abnsc40.html.

Payment of invoices

The National Library Accounting Policy and Services Section would like to hear from any customers who have the facility to pay their ABN/Ozline invoices via electronic funds transfer. The only requirement is a timely faxed remittance advice with details of the account number, invoice number and the amount.

Please mail the information to:

Kim Collins
Accounting Policy and Services Section
National Library of Australia
Parkes Place
CANBERRA ACT 2600

or, preferably, fax (02) 6273 4980.

If you have any queries Kim would be happy to discuss them with you. She can be reached on tel.: (02) 6262 1399

Errata

The list of members of the NBD Standards and Authority Data and Cataloguing Expert Advisory Group featured in 'Keeping up the standards' (WORLD 1 Connections no. 4) needs revision.

Philip Keane, as the new Chair of the Standards Committee is a member of the group, as is Julia Trainor from the NLA. Graham Blewett is on the staff of the Hurstville Library (not ILANET) and Leonie Bourke has her own company, Access.

The caption of the Network Committee photograph on page 2 of the same issue failed to note the presence of Geoff Payne (far right); and Margaret Cabrera is in fact Maria Cabrera.

Apologies to all concerned.

Email document delivery one step closer

The National Library was the venue for an international training course last month. Cindi Carlson, from the Research Libraries Group in the US, conducted the course for nominated representatives of JEDDS partner organisations over a three day period, from 12-14 November. JEDDS is a joint project to develop the electronic document delivery software product known as Ariel.

The course covered administrative, help desk and technical aspects of the JEDDS Project and Ariel software operation. Kerry Blinco of the Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee was its organiser and she also assisted with some sessions.

[Group Photo]

BACK ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): Ruth Wilson, Deanna Marbeck, Craige Hicks, Anna Booth, Robert Tassoni. Middle row: Tony Boyd, Marion Newman, Karen Reece, Cindi Carson (course leader), Ian Stewart. Front row: Martin Moyle, Simon Jacob

Those trained were: Karen Reece (University of Salford, UK), Martin Moyle (University College, London), Ian Stuart (University of Lancaster), Deanna Marbeck and Johan Hofmann (National Library of New Zealand), Craige Hicks (Deakin University), Ruth Wilson, Marion Newman, Anna Booth, Tony Boyd, Robert Tassoni, and Simon Jacob (all from the National Library of Australia).

The Ariel software developed in the JEDDS Project will be licensed to Australian users by the AV-CC (for universities) and by the National Library (for other ABN users).

While some universities may implement JEDDS this year, it will be generally available to other ABN users after its launch at the Online/Ondisc conference in January 1997.

More information about JEDDS can be found in the July/August issue of WORLD 1 Connections. The issue is also available online and the exact address of the article is http://www.nla.gov.au/2/pubs/world1/4/4.html#jedds. You may also visit the JEDDS home page at http://www.gu.edu.au/alib/iii/docdel/jeddshom.htm.

Ftp file of recent Australian publications

Users will by now be aware that publication of the Australian National Bibliography will cease with the December 1996 issue. The National Bibliographic Publications Branch, which has been responsible for the production of ANB since 1993, has been exploring options to provide alternative services to those institutions which currently rely on ANB for selection.

To this end, the National Library has now mounted the first ftp files of recent Australian publications on its server. The files comprise ANB-type records which are selected using the same Supersearch strategies previously used to select records for ANB. Two files will be mounted each month and files will be left on the server for three months.

The files may be accessed at this address:

ftp://ftp.nla.gov.au/pub/anb .

ANB worked on a three-month turnaround so that December ANB contains records which went on to ABN during September. We have therefore begun our ftp files with records which went on to ABN during October. As we are trying to provide an ANB-type product, we have included only formats which were selected for ANB-i.e. monographs, serials, music, microforms, kits and computer files. Records will be included for items published in the current or preceding year or items still to be published (CIP records). No editing has been done and no corrections have been made to records.

The main file each month will be an ASCII text file of approximately 3,000-3,500 records, in classified order, with subject categorisation banner headings (as used in ANB). This file will be too large to load directly to a floppy disk.

The second file each month will be an ASCII text file of less than 1,000 records, without Dewey numbers, arranged alphabetically by main entry.

The naming procedure for the files will reflect the month and type of file-e.g. octclas.txt for October's classified file and octalph.txt for October's alphabetical file. Next month we will load novclas.txt and novalph.txt. When January's files are loaded, October's files will be deleted so that only three month's files are on the server at any one time. It is likely that the files will be loaded in the second half of each month so that November's files should appear in the second half of December.

Libraries are welcome to ftp the files to their own libraries whenever they wish. There will be no charge for the files. The National Library will not provide notification when the files are loaded, so it is suggested that interested libraries check the server towards the end of each month.

Anyone requiring more information on this service should contact Sandra Henderson, Director National Bibliographic Publications on email (shenders@nla.gov.au), tel.:(02) 6262 1523 or fax: (02) 6273 1180

New Ozline database

ALIP-the Australian Literary Periodicals Database is a listing of periodicals which contain creative writing published in Australia between 1821 and 1975. It includes serials which contain original poetry, short stories, novels, plays and songs as well as literary news and articles, interviews, reviews and lists of books. There are 447 records containing 20 000 names and the database lists the literary contributors to each periodical.

ALIP is a closed file produced by the National Library of Australia. The database may be searched using either the SOFI or STAIRS interface.

New Zealand document supply charges

On 1 October 1996, the National Library of New Zealand started to charge libraries outside New Zealand for the supply of photocopies and loans. This brings New Zealand document supply charging into line with Australian charges.

Australia

The National Library of New Zealand is a member of ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) and participates in the ALIA voucher scheme.

Australian libraries are charged the standard rate of one $A9.00 voucher for a photocopy up to 50 pages, or a loan. $A3.00 is charged for every additional 30 pages of a photocopy. $A27.00 in vouchers is charged for a fast track facsimile.

UK and IFLA member countries

The National Library of New Zealand is a member of the IFLA voucher scheme. Both photocopies and loans incur the charge of one $US8.00 voucher to participating libraries. Details of the scheme and a list of participating libraries are available on the Web site; http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/.

Countries not participating in a voucher scheme

An invoice for $NZ12.00 will be raised with each filled request, whether photocopy or loan, supplied to non-participating libraries.

Other New Zealand libraries

Requests from overseas which cannot be satisfied from the National Library's collections will continue to be sent on to other holding libraries in New Zealand. Any resulting service will be organised and charged for according to the supplying library's policy.

For further information, contact:

International Interloans
Reference and Research Service
National Library of New Zealand
PO Box 3342
WELLINGTON 6001 NZ

NLNZ Home Page: http://www.natlib.govt.nz

email: interloans@natlib.govt.nz
Tel.: 64 4 474 3000, fax: 64 4 474 3070

National Bibliographic Database size November 1996

Bibliographic File 12 319 640
Holdings statements 24 872 489
Authority file 1 452 358
Original cat records 1 906 691
Original Cataloguing 11 709 274

Categories of bib records at 24 November 1996

Total bib records 12 286 870
Interims 537 879
Full bib records 11 748 991
Books (total) 10 072 088
Serials 1 116 844
Nonbooks 1 097 938
Duplicates off (mono) 79 388
Duplicates off (serials) 15 681

MARC Record Tape Loads On 22 November 1996

LC books 1968-30/9/96
LC serials 1973-4/9/96
LC films 1972-7/8//96
LC music 1984-4/9/96
LC maps 1973-4/9/96
LC CJK books 1988-4/9/96
LCCJK serials 1991-4/9/96
TOC 1994-22/7/96
USGPO 1976-30/9/96
USNLM 1984-31/8/96
BNB 1971-26/9/96
Canadiana 1974-4/9/95
NZNB 1982-24/9/96
NZNB orig. cat 1982-25/10/96
Singapore NB 1967-30/9/96
   

Non-book Categories on 24 November 1996

Cartographic materials 249 636
Sound recordings 283 988
Motion pictures & videos 183 536
Music scores 190 586
Filmstrips 25 551
Pictorial materials 39 078
Slides 17 189
Manuscripts 27 645
Kits 7 157
Transparencies 2 838
Charts 1 838
Games 1 647
Other 8 283

Return to World 1 Connections Home Page

Last updated 13 March 1997