This message is forwarded by Larry Cruse.-----------Johnnie ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- ---------------------------- Forwarded with Changes --------------------------- From: Doug Stewart Date: 1/3/94 11:48AM *To: #Bibliographers Council Subject: CRL/INTERNET ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some years ago members bought a national set of Sanborn fire insurance microfilms and stashed them at CRL. They have other map titles as well. Members may find direct bib-access useful since all titles have not been distributed to members in machine-readable form. LC What follows is the long anticipated announcement that CRL's catalog is finally connected to the Internet. -d ----------------------------- Message Contents------------------------------- CRL's online public access catalog (OPAC) is now successfully connected to the Internet. The attached information sheet describes the online catalog, its contents and how to access it. Internet access to CRL's catalog is being accomplished in two phases with this announcing the first phase - access for member library staff and other interested librarians. While the connection is a reality, we are still working on improvements such as a gopher, Z39.50, help screens, and access to non-MARC files used to generate printed bibliographies and lists of cataloged and uncataloged collections. These enhancements require a dedicated UNIX file server, which is presently on order with delivery scheduled in mid-to-late January. They will assist the non-librarian user in effectively accessing CRL's online catalog. Until the CRL server is installed and configured as above, we are temporarily "borrowing" one of the servers at the University of Chicago, whose computing and telecommunications staff have been most generous in their assistance to this project. The temporary use of one of Chicago's servers is the reason why CRL's domain address is presently uchicago.edu instead of crl.edu, which is our permanent domain address on the Internet. Having our own server will also allow CRL staff to use the crl.edu domain for e-mail as well. The second phase - access for faculty and others - will be broadly announced once we have completed the transition to CRL's own server. In the meantime, limiting access to library staff allows us to gauge the demand in relation to the number and availability of access ports to the OPAC. Our goal is to have an optimal number of external ports to meet the needs of both librarians and faculty. As you and your colleagues access CRL's OPAC, I hope that you will give us feedback on your experiences. This development and the conclusion of the retrospective conversion project complete the third phase of CRL's Bibliographic Access Project begun ten years ago to improve bibliographic access to CRL collections. We have already started the fourth phase - cataloging collections previously left uncataloged. This proceeds simultaneously with the soon-to-be capability to accept requests and deliver products directly via the Internet. CRLCATALOG The Center for Research Libraries' Online Public Access Catalog available through internet What is CRLCATALOG? o It is the online public access catalog (OPAC) of the Center for Research Libraries. The system is Innovative Interfaces, Inc. which has a menu-driven user interface. How can you access CRLCATALOG? o Through a normal Internet connection, telnet to crlcatalog.uchicago.edu (128.135.73.2). o When the login prompt appears, login as guest; at the password prompt, enter guest. A self-explanatory menu then displays. o Select a search strategy as described below. o In most instances, the escape key returns to the main menu. o Disconnect using normal telnet procedures. What does CRLCATALOG include? o Virtually all of the bibliographic and authority records in CRL's card catalog (retrospective conversion projects have added 98% of CRL's catalog records to the machine readable database) o 385,000 records representing titles in CRL's cataloged collections: oo cataloged monographs oo newspapers oo serials oo archival materials in microform oo microform sets and title analytics o CRL's cataloging for holdings that appear in OCLC and RLIN o Acquisitions (order) records for purchase proposals and demand purchases: oo major microform sets oo foreign dissertations oo retrospective newspaper files oo individual reels from microform sets of archival materials that record the activities of national governments (CRL began adding order records in fall 1993) o Serial check-in records for currently-received journal and newspaper titles (CRL began adding check-in records in fall 1993) What holdings information is included in CRLCATALOG? o All bibliographic records include at least summary holding statements and call number information o Issue-specific holdings statements and call number information for all records are systematically being added to the OPAC o Current receipts of serials and newspapers display in the check-in records What materials are not included in CRLCATALOG? o Records for titles in comprehensive collections that are not cataloged by policy: oo foreign dissertations oo college catalogs oo U.S. state documents oo textbooks o Titles in the cataloging queue: oo additional newspaper holdings oo archival materials in microform, especially U.S. National Archives holdings oo monographs published by the Russian Academy of Sciences o Records for some South and Southeast Asian monographs in non-roman languages that have not yet been converted to machine readable format What are the access points to CRL bibliographic records? o Search by these access points: oo Author oo Title or Series Title oo Words in the title or series oo OCLC bibliographic record number oo CRL call number oo ISSN or ISBN oo Subject (CRL's cataloging does not always include subject headings, so keyword searching often is more effective) o Search results can be further limited by these factors: oo Language oo Bibliographic level oo Reproduction type oo Words in the Author oo Words in the Title oo Words in the Subject oo Publisher oo Where item is located oo Place of publication oo Year of publication For information on CRL collections, specific holdings information, or on how to borrow materials, contact: ACCESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH LIBRARIES 6050 SOUTH KENWOOD AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60637-2804 (312) 955-4545 EXT.313 OR 314 Linda Naru Director of Member Services The Center for Research Libraries 6050 South Kenwood Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60637-2804 Voice: 312-955-4545 x318 Fax: 312-955-4339 Internet: [log in to unmask]