CDROM networking in an academic library: the UNISA Library experience
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb045390 |
| Pages | 363-370 |
| Date | 01 April 1995 |
| Published date | 01 April 1995 |
| Author | Dorette Snyman |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Article
CDROM networking
in
an academic
library: the UNISA Library
experience
Dorette Snyman
Subject
Librarian,
UNISA
Library,
PO Box
392,
0001
Pretoria,
South Africa
E-mail:
snymad@alpha.unisa.ac.za
Abstract: A CDROM network using Novell Netware and SCSI Express was
installed at the
UNISA
Library in
1994.
The
investigation,
installation and
implementation of
the
network is
described.
An overview
is
given of the technical
and software problems
experienced,
as well
as
some solutions. After installation a
final report
with
recommendations were
written.
Steps taken to
market
the
network to staff and students in the library and on
campus,
as well as training of
users, are
described.
Finally
the
impact of the network on the services of the
library and future developments planned are
described.
1.
Introduction
The University of South Africa
(UNISA) is a distance teaching uni-
versity whose mission
is
to provide so-
ciety with academically and
professionally educated men and
women who can assist in meeting the
needs and aspirations of the people of
South Africa. Tuition, research and
community service are the main aims
of the university.
In 1994 UNISA's student body
numbered 126 000, with 116 000 un-
dergraduate and 10 000 postgraduate
students. Although most of the stu-
dents are within the borders of South
Africa, the university has 3500 stu-
dents
in the
rest of Africa and 2000 stu-
dents in the rest of the world.
The university has faculties of
Eco-
nomic and Management Sciences,
Arts,
Science, Education, Law and
Theology. These faculties are divided
into 59 teaching departments, as well
as 21 institutes, bureaux and centres
involved in training and research. The
university has 1400 teaching and re-
search staff and 2000 non-teaching
staff members.
Print is the medium of study. Study
guides and tutorial letters form the
main components of a typical study
package for undergraduate and most
honours courses. Students work inde-
pendently and submit assignments
regularly. Postgraduate study up to
doctoral level can be undertaken.
Original research, pure and applied is
encouraged.
The UNISA Library forms a very
important component of study at the
university. Although students are re-
quired to purchase prescribed works,
all the recommended material set out
in tutorial and study guides for com-
pletion of assignments can be bor-
rowed from the library. Study of
rec-
ommended material is usually
sufficient for students to pass assign-
ments and examinations. Additional
material
is
rarely
needed,
although stu-
dents are advised to read widely for a
broader interpretation of subjects.
The information and research re-
quirements of staff and postgraduate
students are met by a team of subject
librarians. Each subject librarian is re-
sponsible for
two or
more departments
or subject areas. Rendering an infor-
mation service to staff and postgradu-
ate students entails searches on request
on their research topics.
The library has a collection of over
1.6 million items, including 9000 cur-
rent periodical
titles.
It has a
fully com-
puterised catalogue
as
well
as
access to
most major overseas and local data-
bases.
All staff members have access
to a computer workstation on their
desks linked to
the
Novell campus net-
work. The four branch libraries in Dur-
ban, Cape Town, East London and
Pietersburg, the study centre in Johan-
nesburg and the science library situ-
ated on the main campus are also
linked to the computer network of the
main campus.
2.
Background
The UNISA Library bought its first
CDROM titles in
1988
when subscrip-
tions were placed for a number of Wil-
son databases such as Business
Periodicals Index, Library Literature,
Social Sciences Index and Education
Index. Other databases subscribed to
in the first two years were: ABI/In-
form, Dissertation Abstracts Interna-
tional, Books in Print, Library of
Congress Subject Headings and ERIC
OnDisc. These CDROM databases
were mainly used by the subject li-
brarians in providing an information
and reference service to academics, re-
searchers and postgraduate students of
the university. These databases were
used on standalone CDROM worksta-
tions located across the seven floors of
the library in the offices of staff mem-
bers.
No students had access to these
workstations and academic staff rarely
did information searches themselves.
As the number of CDROM titles in
the library grew to more than 50 data-
bases in 1990, the need to network
The Electronic Library, Vol. 13, No. 4, August 1995 363
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