REMOTE ACCESS TO OPACS, AND THE USE OF ELECTRONIC MAIL, IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES: DEVELOPMENTS IN THE USE OF THE JOINT ACADEMIC NETWORK (JANET)
| Pages | 28-30 |
| Published date | 01 February 1986 |
| Date | 01 February 1986 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040352 |
| Author | Peter stone |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
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REMOTE ACCESS TO OPACS, AND IHE USE OF ELECTRONIC MAIL, IN UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES:
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE USE OF THE JOINT ACADEMIC NETWORK
(JANET),
by Peter stone*
University libraries and their use of JANET (the Joint Academc
Network) were the subject of a survey in March by Elizabeth Rodger,
Librarian of the University of Sussex', for SCONUL's Advisory Committee
on Automation Policy. Respondents were asked if and how they used the
network both to access other OPACs and to send email. Those who
provide OPACs on JANET were asked for details of access, service
hours,
catalogue coverage, and indexes provided. Replies were
received from all universities in Great Britain bar six.
OPACs and "open catalogues"
OPACs were reported at 29 institutions (treating the member colleges
of London University as but
one).
This total may be overenthusiastic
since some of these services are not truly "public". A further 3 hope
to be operational soon. Of the 29, 15 (6 independents, 9 Geac sites)
are connected via their local area network to JANET. These can
therefore be accessed from anywhere on that network or PSS: the
beginnings of a trend towards 24-hour, networked, public, "open
catalogues"
with online circulation data. Of the remaining OPACs that
are not yet publicly networked, many are members of cooperatives with
well-used but private communications links. Public remote access to
these catalogues should become available as the cooperatives develop
their own stand-alone systems.
For a major library to network its catalogue is of clear benefit to
the community and other libraries within travelling distance. How
much use will develop from being able to access a series of differing
catalogues from rather further afield? A lot, if one is to judge only
by the replies from library schools, the designers of new
OPACs,
and
one academic avoiding delays at BLDSC!
A Directory of University Library Catalogues on JANET is being
distributed to SCONUL members. It gives the JANET address of each
OPAC,
when it is available, its size and coverage, the indexes
provided, etc.: the flavour of each system is shown in a short search
sequence.
Copies (at
£1.00,
including postage, prepaid only) are
available from Peter Stone at the address below.
* Peter Stone is Sub-Librarian at the University of Sussex Library,
Falmer,
Brighton. BN1 9QL (Telecom Gold - 74:LEI066, Janet mail
- LIBRARY on
UK!AC!
SUSSEX.VAX2)
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