USE OF E‐MAIL: A SURVEY OF COPOST USAGE
| Date | 01 March 1987 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040380 |
| Published date | 01 March 1987 |
| Pages | 19-23 |
| Author | Roy Adams |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
USE OF E-MAIL: A SURVEY OF COPOST USAGE, by Roy Adams*
Background to COPOST
COPOST is an electronic mail system based on the Telecom GOLD service
which links the libraries of United Kingom Polytechnics and
Universities. The system was inaugurated in January 1986 following
discussions at the COPOL (Council of Polytechnic Librarians) Information
Technology Group and the organisation's executive. Initially, only
Polytechnic libraries could join. The system grew rapidly to its present
Polytechnic membership of 26 with two others accessing COPOST via the
general Telecom GOLD system.
Users can access the system to send messages to other members, broadcast
to the total group or sub-groups, dispatch e-mail to others on the
Telecom Gold system and some other linked services, including the
American Library Association ALANET network. In addition, the service
allows the sending and receipt of Telex messages via the onwer's
electronic mail box, access to bulletin boards, and electronic
publications, online database access and other services.
During 1986, discussions took place between SCONUL and COPOL on the
formation of a linked system. In January 1987 COPOST became available to
national and university libraries.
The system is run from swo system centres: at Leicester Polytechnic for
COPOL members and from Sussex University for SCONUL. In its daily
operations the system is two colsed user groups which are linked to
enable them to communicate as one. For billing purposes the system is
split,
although both system managers can control it totally. User
institutions may have as many mailboxes as they require. The aim of the
survey was to find out the nature and quantity of system usage.
Method
Users were requested to send a copy of each outgoing message to the
Leicester system centre which analysed the messages in strict privacy.
This was easier for user to carry out than completing a form for each
transaction. Users were able to send copies of messages to the survey by
including on the despatch line of the message CC SURVEY. A special box
with the acronym SURVEY was set up by the system centre.
Other information was gathered on a daily basis from the Telecom Gold
management information system. The features employed were an analysis of
logged on boxes by time periods and an analysis of the longest sessions
online.
Additional information was gathered from the monthly analysis
provided by Telecom Gold to support the invoicing process.
* Roy Adams is Deputy Librarian, Leicester Polytechnic and Systems
Manager, COPOST.
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