ON-LINE LIBRARY CATALOG SYSTEMS
From: RCNVMS::SSC91FAA04 "Jayne" 31-JUL-1991 14:46:11.05
To: @CLASS.DIS
CC: SSC91FAA04,SSC91FAA04
Subj: Jayne M. edited project
ON-LINE LIBRARY CATALOG SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION
This analysis evaluates related telecommunication on-line resources for
accessing bibliographic information on young adult Spanish literature.
The need for such resources is particularly relevant to high school media
centers serving growing Hispanic student populations.
EVALUATION CATEGORIES
Four resource centers were selected: Harvard Universtiy, Boston University,
Tufts University, and the University of California. Each offers
bibliographic services accessible via modem from remote locations. The
services provided by each of the four centers were evaluated on 6
dimensions:
1. Scope
2. Ease of Accessing Information
3. Format of Information
4. Research Aids
5. Books Identified for Topic
6. Overall Rating
In the interest of clarity and understanding each of the dimensions is
defined:
Scope - the number of holdings listed in the on-line catalog for that
library as of July 1991.
Ease of Accessing Information - The efficiency with which a search can
be executed.
Format of Information - The configuration in which the information is
presented.
Research Aids - Tools provided by the programs that aid in finding lower
tier information and accessing related topics and sources of
information.
Books Identified for Topic -The availability of information on the
subjects of interest, i.e., Young Adult Spanish Literature and
Young Adult Spanish American Literature .
Overall Rating - An evaluation denoting weaknesses and strengths.
THE RATINGS
The information centers are evaluated on each of these dimensions. The
ratings are based on the author's experience gained through interacting with
the service and on quantitative data compiled in the course of study.
A summary of the evaluation is presented in Table 1. Each data center is
rated on a scale from 1 to 4 with 1 being the most desirable. Supporting
comments are provided for each rating .
TABLE 1.
RATING BOSTON UNIVERSITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SCOPE 2 1.5 Million Volumes
2.5 Million Microforms
All Libraries Included
EASE OF ACCESS 1 The initial screen informs the user to press
the key marked return for information on how
to use their system TOMUS. The command
screen provides the user with examples of how
to begin a search. It also introduces the use of
abbreviated codes for search commands, and
the use of the word "and" to combine two
terms to narrow a search.
FORMAT 1 Information is presented in neat, orderly
fashion. The words author,title,
publication,location, and call number are
capitlaized at the left margin and the related
information is listed to the right. Tutorial
statements are listed below this information
and most often require the use of the return key
to continue a search.
.
RESEARCH AIDS 1 An adequate collection of research aids include
three display features, modify search commands, help
screen for all commands, find and browse commands,
abbreviated codes for commands and tutorial
statements.
# OF BOOKS 3 Four books identified for topics searched.
IDENTIFIED
OVERALL 1 Easy for novice to use. Excellent
RATING bibliographic records. Time saving
typing commands and tutorial statements that
include the help command in every situation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SCOPE 3 2 Million volumes on-line.
6 Million volumes not listed.
EASE OF ACCESS 4 Initial screens present a great deal of
information that challenge the first time user.
Selecting the database and accessing the
command structure requires the user to
execute more steps than on other systems. The
exit command to log out of the catalog is
presented on the first screen and is not
repeated.
FORMAT 4 Information appears cluttered on the screen.
Command options listed at the bottom of the
screen also appear cluttered. Few tutorial
statements are presented and the user must
enter one of the commands. Most commands
may be abbreviated for ease of accessing the
desired information.
RESEARCH AIDS 2 Long and short display format. Tracing subject
headings using *S feature, keyword
searching, index function and the listing of
other titles by the same author as part of a
display for a retrieved item. ISBN information.
# OF BOOKS 2 Seven books identified for topics searched.
IDENTIFIED
OVERALL 4 Difficult start up procedure. Poor exit
RATING command screen. Limited access to databa.
Excellent bibliographic records.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SCOPE 1 6,320,999 Holdings are on-line.
EASE OF ACCESS 2 Introductory screen lists the databases and a
tutorial statement informs the user on the
steps to take to access the desired database.
The search commands are defined and examples
are given.
FORMAT 2 The bibliographic information is presented as it
would be on a card in the card catalog. It is
easy to read and the user can quickly determine
which campus library has a copy of the
materials and the section in the library where
it is located.
RESEARCH AIDS 3 Three display formats. Browse and select
commands for searching. A variety of
commands to restrict a search or add to a
search, Commands to comment to the MELVYL
system and to change databases. Tutorial
statements follow each search.
# OF BOOKS 1 Fourteen books identified for topics searched.
IDENTIFIED
OVERALL 2 Easy to use for the beginner. Good
RATING documentation of commands. Help commands
available for all procedures. Helpful tutorial
statements to aid the user in researching.
Excellent bibliographic records.
------------------------------------------------------------------
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SCOPE NA Not available.
EASE OF ACCESS 3 Introductory screen presents search commands.
The example for the subject command does not
provide enough information. It does not include
combined terms so the user must experiment to
determine if the system accepts the "and"
command or "hyphen" command. The "keyword"
command does not give an example.
FORMAT 3 Organized format with bibliographic
information identified in the left hand margin.
Tutorial statements and options listed at the
botttom of the screen.
RESEARCH AIDS 4 Keyword search, three display formats,circula-
tion status of material, and request for title
command.
# OF BOOKS 4 No items listed for topics searched.
IDENTIFIED
OVERALL 3 This system despite its poor system command
RATING examples and help commands has two very
useful features for a researcher. The
ability to determine the circulation status of
the material and the ability to request the
material from a remote setting.
EVALUATION OF SERVICES
SCOPE
All services offered on-line access to a very large number of volumes although
the University of California and Harvard University require special permission
to access large sections of their holdings.
EASE OF ACCESSING INFORMATION
All the systems are satisfactory once you get use to them. But for the first
time user, there were significant differences among systems. Among the
best for ease of access of information are Boston University and the
University of California. Following the welcome screen the user is
introduced to the search commands along with the command to find help.
Help is available for each of the commands and the help command provides
information about the procedure for executing a search and procedures to
log out of the catalog. On these two systems, after each search request the
number of items retrieved is indicated followed by an instruction for listing
them on the screen as well as a reminder on how to seek help. It is
possible to get help information at any time in the search.
The Harvard University system does not allow the user access to all the
databases. Some of these databases require a special identification code to
access the information. On the welcome screen of the Harvard system are
the instructions for exiting the data base. This information is not repeated
on the help screen. The help screen does have a quit command but its
function does not exit you from the database. It simply stops the search in
progress and returns the user to the screen where you determine which database
you are going to search.
FORMAT
Each of the systems offers a display option for items retrieved by the search.
The dispalyed information varies but all formats include author, title,
publication date, call number and location(Name of library or section of
library). Some systems include subject headings in this display format but
others require an additional command to access that information. The long or
full display format includes additional information such as tracings/subject
headings, notes, ISBN code, and other titles by author of the book dispalyed.
Harvard offers the most complete cataloging information in the expanded
format of all the systems. The system also allows the user to search the
subject headings by typing Trace *S 1(Number of subject heading) to locate
information related to the original term searched. For example, five *S
codes appear in the following format:
AUTHOR: Dale, Doris Cruger
TITLE: Bilingual books in Spanish and English for Children/Doris
Cruger Dale
PUB: INFO: Littleton, Colo. : Libraries Unlimited, 1985.
DESCRIPTION: ix, 163p.; 25cm
NOTES: Includes indexes
ISBN: 087287477x:
SUBJECTS: *S1 Children's literature, Spanish--Bibliography.
*S2 Children's literature, English--Bibliography.
*S3 Bilingual Books--Bibliography
*S4 Children's Literature, Spanish--Translations into
English--Bibliography
*S5 Children's Literature, English--Translations into
Spanish--Bibliography.
The Boston University and University of California system were easier to use
because of the tutorial statements that appear on the screen upon completion of
a command. After the initial search command, the number of items is identified
and a tutorial command instructs the user on how to list the items or how to
seek help. When the search is not successful a tutorial directs you to check
accuracy of spelling or numbers and instructs you on how to continue with your
search. Once again the help command is given. These tutorial statements
appear on the screen immediately after the listing of retrieved information or
after the terms used in an unsuccessful search. For example in the Boston
University system the following tutorials appear:
Your search: FS SPANISH LITERATURE AND YOUNG ADULT
Items found: 2 at all BOSTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Press RETURN to see them, or type HELP, then press the key marked RETURN.
Your search: FS SPANISH LITERATURE AND YOUNG ADULT
found: 2 items at ALL BOSTON UNIVERSITIY LIBRARIES
Item 1.
AUTHOR Schon, Isabel.
TITLE Books in Spanish for Children and young adults: an
annotated guide. Series IV = Libros infantiles y
juveniles en Espanol: una gula anotada. Serie no. IV /
by Isabel Schon.
PUBLICATION Metuchen, N>J> : Scarecrow Press, 1987.
LOCATION Educational Resources Reference X
CALL NUMBER Z1037.7 .S383 1987
Press RETURN to see the next item, ot type HELP, then press RETURN
The Harvard system uses a different format . Across the bottom of the screen
is a list of option changes which varies depending on the command
performed. The configuration of the options at the bottom of the screen is
difficult to read and requires the user to type in a new command. Note
the options listed at the bottom of the following example:
HU SHORT DISPLAY page 1 of 1 Item 1 of 1 retrieved by your search:
FIND SU YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE SPANISH AMERICAN
-------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHOR: Schon, Isabel.
TITLE:Books in Spanish for children and young adults: an annotated
guide. Series III = Libros infantiles y juveniles en espanl:
una guia anotada. Serie no. III / by Isabel Schon.
PUB. INFO: Metuchen, N>J>: Scarecrow Press 1985.
DESCRIPTION: xi, 208 p.; 23cm.
SUBJECTS: *S1 Children's literature, Spanish--Bibliography
*S2 Children's literature, Spanish American--Bibliography
*S3 Young adult literature, Spanish--Bibliography
*S4 Young adult literature, Sapnish--Bibliography
*S5 Young adult literature, Sapnish American--Bibliography
LOCATION: Gutman Education Ref. Z1037.7.s38 1985
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTIONS: DISPLAY LONG HELP
HELP COMMAND
TRACE *S1 (etc) START-search options QUIT- exit database REDO
COMMAND?
The dispaly format for the University of California system has a unique
feature. Upon completion of a find command, the short as well as the long
display format lists the location of the material in the various libraries
of the campuses that are part of the university system in California.
For example:
Search request: FIND SU SPANISH LITERATURE--YOUNG ADULT
Search result: 7 records at all libraries
Type HELP for other display options.
1. Schon, Isabel.
Books in Spanish for children and young adults: an annotated guide =
Libros infantiles y juveniles en espanol : una guia anotada / by Isabel
Schon, Metuchen, N>J> : Scarecrow Press, 1978.
UCI Main Lib PN1009.S8 S35
UCLA URI Z2694.5 S35
UCSB Library Z2694.5 .S35 Col Tloque Nahuaque
UCSD Central PN 1009 .S8z S36
Press RETURN to see the next screen.
RESEARCH AIDS
The Tufts University system has an oustanding research aid. It provides the
user with the necessary bibliographic information and also indicates if the
book is checked-out. Obtaining the material is the reason for using an on-line
catalog, knowing the book is on the shelf expedites the process of locating the
information. A host of other research aids are shared by all systems evalu-
ated. Typical of these aids are: notes, subject headings, keyword searches,
one letter code for search commands, access capability by author, title, sub-
ject, and call number.
BOOKS IDENTIFIED FOR TOPIC
The number of books identified by the resource services accessed is suprisingly
small. Using the subject headings Young Adult Literature--Spanish and Young
Adult Literature--Spanish American, the titles range in number from zero to
fourteen. A small number considering the number of volumes contained in the
centers ranged from 2 million to 6 million. Additional resources were avail-
able by searching other related subject headings.
OVERALL RATING
All four programs fulfilled the needs of the researcher but some are easier to
use and more comprehensive and, therefore, more useful than others.
The Boston University, University of California, and Tufts University catalog
systems were nearly equivalent in usefullness while Harvard provided the most
complete bibliographic information and offered the most flexibility once the
initial commands were mastered. The Boston University system wins my vote for
the best overall system on the merit of ease of access and the format of
information on the screen.
YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE --SPANISH/SPANISH AMERICAN
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliografia Basica Para Bibliotecas Infantiles y Juveniles. Ministerio de
Cultura, Direccion General del Libro Y
Biblioteca, 1986.
Breaking Boundaries: Latina Writing and Critical Readings / edited by
Ascuncion ahorno-Delgado ... (et al.). University
of Massachusetts, 1989.
Cendan, Pazos, Fernando Medio siglo de libros infantiles y juveniles en
Espana: (1935-1985). Ediciones Pirmade, 1986.
Dale, Doris Cruger Bilingual Books in Spanish and English for
Children. Libraries Unlimited, 1985.
A Decade of Hispanic Literature: an Anniversary Anthology. Revista Chicano-
Riquena, 1982.
Demerson, Paula de Esbozo de Biblioteca de la Juventud Ilustrada
(1740-1808). Univeridad, Caterdra Feijoo, Facultad
de Filosofia y Letras, 1976.
Fitzmaurice-Kelly, James 1858-1923 Spanish Bibliography. Oxford
University Press, 1925.
Foster, David William Manual of Hispanic Bibliography. University of
Washington Press, 1970.
Foster, David William Puerto Rican Literature: a Bibliography of
Secondary Sources. Greenwood Press, 1982.
Jones, Cecil Knight A Bibliography of Latin American Bibliographies.
U./s. government Printing Office, 1942.
Kanellos, Nicolas Biographical Dictionary of Hispanic Literature
in the United States: the Literature of Puerto
Ricans, Cuban Americans, and other Hispanic
Writers. Greenwood Press, 1989.
Pattison, Walter Thomas, 1903- Representative Spanish Authors: A First
Book of Spanish Literature. Oxford University
Press, 1942.
Pedreiira, Antonio Salvador Bibliografma Puertorriqueqa (1430-1930) B.
Franklin Reprints, 1974.
Rela, Walter A Bibliographical Guide to Spanish American
Literature: Twentieth-Century Sources. Greenwood
Press, 1988.
Schon, Isabel A Hispanic Heritage, Series III: A Guide to Juvenile
Books About Hispanic People and Cultures.
Scarecrow Press, 1988.
Schon, Isabel Books in Spanish for Children and Young Adults: An
Annotated Guide = Libros Infantiles y Juveniles en
Espanol: Una Guia Anotada. Scarecrow Press
1978.
Series II Scarecrow Press, 1983.
Series III Scarecrow Press, 1985
Series IV Scarecrow Press, 1987.
Series V Scarecrow Press, 1989.
Simsn, Dmaz, Josi Manual de Bibliografma de la Literatura Espaqola.
G. Gill, 1966.
Woodbridge, Hensley Charles, 1923- Guide to Reference Works for the Study
of the Spanish Language and Literature and Spanish
American Literature. Modern Language Association
of America, 1987.
Woodbridge, Hensley Charles, 1923- Spanish and Spanish American
Literature: An Annotated Guide to Selected
Bibliographies. Modern Language Association of
America, 1983.
CREDITS
Boston University :TOMUS On-line Library Catalog
Harvard University: HOLLIS On-line Library Catalog
Tufts University:TULIPS On-line Library Catalog
University of California:MELVYL On-line Library Catalog
Permission to distribute to telecommunication class.
Comments
Post a Comment