Library Hi Tech

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047475

In the following interview Dr. Arthur Harkins see last page for biographical information responds to questions posed by Dr. Thomas Surprenant, Library Hi Tech Associate Editor and Assistant Professor at the University of Rhode Island Graduate Library School. Harkins opines that the era of robots is not merely imminent, in fact it is already with us. The development of the field of robotics is not Utopian or idealistic but, instead, 90 history. Robotics and its future in library applications will be one of the four topics regularly covered by Surprenant in this column. For some possible applications of robots in libraries see Future Libraries, Wilson Library Bulletin 57, no. 6 February 1983 499500, 542. Other topics to be covered in 2001 are new information technologies, public policy issues, and technology and values. NJM

Prather, Richard D.

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047476

Universal Robotics Systems is a small Palo Alto R&D company dedicated to the development of unique mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic devices for application to the fields of industrial robotics, robotics research, and rehabilitative robotics electronics. In the past 18 months, a number of projects have been brought to the working prototype stage. These are

Alley, Brian

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047477

Not so many years ago libraries with busy telephone reference services installed telephone jacks at strategic points near the card catalog and close to major indexes. Librarians on reference duty were supplied with small, lightweight head sets which they took with them when a telephone question necessitated a check of the card catalog or some consultation involving an index or telephone directory.

WardenIII, William H.; Warden, Bette M.

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047478

Microcomputers are rapidly becoming commonplace in libraries today and will become even more so as prices fall and capabilities increase. Microcomputers can provide a wide range of services, from being an integral part of a circulation system to serving as terminals to access online databases and information utilities such as the Source or CompuServe. Software can be purchased or developed to assist in online literature searching record keeping or standardization of database commands. Database packages, or even word processing programs, can be used to help compile local newspaper indexes or other local information files. Statistical packages can be used to analyze library usage. Even the laborious task of writing reports or letters can be greatly aided by word processing programs. Even though the availability of software is a determining factor in choosing a microcomputer, this paper will concentrate on meeting the hardware needs of individual libraries.

Trudell, Libby

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047479

The term Electronic Mail System, or EMS, has many different definitions. In introducing this topic which will be a regular feature of LHT, it is useful to define the scope of that term, at least enough to give readers some idea of what to expect.

Aveney, Brian; Heinemann, Luba

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047480

Developments in the area of automated acquisitions in libraries over the past ten years have been many and varied. Libraries today have the option of choosing among a number of offtheshelf systems including turnkey mini and microcomputerbased systems, large central network systems and, more recently, distributed systems which try to make the best of both worlds.

Fayen, Emily

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047481

Do you remember when you were a student and you needed five books on some topic for a term paper before tomorrow After five years of planning and three years of development, the Dartmouth College Library is now making this problem a thing of the past. In fact, at Dartmouth the computer will almost write the paper for you, but that's another story.

Gray, Carolyn M.

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047482

What are vendor systems How do they become turnkey systems How do we go about purchasing one These are some of the questions facing librarians in the age of high technology.

Herring, Mark

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047483

It is a real pleasure to begin online reference reports with these papers. Herring and Tschudi write in a style that is upbeat and witty, yet their essays make significant statements about online services. Herring discusses how a small academic library replaced printed index subscriptions with online access, while Tschudi calls for a radical improvement in the way we educate and train online searchers. Future contributions will be as practical, informative and entertaining. Marty Kesselman

Bell, Nancy J.

1983 Library Hi Tech

doi: 10.1108/eb047484

A recent issue of the Association of Research Libraries' Newsletter reported that 70.3 percent of United States libraries have photocopying machines for interlibrary loan and onsite user services, producing an average of 273,000 page impressions annually. This figure, added to the number of copies made by patrons using coinoperated machines, copies made for inhouse duplication of dissertations, and those made as a conservation alternative for items printed on badly deteriorated or embrittled paper, indicates our reliance on photoduplication as a means of transmitting and preserving our cultural records.