[WEB4LIB] Cd-roms/Universal stations?

[Bob Jones]

I'd recommend network the CD-ROMS and enforce simultaneous uses via a
metering package (we use Softrack) which also gives you good use stats!  
As long as you have enough memory on your CD-ROM server to amply cache the
CD-ROMS, response time should be fine (ours is).

Once this is in place order/negotiate with the publisher for network
versions of the software.  Usually there is no extra charge (but the work
to install them may be very difficult and may change for each update).
While you are talking with the publisher ask if it is OK to "open up" the
simultaneous uses for training purposes and then close it back down for
the training session. They will generally comply realizing that the
training will build more demand and thus you will be back next year for
more simultaneous users!  I'd recommend always comparing the CD-ROM price
to the web price -- and use the web access if the price is comparable.
Restricting to your local IP addresses or simultaneous users as
administered by the vendor's server is often easier than the installation
and hardware headaches when using a server.

While we are moving more and more to web accesses, the CD-ROM server is
being used more and more for Government documents published on CD-ROM!


Bob Jones                                    mailto:bjones at unf.edu
Head, Public Services Division and Systems Coordinator
University of North Florida Library          http://www.unf.edu/library/    
P.O. Box 17605                               (904) 620-2552 (SC 861-2552) 
Jacksonville, FL  32245-7605                 FAX: (904) 620-2719
                                             ARIEL: 139.62.208.88





On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Laurie Schladweiler wrote:

> We are planning an expansion/remodeling of our community college library 
> including complete rewiring.  I would be grateful for any advice anyone is 
> willing to share regarding providing access (in-house) to unique cd-rom 
> products which are not available in online versions.
> 
> We plan to have 24 pc's in the public area with 35 pc's in an adjacent 
> training room and there will be other large computer labs for student use 
> outside of the library. We already have a system for remote access for the 
> catalog, other online databases, etc. Our students currently still use dumb 
> terminals for catalog access and another group of pc's for internet access. 
>  Our catalog is available in both versions, however we expect by the time 
> the remodeling is complete that we will offer only web access for the 
> catalog.
> 
> We presently have 5 pc's with cd changers (5 slots apiece) which are not 
> connected to the internet for our cd-rom products.  We do plan to network 
> these (internal only) even before the remodeling. I guess we'd like to have 
> our cake and eat it, too in the "new library".  We hate to lose our 
> cd-roms, and if fact would like to purchase more (art, astronomy, human 
> body, etc.).  We feel that we cannot afford to designate 6 or so stations 
> for this purpose alone and so are therefore interested in networking. 
>   Computers in Libraries has had many hardware options advertised as well 
> as some helpful articles.  As best I can gather, it's necessary to 
> negotiate with each vendor regarding licensing options.  (If a product can 
> be seen by several stations but used by only one-do you still need a 
> network license?  If you offer wider access how expensive is it to make a 
> $50.00-$75.00 product available to 60 stations when you expect only 2-4 
> users at a time?  Is it possible to set up a network so that all (library) 
> pc's can see products but only one user can access at a time?  Is copying 
> on to huge hard drives or storing on a server (with longer access time) the 
> way to go?  I guess you also need to know (before you purchase) whether a 
> cd-rom product can be configured for a network?)  Our goal would be to have 
> each station be a "universal station" in order to be flexible when we have 
> extra classes either in the training room or in the main library.
> 
> Appreciate your patience with such a long message!  We would be grateful to 
> hear suggestions, etc., to share with our technical people who will be 
> carrying out whatever plan we decide to implement.  Thanks in advance!
> 
> Laurie Schladweiler
> West Campus Library
> Pima Community College
> Tucson, AZ  85709
> Schladweiler at pimacc.pima.edu
> (520)206-6821
> 
> 
>