Information Retrieval List Digest 235 (December 5) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/irld/irld-235 IRLIST Digest ISSN 1064-6965 December 5, 1994 Volume XI, Number 42 Issue 235 ********************************************************** I. QUERIES 1. Automatic Abstracting References II. JOBS 1. UCLA: LIS Faculty Positions 2. Catholic University: SLIS Positions 3. U. Minnesota: Bio-Medical Library Systems Librarian 4. USC: Project Manager, Information Systems III. NOTICES A. Publications 1. NISO Online B. Meetings 1. USAIN '95 IV. PROJECTS D. Miscellaneous 1. IR Education Issues Survey ********************************************************** I. QUERIES I.1. Fr: Massimo Melucci Re: Automatic Abstracting References I am looking for some recent publications on automatic construction of abstracts. I have already some references to the Paice's and Luhn's works. My interest area is about Passage Retrieval and automatic construction of hypertexts for Information Retrieval. Thanks a lot in advance. Massimo Melucci ********************************************************** II. JOBS II.1. Fr: Efthimis N. Efthimiadis Re: UCLA: LIS Faculty Positions The Department of Library and Information Science of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA is seeking to fill two tenure-track faculty positions, one each at the Assistant and Associate Professor levels. Library and Information Science at UCLA has reorganized in a new and more dynamic structure in partnership with the Dept. of Education to form the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies (GSE&IS). The Dept. of Library and Information Science is continuing to offer its top-rated MLIS and Ph.D. programs, and is also joining with Education to forge new initiatives in seeking grants, offering joint programs, and exploring entrepreneurial approaches to graduate education. Situated at the gateway to the Pacific Rim, the Southern California region is experimenting with new business and educational initiatives in a rich and varied multi-cultural environment. QUALIFICATIONS: The faculty is seeking talented individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas: information access, information policy, networked information systems, including digital libraries, image databases, or multimedia information system design. Understanding of said area(s) from an information science perspective is requisite. Minimum qualifications include an earned doctorate, a research agenda, and evidence of teaching competence. Salary commensurate with qualifications. Desirable possible secondary interests for either position are legal informatics, economics of information, interface design, school library media research, multi-media resources, or archival administration in an electronic environment. UCLA's GSE&IS has a strong emphasis on research in both its educational programs and faculty activities. Individuals are sought who are strongly research-oriented. Grant-getting experience and continued interest in seeking and carrying out grants is highly desirable. RESPONSIBILITIES: The annual faculty course load is four courses over three quarters. One-quarter length sabbaticals with full pay can be earned after each three years of teaching. All faculty are expected to be productive researchers, to teach, advise master's and doctoral students, and engage in service to the university and professional community. STARTING DATE: July 1, 1995. Send application letter, vitae, sample publications, and names/addresses of three to five references to: Marcia J. Bates, Chair Dept. of Library and Information Science Graduate School of Education and Information Studies 405 Hilgard Ave. University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90024-1521 Email: IATLMJB@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU Tel.: (310) 825-8799 FAX (310) 206-3076 APPLICATION DEADLINE: Screening of applications will begin Jan. 15, 1995 and continue until positions are filled. The University of California is an equal-opportunity/affirmative action employer. ********** II.2. Fr: ARWOOD@CUA.EDU Re: Catholic University: Two SLIS Positions The Catholic University of America, located in Washington, DC, information capital of the nation and the world, seeks two full-time, tenure track faculty members for the ALA- accredited School of Library and Information Science. Successful candidates will be prepared to teach in the core curriculum and in one or more of the following areas: archives, book arts, special librarianship and information center management, reference and information services, and information storage and retrieval. The ability to carry out a research and publication agenda, the potential for leadership in professional and scholarly organizations, and the desire to work with a collegial community of students, alumni, faculty and staff are necessary. Requirements for consideration include an earned doctorate in library/information science or related specialty and an MLS and/or substantial experience in libraries, archives, or other information service environments. The School, which grants the MS in LS, serves 375 full and part-time students on the CUA campus, at the Library of Congress, and at three sites in Virginia. The Catholic University of America is sponsored by the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States as a national university and center of instruction and research. Its faculties are composed of teachers from diverse backgrounds and religious traditions, but members and associates of the faculties are expected to respect the religious commitment and mission of the University and to be supportive of its aims and ideals. Appointment will be at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, depending on candidate qualifications. Appointment is for 8-1/2 months, with additional contracts possible for summer teaching. For consideration, submit letter, curriculum vita, and the names of three references to Elizabeth S. Aversa, Dean, School of Library and Information Science, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064. We will interview interested candidates at the annual meeting of the Association for Library and Information Science Education. Review of applications will begin January 15, 1994 and will continue until both positions are filled. Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, and No Smoking in the Workplace are CUA policies. ********** II.3. Fr: Janet M. Arth Re: Minneapolis, MN, Systems Librarian Posting, Bio-Medical Library Bio-Medical Library Systems Librarian The University of Minnesota Bio-Medical Library invites applications for the position of Systems Librarian. Under the general direction of the Head of Public Services, this position will coordinate and manage the Bio-Medical Library's computer resources, systems, and networks. The Systems Librarian will provide support for the integration of new technologies and new approaches to the delivery of information into library operations. As a member of the Public Services staff, the position also will provide user education and work limited reference hours. Responsibilities include: (1) managing the planning, maintaining, and implementing of networked information resources; (2) providing technologic advice, training, and assistance to the library staff; (3) coordinating Bio-Medical Library automation with University-wide computing initiatives; (4) preparing documentation; and (5) supervising a Unix network coordinator, a computer technician and student employees. Required qualifications include (1) ALA-accredited MLS; (2) two years systems/networking experience in an academic or health sciences library; (3) working knowledge of a variety of operating systems, LANs, CD-ROM, and the Internet; (4) demonstrated knowledge and experience in applying technology solutions in a library environment; (5) proven management and supervisory skills; (6) a strong service orientation; and (7) excellent written and oral communications and interpersonal skills. Preferred qualifications include ((1) degree or course work in computer science or management information systems; (2) experience with CDP Technologies' Ovid and (3) experience in library public services. This is a 12-month academic/professional position, with probationary appointment at the Assistant Librarian rank, and a minimum salary of $28,000. Bio-Medical Library is one of the four major units within the University Libraries. It serves the disciplines of medicine, nursing, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, basic life sciences, and the University Hospital and Clinics. Currently, systems in use at Bio-Medical Library include NOTIS, CDP Technologies' Ovid, Unix, Novell, Ethernet and AppleTalk networks, and the Internet. Applications should send a letter of application discussing background and experience relating to the above description, a current resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to: Linda DeBeau-Melting, Libraries Human Resources Officer, University Libraries, 453 Wilson Library, 309 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455. Applications must be received by March 1, 1995. Please identify application with UL#39. The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religions, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation. ********** II.4. Fr: Lucy Wegner Re: Project Manager, USC POSITION: PROJECT MANAGER INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR LOS ANGELES (ISLA) POSITION #29294 LOCATION: CENTER FOR SCHOLARLY TECHNOLOGY LEAVEY LIBRARY POSITION SUMMARY: The University of Southern California seeks an innovative and enthusiastic Project Manager to lead the planning for and implementation of the "Information System for Los Angeles (ISLA)." ISLA will become a comprehensive, integrated multimedia database of texts, photographs, maps, data, and other information formats which will allow students, scholars and community leaders to analyze the history and social dynamics of Los Angeles in new ways. This new type of library research collection will be based upon networked state-of-the-art computer hardware and software including database, search- and-retrieval, and analytical systems; it will require the development of new kinds of data structures allowing readers to understand the relationship of multimedia archival documents within a subject/space/time indexing system. The Project Manager will play a key role in developing the collaboration between the Library, University Computing Services (UCS) and a faculty committee from 14 disciplinary departments. The Project Manager reports operationally to the Director of the Center for Scholarly Technology (CST) within the University Library and programmatically to a faculty executive committee which is responsible for planning the direction, content, curricular, and research aspects of the system. Initially, public access to the ISLA system will be centered in USC's Leavey Library. The Project Manager will supervise a small staff of programmers and assistants, and will directly oversee many aspects of ISLA, from system design and data acquisition to grant preparation, research management, and curriculum development. The project is conceptualized and now requires a highly motivated individual to coordinate its further development, funding, and implementation. DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY: USC's Library serves one of the largest private universities in the country. As a major research library, it houses a collection of more than 2.6 million volumes, has 14 specialized subject libraries, and a total of 172 FTE of which 58 are Library faculty positions. It has adopted a strategic goal to develop networked information services, including the on-line catalog, 11 locally mounted databases, full-text versions of the ClariNet News Service, and Gopher and Mosaic servers. The Leavey Library, an innovative teaching library, serves as a gateway to the collections of the University Library and worldwide sources of information. The Library is a major component of the University's academic mission through instruction of students in how to identify, locate, and evaluate information in print and digital formats; though fostering partnerships with faculty in evaluating and developing information technologies for teaching; and through the promotion of life-long learning skills. The University Library is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, and the Research Libraries Group. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The ISLA Project Manager reports to the Director of the CST and participates in, and takes direction from, a Project Executive Committee (initially, faculty from Geography, History, and Urban and Regional Planning) which provides direction and priorities for ISLA's content, program and strategic goals. The Committee will set priorities for the integration of ISLA resources within various curricular activities and provide guidance on their implementation. The ISLA Project Manager works with the Library Collection Development Division and Faculty in identifying and locating appropriate content for the ISLA system; manages design of appropriate database, textual, and image structures for the differing formats; assists in the design of interface and content linkage capabilities; and identifies appropriate analytical and manipulation tools for the different information formats. The ISLA Project Manager participates in USC's larger automation development environment; this includes working closely with librarians and technical professionals in both the CST and UCS on system architecture, interface and database design, and Network connectability. The Manager participates in other automation planning committees, supervises an applications programmer, clerical assistant, and student assistants, designs procedures and work flow for database creation, data entry, and incorporation of information resources into the system, designs both on-line and print documentation for the system, and designs system output (print, download, analysis, etc.) capabilities. In collaboration with the Project Executive Committee and the Director of CST, the Manager identifies project budget requirements and funding opportunities, develops and writes grant and foundation funding proposals, and administers operations and grant budgets. The Manager is responsible for training appropriate staff and librarians in using the system, collaborating with them on development of library service programs using the system, developing the service and support program for student use of ISLA, and, in collaboration with the Project Executive Committee, developing and conducting faculty outreach programs to make other members of the teaching faculty aware of ISLA's uses. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: Applicants should describe their qualifications from among the following: strong commitment to and demonstrated experience in collaborating with teaching faculty in designing information resources in support of innovative teaching programs and research; advanced working knowledge of the Internet, Internet information resources, and the leading tools for location and retrieval of networked information (e.g. Gopher, Mosaic, etc.); experience with GIS system and analytic tools used with census and numeric data; teaching skills and experience sufficient to collaborate effectively with project faculty in integrating ISLA information tools into the curriculum; ability to work comfortably and effectively in a project team environment and the ability to coordinate activities with technical staff, content specialists, and teaching faculty; grant writing and budgeting skills; a minimum of one year demonstrated project management experience; MLS from an ALA accredited program; advanced degree in one of the social or natural sciences. BENEFITS: Health, dental, and life insurance, 10 vacation days and 12 sick days per year, tuition remission, disability and retirement plans. SALARY RANGE: $38,600 - $65,640 APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Qualified applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names, titles, addresses, and telephone numbers of three current professional references to: Gloria J. Donaldson, Personnel Director, Doheny Memorial Library, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089- 0182. Please refer to Project Manager, ISLA, Center for Scholarly Technology, Position #29294 on correspondence. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. The University of Southern California is an AA/EOE, ADA- compliant institution strongly committed to the principle of diversity. ********************************************************** III. NOTICES III.A.1. Fr: Mark H. Needleman Re: NISO Online The following is excerpted and reprinted with permission from the October 1994 issue of Library High Tech News. The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) in collaboration with the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) has established an electronic forum on the Internet to provide quick and easy access to information about NISO's standards program. Through niso-L a user can obtain * a balloting calendar listing the NISO draft standards out for review * the table of contents of the latest issue of NISO's newsletter, Information Standards Quarterly * a list of published NISO standards, including prices and ordering information * a list of draft standards developed by NISO, including prices and ordering information * a fact sheet about NISO * short reports on current activities of NISO standards committees To subscribe to niso-L send an email message to LISTPROC@CNI.ORG The message should contain in the message body the line SUBSCRIBE NISO-L All postings on the list are archived. These posting plus additional NISO documents can be accessed by anonymous FTP or Gopher. To access using FTP, ftp to FTP.CNI.ORG Logon as anonymous (send email address as password) CD PUB/NISO The dir command will bring up a listing of available files and further directories. To access via Gopher, point your gopher client at GOPHER.CNI.ORG If you don't have a local gopher client you can telnet to one of the publicly available ones and choose "Coalition for Networked Information" from the menu "All the Gopher Servers in the World." The NISO files are stored under the menus "Coalition FTP Archives (ftp.cni.org"; "Publicly Accessible Documents (/pub)"; and "National Information Standards Organization (NISO)." Mark Needleman University of California Chair, ASIS Standards Committee ********** III.B.1. Fr: Jodee Kawasaki Re: USAIN '95 CALL FOR PAPERS USAIN '95 April 26-29, 1995 Lexington, Kentucky A CALL TO CONFERENCE "Cultivating New Ground in Electronic Information: Use of the Information Highway to Support Agriculture" United States Agriculture Information Network (USAIN) Holiday Inn, Lexington--North 1950 Newtown Pike Lexington, Kentucky 40511-1399 AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATION: Proposals are solicited for contributed papers or project demonstrations at the 1995 USAIN meeting, reflecting the conference theme and focusing on the growing use of electronic communications and information transfer within the agricultural community. CONTRIBUTED PAPERS: Presentations may be reports of research in progress, project descriptions, or case studies. Talks should be 15-20 minutes in length. PROJECT DEMONSTRATIONS: Works-in-progress or project results featuring actual demonstrations of software design or customization, network applications, experimental systems, or other results of research. Proposals should be 600-800 word executive summaries. Include your name, address, title, and affiliation. Conference papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Information. SEND SUMMARIES AND INQUIRIES TO: M. Kay Mowery Office: 404/228-7238 University of Georgia Fax: 404/229-3213 Georgia Experiment Station 1109 Experiment Street Griffin, GA 30223-1797 Internet: librgrf@gaes.griffin.peachnet.edu SUMMARIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER 31, 1994 TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE CONFERENCE ********************************************************** IV. PROJECTS IV.D.1. Fr: Kazem Taghva Re: IR Education Issues Survey The SIGIR education committee was recently established to look into issues associated with IR education. The committee felt the first step in understanding the issues was to survey the current methods and course work available at our universities. Please take the time to fill out the committee's survey. Your interests and concerns will be instrumental in shaping the future of IR. You can fill out and submit this survey a number of different ways. You can use the version printed in the upcoming issue of SIGIR FORUM, or it is available by anonymous ftp from ftp.isri.unlv.edu in /pub/sigir-survey. You can either type up your responses and email them to sigir-survey@isri.unlv.edu, or fill it out on paper and mail it to: Kazem Taghva Department of Computer Science University of Nevada, Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV 89154-4021 Alternatively, you can fill out and submit the survey on the web by going to: HTTP://WWW.ISRI.UNLV.EDU/INFO/TR/SIGIR-SURVEY/ Thanks, Kazem Taghva ********************************************************** IRLIST Digest is distributed from the University of California, Division of Library Automation, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA. 94612-3550. 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