Westman, 'LITA Midwinter Report, 1', LITA Newsletter v15n02 URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/lita/lita-v15n02-westman-lita V15N2.MIDREP1 LITANEWS ------------------------------------ [LITA Midwinter Report, 1] Artificial Intelligence/ Expert Systems Interest Group DISCUSSION AT THIS group's Midwinter session focused on the Demo Fair held as part of the RASD MARS Hot Topics Discussion group meeting. Six knowledge-based applications (for both Macintosh and MS-DOS computers) were shown, with attendees able to actually try out the applications. The fair was quite a success with a large number of people able to talk with the developers. AI/Expert Systems IG currently has a membership list maintained in dBASE form, containing more than 300 names. Questions about the list include what it is to be used for, how current it is (given that many people included in the list have not attended for years) and what should be done with it. After much discussion, it was decided that the list should be "started over," this time with a field included in the database for last year of attendance. This will allow elimination of records showing no recent activity. Karen Calhoun, Chair of the LITA/ALCTS Authority Control in the Online Environment Interest Group, was present to discuss the program that the two IGs are sponsoring in Miami Beach. Topics to be covered will include applications of expert systems to authority processes and a demonstration of a program that maps keyword input to several types of controlled vocabulary, after which the resultant information is used to search an online catalog. A bibliography of items by the presenters as well as introductory items on AI would be developed by the two groups and distributed at the program. Possible topics for a 1995 program include Intelligent Information Retrieval techniques; ways of "humanizing" expert systems interfaces; and ways that people learn, with an exploration of ways that information could be used to build or select knowledge-based systems in the future. This last topic is of considerable interest to a number of different groups in ALA. The group's Vice Chair (Stephen Westman) will approach other groups within ALA to see whether they wish to cosponsor such a program; he will also develop a program proposal with a list of possible speakers. That proposal and list of possible cosponsors will be distributed to IG members, in expectations of having a full program proposal ready to present to PPC in Miami Beach. Does the name of the group need to be modified, given that it now also covers hypertext and information retrieval? After some discussion, the group decided to explore a modified description of the IG's focus instead. A proposed new description will be circulated before ALA Annual, at which point it will be discussed and, if needed, proposed as a formal change.--Stephen Westman, Georgia College Authority Control in the Online Environment Interest Group (LITA/ALCTS) APPROXIMATELY 125 PEOPLE attended ACIG's Midwinter meeting. Karen Calhoun (OCLC), IG Chair, first introduced Barbara Henigman(University of Illinois) who compiled a three-page bibliography of recent material concerning authority control. Other handouts available at the meeting were updates from the bibliographic utilities--OCLC, RLG and WLN--on their recent work involving authority control. Reports on Authority Control Activity David Reser (Library of Congress) described the recent work of the Cooperative Cataloging Council (CCC). Some of CCC's key recommendations: *A new international cooperative cataloging program should be created. The name will be the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC). *A Foreign MARC Coalition should be formed to facilitate access to records produced outside North America. *Simpler, more user-friendly documentation should be developed and a better cataloger training program should be set up. *A goal for the year 2000 and beyond should be set: 200,000 to 600,000 authority records will be produced annually by 200 different institutions. CCC has approved a five-year strategic plan and recommended a governance structure for PCC. LC will coordinate the effort, and will soon begin to simplify its own cataloging documentation. Barbara Tillett (University of California-San Diego, moving to LC) gave a detailed report on the recommendations of one of CCC's task groups--the one charged with examining cooperative authority control. Among the group's recommendations are the following: *Participation in the creation of authority records should be broadened to include many more institutions. At the same time, quality control will need to continue to be tight. *Authority records for all headings need to be included in the national resource authority file. *Records for name, series, uniform titles and subjects should be searchable in a single file. *Better training and documentation should be provided. *As much authority work as possible should be shifted to machines. *Rules and editorial processes should be simplified, and a "minimal-level" authority record should be established. *Technology should be improved to allow easier input of records. *Libraries should be provided economic incentives to participate in the national cooperative authority program. Linda Barnhart (University of California-San Diego) reported two recent accomplishments of the Music Library Association Authorities Subcommittee: *They have prepared a discussion paper on the future of the 240 field in bibliographic records. This paper has gone to MARBI. The issue might move on to the proposal stage at the annual conference in Miami. (Note: The paper did not pass at MARBI in Los Angeles. Consequently, it will not go to the proposal stage in Miami.) *They have prepared a document called "Recommendations for Changes in the Shared Authority File and in Authority and Bibliographic Records," which has been given to Sarah Thomas and Barbara Tillett of LC. Ann Della Porta (Library of Congress) described the recommendations of a Series Group established internally by LC as a response to calls for cataloging simplification and cost reduction. The Group's report recommended that the number of series authority records created and maintained by LC be reduced considerably. If the recommendations were implemented, authority records would be made only for numbered series classified as collections, technical reports and numbered, analyzable multipart items. The Group's report "Whither series?" has been posted and widely discussed on various cataloging listservs. Comments on the report may be directed to Sarah Thomas, Director for Cataloging, Library of Congress; fax (202) 707-6269; E-mail sto@seq1.loc. gov. LC has no intention of acting on the Series Group report recommendations until it has considered carefully the reactions of all parts of the library community. Jose Diaz (Ohio State University) gave an update on the CIC/OCLC/LC Extended Authorities Cooperative Project, which is exploring the potential of computer assistance in creating authority records for personal names. A pilot project currently underway at OCLC and Ohio State University involves the creation and evaluation of 100 machine-derived authority records. OCLC software is creating the records and NACO staff at Ohio State University are evaluating them. To date, ten records have been created and evaluated. Diane Vizine-Goetz (OCLC Office of Research) reported, in writing, on an OCLC/LC joint project to expand the number of subject authority records for LCSH topical heading/topical subdivision combinations. OCLC is generating, by machine, records such as "Abandoned children--Government policy" and "Abused children--Family relationships." Sample records have already been created and reviewed by LC staff. Minor refinements in the processing have been proposed by LC and OCLC staff will soon implement the refinements. Subsequent steps depend on further discussion between OCLC and LC and also on the level of interest in this file among libraries. Discussion and Action The most intense discussion in the open forum revolved around Ann Della Porta's report on the recommendations of LC's Series Group. Opinions were divided, but most people think that before LC acts, it should examine hard data (e.g., transaction logs from OPACs) to determine the importance of series authority records. ACIG did not take a formal stand on this issue, but ACIG officers did encourage individuals to write to Sarah Thomas with their opinions and research data. Other concerns and topics that were brought up in the open forum included the question of workflow--when should authority work be done?--as well as the potential for machine generation of authority records, the marriage of keyword searching and authority control, using tables of contents in bibliographic records for subject access and the role of authority control and intelligent front ends for searching OPACs of the future, which will include access (perhaps through Internet) to numerous external databases and files. For a possible 1995 Annual Conference program, the group will seek speakers to address the issue of authority control in files controlled by institutions other than libraries, some of which we are now beginning to access through the Internet. Examples of institutions that have files relevant to us and that need authority control are natural history museums, art museums and archives. Officers will discuss this topic more thoroughly using E-mail over the next several months.--Douglas Koschik, Baldwin Public Library Customized Applications for Library Microcomputers Interest Group CALM'S MIDWINTER SESSION began with discussion of the group's program for the 1994 Annual Conference and possible topics for a 1995 program in Chicago. Topics discussed include an investigation of ways that customized applications can be used to help libraries deal with budget constraints, customized applications that help patrons access and use government documents data and a program devoted to taking an in-depth look at a particular type of application (such as dBASE) and demonstrating programming techniques and applications to assist new developers in writing this type of application. Discussion of this topic will continue after the conference via E-mail. The Chair, Stephen Westman, reported on the status of the IG's Survey of Customized Applications. To date, 36 people have indicated a willingness to be included in the survey (and have had surveys sent to them). So far, fifteen surveys have been returned. Discussion ensued on how to get a larger number and variety of applications included in the survey. Possible ideas are sending out another request for volunteers on various library listservs, contacting people knowledgeable in the area to see if they know of possible volunteers, having IG members monitor the listservs to see if any applications are mentioned and then forwarding messages personally to people identified as having developed applications and developing a preliminary bibliography of applications and making it available for FTP and BBS downloading, including a copy of the survey in the file. While the ultimate goal for the IG has been publication of the results of the survey, there was some discussion of how to keep the survey updated and whether people included in the survey should receive copies of the survey. The Chair will investigate the issues involved in this matter and report back to the group. Margaret Mooney (University of California, Riverside) demonstrated a dBASE application that she wrote to import Government Document bibliographic MARC records into a dBASE database . Mooney also discussed issues involved in such applications and showed the record and program structures.--Stephen Westman, Georgia College Education Committee THE LITA EDUCATION Committee continues in its program planning stage, getting ready for Miami. Speakers have been identified, and the topic has been refined (see LITA News). The room has been reserved, and with the right kind of advance publicity we expect a big turnout. The Education Committee is sponsoring an electronic discussion of a checklist of telecommunications skills to be put before ALA's Standards for Accreditation team for consideration. This discussion will occur through a listserv, litaedu @waynest1 (or litaedu@cms.cc.wayne.edu) from Monday, March 21, 1994, through Friday, April 8, 1994. The Education Committee will solicit subscribers to the list and participation in the discussion from the other LITA IGs and committees, as well as from members of PLA and ALISE. We will distribute instructions for subscribing, initiate and monitor the discussion, and hope to report a summary in time for Miami.--William P. Kane, DALNET, Wayne State University Imagineering Interest Group FRANK KELLY FREAS was the Special Guest at this group's Midwinter meeting. Freas has been a noted science fiction illustrator for more than 40 years. He has won ten Hugo awards (presented by World Science Fiction Conventions) for best science fiction artist of the year. Freas showed us examples of his work, including covers and interior illustrations for such magazines as Astounding, Analog and Mad. Commenting that the science fiction field doesn't produce enough income by itself, Freas showed examples for his work from other fieldsincluding medical illustration. Posters designed for National Library week--popular sellers in the 60s and 70s--were also included. Freas and his wife, illustrator Laura Brodian Kelly Freas, said their aim was to represent the author's work in an eye-catching way that would draw readers into the story. Our program in Miami Beach will feature noted authors Gene Wolfe (Lake of the Long Sun) and Greg Bear (Moving Mars) discussing "The Information Future." Our program in New Orleans last year was standing-room only; this one is sure to be as well.--Catherine Doyle, Christopher Newport University