10
Monday. November 16. 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Campus/Area
Library computers aid students Two new data systems put magazine articles at fingertips
By KIRK ADAMS
Staff writer
A new research tool in the Lawrence High School library has opened a cornucopia of information for high school students doing research
The new DIALOG research data system allows students to tap more than 280 different data bases, including more than 400 different general interest periodicals, national newspapers, wire news services, abstracts from doctoral dissertations, historical abstracts and business information.
Many magazine and newspaper articles may be retrieved and printed in full text.
"We can get the actual article that appeared in the Washington Post the day before, typed out," said Lawrence High School librarian Jane Beaslev.
For articles that cannot be printed, she said, students can get the call number of an article and then find it in another library, such as Watson Library at the University of Kansas.
Beasley said the magazine index offered hundreds more magazine citations than were available through the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature.
She said the system also was good for teaching students about computers. Any student who wanted to use the system, she said, was given a lesson in less lesson, and then helped along with assistants.
Other data bases available with the system, Beasley said, varied in their subject matter and sophistication. She said that business, chemistry and biology resources, for example, were of a technical nature.
Beasley said she thought the hardware for the system probably cost about $3,000. High schools qualify for discount rates for "online" time, or the time that a terminal is linked to a data base.
The school's cost for running the machine is about $15 for each hour. Beasley said there was no cost when the machine was not in use.
She said the high school had budgeted about $3,000 to pay for online charges this year.
If Watson Library used that system, she said, the cost would be from $35 to $165 per hour depending on what data base was being used.
Jim Neeley, head of reference at Watson Library, said the Lawrence High School system was probably not the kind of system that KU needed.
"If I had the money to buy that, I wouldn't. I would buy something else instead."
He said that Watson could not afford to have a system similar to the high school's.
Neeley said, "What makes sense at one library doesn't necessarily make sense for another in the
Instead, the library is considering buying a NewsBank electronic index and text on microfiche that has been on loan to the library on a trial basis.
Neeley said the advantage to the NewsBank system, once it was purchased, was that there was no operating cost except for the electricity to run the computer.
"If you are doing a huge amount of searching it's cheaper to go this way," he said.
NewsBank is an computerized index to 450 U.S. newspapers with reproduction of the text on microfilms.
The system, for now, though, is incomplete.
Now, Neeley said, the library owned only two of five titles, or subject areas, available for the system. The NewsBank terminal can find citations for articles from the past five years. NewsBank has loaned the library parts of the remaining titles so that the library could better decide whether it wanted to buy the system.
The problem is that the library does not currently have all the microfiche, which has reproductions of original text.
Neeley said that caused many students to get frustrated because they could not find the newspaper text they needed.
"We'll have students finding indexing to earlier years, but we don't own the fiche — and that's going to be a problem."
The library will get the NewsBank machinery at no cost if they subscribe to the entire line of products offered by the company. Still, microfiche is expensive.
The cost of the remaining microfice for the current year, Neeley said, is about $3,600. To purchase microfice from the previous five years would cost about $20,000.
"We're trying to see how much of that other four years of fiche we can afford," he said.
Neeley said a decision on whether the library would purchase the products would be made in the next couple of weeks.
State goals to be topic of conference
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Former Govs. Robert F. Bennett and John Carlin have invited 250 state leaders and opinion makers to Topeka next month for a brainstorming conference on the goals of Kansas as it heads into the 21st century.
The 24-hour session, called the "Kansas Habits, Kansas Hopes" conference, will run from noon Friday. Dec. 11 to noon Saturday, Dec. 12. Organizers hope for a lively exchange of ideas on "the kind of future we want for Kansas — for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren."
as honorary co-chairmen to attract attention to the conference and to enlist participants. A letter sent out last week over their signatures invited participants to bring along their hopes for Kansas to the conference.
The conference, sponsored by the Kansas Citizens' Forum, will include panelists representing the Legislature, state officials, historians, poets, philosophers, educators, artists, editors and leaders from business, labor, agriculture and the professions.
Bennett and Carlin were enlisted
Most participants were selected from those who responded to a request for discussion topic suggestions, which was made by the Citizens Forum in August and September.
Gov. Mike Hayden and his administration secretary, Edward Flentje, are expected to welcome participants. William Sullivan, professor of philosophy at La Salle University in Philadelphia, will deliver the keynote address Friday afternoon.
Larry Hedges of Topeka, the project's director, said the conference is aimed not only at the economic future of Kansas but also at the values and quality of life Kansans want in their future.
said, "We believe the time may be ripe for a broad-based, statewide discussion about our values and traditions, our 'habits,' as a people, and their relationship to our economic life.
In their letter, Bennett and Carlin
"As former governors of Kansas, we are not concerned with defending the past, but are committed to contri-
bution and action about the Kansas that is to come."
"The purpose is not to prescribe policy, but to create a statewide forum for reflection and dialogue, often hard to come by in our public life, about the values and priorities that are to guide us into the 21st century."
100% fat free
-First Visit Always Free-
Louisiana Purchase Shopping Center
2223 Louisiana
842-BODY
Earn Money Now at Entertel
Come by or call today for an interview.
ENTERTEL sm
ENTERTEL sm
A SUBSIDIARY OF ENTERTAINMENT PUBLICATIONS, INC
(913) 841-1200 619 MASSACHUSETTS LAWRENCE, KANSAS 66044
E.O.E. M/F/H
ATTN. STUDENTS:
COMPUTER
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE/ACCESSORIES
LOWEST PRICES-BEST SERVICE
FREE DELIVERY / I NSTALLATION
SYSTEMS INTEGRATION, INC.
1012 MASSACHUSETTS SUITE 213 842-0268
KU-NEA the only association with the influence to represent you,the faculty, before the state legislature.
Vote KU-NEA November 17 or 18
Paid for by KU-NEA.
Tandon wins state contract
Lawrence, KS - Success in the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) market has prompted Tandon Corporation to enter the microcomputer market. Available at Computer Outlet (80) or from the Tandon PC line has become increasingly popular on campus.
See PCs on campus, September 10
Since the late seventies, Tandon Corporation has been known as the leader in the microcomputer disk drive market. To maintain their position as a market leader, they have redirected their marketing and manufacturing efforts to the computer manufacturers and end-users, including the introduction of an IBM-compatible computer.
Tandon went to the top to ensure the success of their microcomputer launch. Four IBM veterans, who were closely involved in the development and manufacturing of the IBM Personal Computer, were hired to manage the engineering and marketing divisions. This dedication to a quality product has allowed Tandon to make significant inroads into the PC marketplace.
With an 80286 microprocessor, an optional 80287 co-processor, and keyboard selectable clock speeds of 6 and 8MHz, it offers comparable performance. The PCA was rated "operationally compatible with IBM PC/AT" by Future Computing, which is the highest compatibility rating given. The University of Kansas has
In March, the State of Kansas signed a contract with Tandon Corporation to purchase PC/AT-compatible machines. The PCA is functionally equivalent to the IBM PC/AT at almost half the price.
The Tandon PCA comes with 1 MB of RAM and a wide selection of hard disks for about half the price of a comparable IBM.
found that a computer with these features and benefits is definitely a good buy, especially at state contract prices.
Tandon also has a PC/XT model which is ideal for word-processing and data entry. Both Tandons are a good choice for anyone who needs the security of a brand name and nearby dealer service. "Tandon offers high quality workmanship at an affordable price", says Mark Husby, Computer Outlet Sales Representative, "Overall, it is a good value."
Paid advertisement, Computer Outlet
BEAN SALE!
Guess the number of beans. Win 50 gallons of gasoline!
Bean Burritos Bean Tostadas Pintos & Cheese
We've put a whole bunch of beans in a big jar that's on display every Tuesday. While you are here, to be sure to register your name and jot down your guess. You could be the next lucky winner!
Every Tuesday
Prices effective every Tuesday at both Taco Bell locations in Lawrence, Kansas.
1220 West 6th Street
1408 West 23rd Street