\documentstyle[11pt]{article} \setlength{\topmargin}{-.5in} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0in} \setlength{\textwidth}{6.5in} \setlength{\textheight}{9in} \newcommand{\PSbox}[3]{\mbox{\rule{0in}{#3}\special{psfile=#1}\hspace{#2}}} \begin{document} \begin{titlepage} \vspace*{.25in} \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/libslogo.PS hoffset=110 voffset=-452}{1.25in}{1.25in} \vspace*{.25in} \PSbox{/usr/athena/lib/owl.PS}{1in}{1in} \vspace*{.5in} \begin{center} {\huge\bf Proposal for an MIT Libraries Interface on Project Athena} \vspace*{.5in} Scott Brandt Anne LaVin Sandy Maxfield \today \end{center} \end{titlepage} \section{Introduction} An ad hoc working group composed of Anne LaVin (Project Athena), Sandy Maxfield and Scott Brandt (MIT Libraries) was formed in October of 1990 to explore functional components of an ``Athena interface'' which would allow access to MIT Libraries services. This proposal builds on previous work done by Rich Hines (Libraries) and Candy Schwartz (Simmons) in creating a generic prototype interface for network users. The group met with David Ferriero (Libraries) early in October to discuss considerations related to the interface. It was agreed that the group would explore interface function possibilities which took into account access to Barton and help documents, eventual access to other databases or catalogs, what an ``on-line reference'' system might look like, and how e-mail and other systems could be used. The group discussed the importance of maintaining a design which could accommodate both Athena and ``non-Athena'' access. However, since most of the Athena ``building blocks'' necessary to support the proposed services are already in place and easily integratable, we recommend starting with the Athena-based systems. \section{Project Athena ``Building Blocks''} The Athena services that the proposed Library services will be built from include: \begin{description} \item[dash/menu interface] Two versions of a user interface to the proposed Library services are proposed: one, window-based and designed to be used from Athena workstations running X windows, will use the ``Athena Dashboard,'' {\em dash}, and is described in detail in section 4; the second, designed to be used over dialup, will be a set hierarchical menus similar to Athena's On-Line Help system. \item[On-Line Consulting] The OLC system is the basis for both Athena's Consulting system and the new On-Line TA service for courses. It allows a group of question-answerers to manage a queue of user questions, sorted by topic. It uses the zephyr notification system (see below) to notify users and consultants of the status of the question, etc. It allows a user to ask a question at any time, regardless of whether any consultants are currently running the answering software; questions may be answered interactively if both the user and consultant are logged in at the same time, or via electronic mail if not. The OLC system also allows the creation of a ``stock answer'' database which can be searched separately. \item[electronic mail] Electronic mail, ``e-mail'' allows users both of the Athena system and users on any host connected to MITNet (with the appropriate software) to communicate individually or with mailing lists. \item[discuss] An electronic networked conferencing system, discuss allows groups of users to converse in on-line ``meetings'' organized by topic. The access to any discuss meeting can be controlled with lists, so it can be used for private discussions as well as a public forum. Mailing lists can feed into discuss meetings. \item[zephyr] Zephyr is an notification system that allows Athena users to locate and send messages in the form of pop-up windows (if running in a windowed environment) or text overlaid on the screen (if dialed in). Messages can be sent either to a single user, or to groups of users. \item[network connectivity] All Athena workstations are on MITNet, and can thus communicate both with other MITNet hosts and hosts outside MIT. Athena also allows users to dial into their accounts through the MIT Modem Pool and a set of dialup machines. \end{description} \section{Proposed Library Services} The outline below illustrates the range of library services that we propose to make available through the Libraries menu on Athena. The proposed services are arranged in six menu categories based on the type of user interaction and the underlying support process. Some of the services are already available through Athena, some replicate services that are available through other channels, and some are projections of electronic services which are in various stages of planning. The Libraries menu can be implemented in phases, adding services as they are developed. \begin{tiny} \begin{center} \begin{verbatim} MIT LIBRARIES 1. NEWS AND INFORMATION 1. LIBRARY NEWS * Updates on library services and systems. 2. LIBRARY INFORMATION * Basic information about the MIT Libraries such as hours, locations, services, etc. 3. LIBRARY HELP * General help, tutorials on library systems, and library pathfinders. 1. Look at Answers Database 2. How to Search Barton 3. How to Search Dialog 4. Pathfinder for Psychology 5. Pathfinder for Technical Reports 2. BARTON, MIT LIBRARIES CATALOG * Search Barton, the MIT Libraries catalog, or browse the new books list. 1. BARTON 2. NEW BOOKS LIST 3. LIBRARY FORMS * Forms to request library services or make suggestions. 1. MICROREPRODUCTION LAB ORDER * Order a photocopy of material in the MIT Libraries. 2. INTERLIBRARY BORROWING REQUEST * Request material not in MIT Libraries. 3. SUGGESTED PURCHASE FORM * Suggest material for the MIT Libraries to purchase. 4. COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS * Make comments or suggestions about the MIT Libraries. 4. ON-LINE REFERENCE SERVICE * Get a quick fact, help identifying an elusive citation, a on-line literature search, or information on a topic. 1. ASK A LIBRARIAN 2. LOOK AT ANSWERS DATABASE 5. DATABASES * Access to a variety of databases. 1. MEDLINE ON DIALOG * Medline database of medical literature, available through Dialog network node. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS * Table of contents of journals available on NEARNET 6. OTHER LIBRARIES 1. BOSTON LIBRARY CONSORTIUM SERIALS LIST * List of serials owned by Boston area research libraries. 2. LIBRARY CATALOGS * Connect to library catalogs on the InterNet. \end{verbatim} \end{center} \end{tiny} The following notes describe each top level menu category in more detail: \begin{enumerate} \item NEWS AND INFORMATION Much of text for the news and information portion of this section has already been created for {\em Techinfo}. Library staff would have to update the information. The help modules, tutorials, and pathfinders would be have to be created or adapted from printed sources by library staff. This service would rely on some mechanism to display the text (comparably to {\em Techinfo} or Athena's {\em On-Line Help}) that would have to be designed or decided upon. \item BARTON, MIT LIBRARIES CATALOG Barton is already accessible from Athena. Athena users can connect to Barton and several other libraries three ways: \begin{itemize} \item as a pre-login option (users can simply click on a button on the screen before logging in to any Athena workstation) \item from the {\em dash} menubar \item with the command {\em setup library} at the athena\% prompt. \end{itemize} Users on non-Athena machines on MITNet can also currently connect to the machine library.mit.edu to get to Barton and other libraries. New book lists are included in this menu option because they are a subset of the catalog. If they can be derived directly from Barton this would require programming and regular updates. If not, the new book lists could be be text documents created and maintained by library staff. The Athena building block used in this service would be the {\bf network connectivity}, the ability to connect to the barton.mit.edu machine. \item LIBRARY FORMS These are library services currently offered through paper forms. These on-line request forms would be handled through e-mail. Templates for e-mail requests would have to be created and the appropriate library units would have to integrate e-mail requests into their workflow. Access to and training in the use of e-mail would be needed. These services would be built up of the Athena services {\bf e-mail}, and potentially {\bf discuss} as a request tracking and archiving back end. \item ON-LINE REFERENCE SERVICE Using the OLC software, reference staff would receive, track, and answer reference questions. This process would have to be integrated into reference workflow. Access to Athena workstations or terminals or computers capable of dialing into Athena, and training on the OLC software would be needed. One person would have to monitor the overall flow of questions. This service would use the OLC software which relies in part on {\bf zephyr, e-mail} for communication and {\bf discuss} for archiving of questions, and the ability to work on the network in a distributed fashion. \item DATABASES This section would provide gateways to whatever databases the Libraries make available. The two examples given are possibilities that have been discussed. This service takes advantage of {\bf network connectivity}. \item OTHER LIBRARIES This option would allow access to libraries at other sites on the Internet. There has been some experimental development on the library.mit.edu server. This service takes advantage of {\bf network connectivity}. \end{enumerate} \section{Dash Version of the Libraries Menu} For users that login to a regular Athena workstation, a window-based version can be provided. This can be made part of the default {\em dash} interface through a series of ``pull-down'' hierarchical menus\footnote{One item not addressed in this report is where, exactly, the Libraries menu will fit in the standard {\em dash} menu hierarchy.}. {\em Dash} was designed as an easy-to-use point and click application launcher and Athena ``navigator.'' (See figure, below, for a ``screen dump'' of a portion of a sample Athena screen including the {\em dash} menus across the top.) Users can obtain information on a given menu item by clicking the mouse pointer on the ``?'' icon, launch an application program by clicking on the name of the program, or can move onto a sub-menu via the arrow icon. \vspace*{.25in} \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/root.PS hoffset=-94 voffset=-300}{7.5in}{3.0in} \newpage \subsection*{Top Level} This is the top level menu. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/libtoplevel.PS hoffset=-100 voffset=-324}{3in}{2in} \subsection*{News and Information} This menu contains two options and one submenu. ``Library News'' would contain new information on library services and systems. ``Library Information'' would contain basic information about the MIT Libraries such as hours, locations, services, etc. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/newsinfo.PS hoffset=-100 voffset=-333}{5in}{2in} \newpage \subsection*{Library Help} The ``Library Help'' submenu would contain general help, tutorials on library systems, and library pathfinders. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/libhelp.PS hoffset=-89 voffset=-319.5}{7.5in}{2.25in} \subsection*{Barton} This menu would let the user search Barton, or browse the new books list. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/barton.PS hoffset=-100 voffset=-333}{4.75in}{2in} \newpage \subsection*{Library Forms} The menu would let the user fill out on-line forms to request library services or make suggestions. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/libforms.PS hoffset=-90 voffset=-315}{6in}{2.25in} \subsection*{On-Line Reference Service} This menu would connect the user the ``On-Line Reference Librarian Service'' to get a quick fact, help identifying an elusive citation, an on-line literature search, or information on a topic. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/olrl.PS hoffset=-102 voffset=-333}{4.5in}{2in} \newpage \subsection*{Databases} This menu would give the user access to a variety of databases. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/dbases.PS hoffset=-94 voffset=-315}{4.75in}{2.25in} \subsection*{Other Libraries} This menu would give the user access to other libraries available over the Internet. The ``Boston Library Consortium Serials List'' would give a list of serials owned by Boston area research libraries, and ``Other Libraries'' would run a program to connect to other library catalogs on the Internet. \PSbox{/mit/mitlibs/Proposal/Postscript/olibs.PS hoffset=-91 voffset=-335}{6.5in}{2in} \newpage \section{Terminal-based Version of the Libraries Menu} The terminal-based version of the library program for non-dash or dialup users could be based directly on Athena's On-Line Help facility (the terminal-based version), which consists of menus from which the user makes choices. A sample of a ``screen'' from the system would look like: \begin{verbatim} To choose a topic, type its number and press the Return key. Press the '?' key for help. Press the 'q' key to quit. MIT Libraries Top Level Menu 1* News and Information 2* Barton 3* Library Forms 4* On-Line Reference Service 5* Databases 6* Other Libraries Number: \end{verbatim} The other menus in the hierarchy would look similar, with contents as discussed in the previous section. \section{Summary} This report represents a functional design for the front ends to the proposed Libraries services. We have made recommendations for a way to deploy the services on Athena, using some existing mechanisms. Because of the hierarchical nature of the menus, each new part of the system can be put in place as it is developed and as the MIT Libraries gear up to support it. We have not attempted to design anything at the operational level, and have only touched on the Libraries and Athena support issued for each of the services. \end{document}