monday, January 15, 1978
page 12
daily nebraskan
NU libraries to be quicker with new computerized system
By Tom Prentiss
The University of Nebraska libraries are
preparing a new and faster method of
checking out books that also will help
library users find books.
The new program, the Library Informa
tion Retrieval System, uses computers to
store information about people registered
to check out books and about books in
circulation.
Assistant Dean of Libraries, Brice
Hobrock said the system will help the
library locate a book that may be at the
UNL, UNO or University Medical Center
libraries.
Hobrock said when operations begin in
April, Love and C.Y. Thompson libraries
will be the first to use LIRS. Other UNL
libraries will join the program in the next
fiscal year.
He said the LIRS will reduce the
amount of work for library users and the
library staff.
"When we start it in April, we plan to
have four computer terminals at the main
desk in Love and one at the Love North
exit," Hobrock said, adding that the aver
age transaction (checking out a book) will
be reduced from three to four minutes to
about 15 seconds.
"LIRS won't really eliminate any jobs
either," Hobrock said, but will eliminate
the current system of filling out papers by
hand. The filing system for these papers
also will be discontinued.
He said NU is the first large academic
institution to have such a system.
Library cards used
All persons who will use the library will
have to register for a library card. Anyone
who is a Nebraska resident and has a Ne
braska drivers license may apply, Hobrock
said.
Registration for the new cards will begin
Jan. 22 in Love and C.Y. Thompson librar
ies and continue for two weeks.
"We'd like to get as many people as we
can during the two week period, but we
will be issuing them after that," Hobrock
said.
He emphasized that the current pro
cedure will be in effect until April.
Hobrock said he thinks the cards are
more official looking than any other card
the university currently issues. He said,
there is a possibility that it will become the
only card a student will need on campus. '
'There's a spade where a picture could
be placed on the card if they wanted,"
Hobrock said. "But that is somebody else's
decision and well have to wait and see."
The cards the library will issue won't have
pictures on them.
Lost cards should be treated like lost
credit cards and should be reported to the
library immediately.
"It would take just a few seconds to in
validate a lost card," Hobrock said.
Cards read by light gun
Hobrock said LIRS operates by assign
ing each cardholder a number called an
optical character code. When a book is
checked out, a gun that shoots a beam of
light will "read" the card.
The computer will then check its stor
age bank for the number. If the person
doesn't have any overdue books or fines,
the computer will signal to check out the
book. The gun will also read the number of
the book, he said.
Hobrock said overdues and fines show
up immediately on the terminal and will be
handled accordingly. He added that LIRS
will also print overdue and fine notices to
be mailed after a due date.
Although he thinks LIRS will improve
the library, Hobrock has some doubts
about the early going. He predicted, "It
may be traumatic in the initial months
while everyone is getting used to the
system."
The library staff is "quite intrigued and
yet apprehensive" about working with the
new system Hobrock said. He added that
the terminal part of the computer, much
like a typewriter, is "surprisingly easy" to
learn.
Libraries at UNL, UNO and the medical
center have worked in cooperation for the
past three years on the program, according
to Hobrock, who served as the project
director.
Project costs $350,000
Hobrock said the total cost of the
project is about $350,000 with all three
campuses and a grant from the NU
Foundation contributing.
Charles Chamberlin, personnel and
budget officer for university libraries, said
the money for the project came from un
used utility funds and the NU Foundation.
Chamberlin said that as he understands
the law, libraries are entitled to money that
is left over from money allocated for utilit
ies, such as oil and electricity.
The UNL and medical center libraries
contributed $100,000 in unspent utility
funds. UNL had no unspent money, he
said.
The rest of the funding, he said, came
from a $150,000 grant from the NU
Foundation. UNL, however, did spend
money on the program, Chamberlin noted.
"We spent quite an extensive amount on
remodeling some rooms to house the
equipment," said Chamberlin. He added
that the medical and life sciences depart
ments of both Omaha campuses will be
aided by the system.
POQ03 Gai3
University Libraries
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
Signature: twifitf . -tvfrM
Name: PRENTISS, tfiOMAS J.
W 3Sb-Sfl-??Sfi
This is a sample of the library cards to be used with the new system. Card appli
cations start Jan. 22.
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To avoid influenza,
don't get too tired
Scattered cases of Russian flu have occurred in the
United States, although epidemic portions have not been
reached and "It's hard to say if the flu will plague UNL,"
according to Dr. Garland Bare, director of the University
Health Center.
There is no vaccination to prevent the Russian flu.
'The only way to help prevent the flu is to avoid
becoming too fatigued," Bare said.
"Since this is Nebraska's coldest winter on record and
because residence halls do not have humidifiers, the health
center is expecting respiratory infections to be the major
health problem ," Bare said .
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