Clarification of Science Computer File Survey (Renee Bush) Marcia Tuttle 17 Apr 1992 17:43 UTC
---------------------------- Text of forwarded message ----------------------- Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 11:59:26 EDT From: Renee Bush <SFEFANG@UBVM> Subject: Clarification of Science Computer File Survey Please pardon duplicate mailings as a result of cross-posting this notice to several listserv's.... Please forward this message to the person in your institution that you think would most likely have received the survey described below: Two weeks ago, a survey questionnaire was mailed to nearly 600 academic libraries as part of a CLR funded project which requested information about LOCALLY-MOUNTED SCIENCE COMPUTER FILES. Judging from some of the responses we have received so far, I believe that there is some confusion about what these materials are. I would like to try to clarify the topic here. SCIENCE COMPUTER FILES, as defined in the survey's cover letter, consist primarily, or entirely, of DATA. This data, produced and utilized by scientists & engineers, may be the nucleic acid sequences of plant or animal genes, the physical properties of materials, a city's average snowfall in inches for the month of January, or a stream's flow in cubic feet per second. Data bases such as CA SEARCH, BIOSIS Previews, COMPENDEX, INSPEC, ENVIROLINE, and MEDLINE consist entirely of bibliographic information (each record represents a unique document) and are NOT the subject of this study. LOCALLY-MOUNTED refers to the fact that these computer files are bought or leased and are PHYSICALLY LOCATED at the institution that obtained it. The computer files may be on floppy disks, CD- ROMs, or on tape. According to this definition then, science computer files accessed via vendors such as DIALOG, BRS or STN are not "locally-mounted." I am posting this information on several listserv's in the hope that: (1) those who have not yet responded will better understand what is being studied; (2) those who have already returned the questionnaire but now realize that their responses were based on the provision of access to BIBLIOGRAPHIC computer files, will contact me as soon as possible. Also, if you work in an academic library and have not received a questionnaire, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Renee Bush Head of Reference; Collection Coordinator Science & Engineering Library SUNY at Buffalo Buffalo, NY 14260 (716) 636-2946 FAX (716) 636-3719 SFEFANG@UBVM.BITNET SFEFANG@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu