Information technology, Georgia. University System of Georgia. Board of Regents. Office of Information and Instructional Technology

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OIT News Bulletin: December 1993 - February 1994
Contents
Calendar of Events From the Vice Chancellor Library Pilot Project Implemented OIT GSAMS Site Revisiting the Annual Computing Conference The Agony and the Ecstasy: Libraries and Computer Centers Can Coexist Peacefully What's New on the Gopher
Calendar of Events December 1993/January-February, 1994
February 10 Authorware Training. The Authorware Professional Intermediate session for both Windows and the Macintosh will be held in the OIT Training Center at 455 N. Lumpkin Street in Athens.
February 23 ACIT Winter Meeting. The meeting will be held at Georgia College<Macon Center.
March 1 EDP Plans. The three-year EDP plans and the Microcomputer Acquisition and Management Plans are due in the office of the Vice Chancellor for Information Technology.
November 9-11 Annual Computing Conference. The University System Annual Computing Conference will be held at Rock Eagle.
From The Vice Chancellor December 1993/January-February, 1994
*** As a part of the new health care insurance package, in January System institutions began using PeachNet to access Blue Cross/Blue Shield's computer system. Originally, the connectivity plan called for a separate set of dedicated phone lines and terminal installations around the state. However, not only was PeachNet conveniently available, its application resulted in major cost savings.
*** Procurement of a Human Resource/Payroll system is still in process. Bids received in response to the RFP did not conform to mandatory requirements. Because of this and other complications, the RFP was cancelled and discussions are being initiated with the bidders to identify the product that best fits the requirements of the University System of Georgia. Selection of a system is anticipated by this spring.
*** Discussions are being reopened towards the acquisition of a Student Information System to be made available to all institutions. Establishment of a business agreement, under which any institution could procure the package, is targeted for the spring.
*** As a reminder, the Board of Regents has an agency contract to assist institutions in financing EDP equipment. Equipment may be financed for a period not to exceed five years. A copy of the contract is available on the University System of Georgia Gopher or through my office.

*** The Division of Technology Support Services has begun investigating electronic software distribution (ESD) of packages offered through the Software Cooperative. Several commercial products have been selected for review during the first quarter of 1994. The goal of the OIT's ESD effort will be to deliver as many of the Cooperative's software packages as possible to a single authorized distribution point on campus. The campus distribution point would in turn be responsible for delivery to individuals or other servers on campus.
*** In the near future, State Purchasing will be soliciting vendor bids for the State Microcomputer Contracts and Microcomputer Peripherals Contracts. In preparation for the new microcomputer awards, State Purchasing recently surveyed System institutions and other state agencies to determine buying preferences for microcomputers. State Purchasing will soon survey institutions and state agencies to determine which products should be included on the peripherals contracts.
*** The OIT is pleased to welcome a new staff member: Mr. Scott Rule, Systems Integration Specialist III, Division of Technology Support Services.
J. B. Mathews, Vice Chancellor
Library Pilot Project Implemented December 1993/January-February, 1994
The distance learning proposal Expanding the Vision: State-wide Access through PeachNet is underway. Equipment and telephone lines were ordered for installation in late December and in early January for the pilot project funded by the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Board.
The purpose of the distance learning pilot project is to make PeachNet, the electronic highway that provides access to state, national, and international information resources for the University System, available to all Georgia citizens. The project has the potential to equalize educational opportunities--especially in rural areas, to improve the quality of education, and to develop a state better prepared for the future by making technologybased information services available to all Georgia citizens through PeachNet and the Internet. Additionally, public libraries will improve their functionality, reduce operational costs, and enhance services offered to the community.
When the initial installation activity is completed, public libraries will have access to library catalogs and electronic information databases, periodical subscription services, search tools, exchange of information via file transfer, and electronic mail and conferences. Both teachers and students in each county will have a gateway via the public libraries to worldwide information resources, in addition to computer-aided instructional systems. Several services on the Internet allow participants to discuss topics of common interest: there are over 1500 academic topics in mathematics, social sciences, the arts, history, languages, and physics. In the area of K-12, there are over fifty discussion topics, ranging from teacher education, educational technology, educational reform, special education, gifted education, and the teaching of specific subjects, such as reading, mathematics, science, and foreign languages.
Students and educators will not be the only beneficiaries of the service. Ultimately, any individual with a personal computer and a modem can gain access to the electronic information highway with dial-up connections through a phone call to the local library. Consequently, the information resources of PeachNet and the Internet are also available to everyone through microcomputers in the public library
The participants in the project are the Ocmulgee Regional Library System in Eastman, the Bartow County Library System in Cartersville and its Adairsville branch, the Roddenbery Memorial Library in Cairo, the Chattooga County Library in Summerville, the Screven-Jenkins Regional Library in Sylvania, and the Jenkins County High School and the Elementary School in Millen. All are in rural areas with populations ranging from eight to twenty thousand, except for Bartow County, which has been affected by the growth of the Atlanta metro area. Direct connections providing access through local

area networks connected to PeachNet will be established at the Department of Public Library Services (DPLS) in Atlanta.
Office of Information Technology (OIT) personnel in the Division of Telecommunications and Networking have developed the specifications for the equipment, will conduct site inspections, and will install the equipment at the pilot locations. Additionally, OIT personnel in the Division of Technology Support Services will install software and provide instructions for equipment operation and for troubleshooting. DOAS personnel will install telephone lines. The first three site installations have been completed, and the remainder will be completed by February 28.
The Division of Academic Services of the Office of Information Technology will coordinate training and support services and will work closely with the DPLS to adapt training to meet the needs of users. Hands-on training sessions in the use of PeachNet and the Internet will be offered through a contractual arrangement with the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET). Course content will evolve over the first six to twelve months as Academic Services personnel adapt the content to the needs of users. Consulting support will be a form of train-the-trainer model.
The pilot project will be evaluated using electronically collected data, survey data, and evaluation session data. The electronically collected data, provided by the Office of Information Technology, will be extracted from the PeachNet monitoring software and will include the number of calls, average time per call, and hours of peak usage.
Evaluation sessions will be conducted with pilot site personnel and selected K-12 users. The data will provide such information as the way the network is used; the advantages and disadvantages of this type of access; rating the ease of use of the equipment and software; and rating the quality of the training. In addition, those administering the project will detail the start-up and will briefly describe ongoing activities.
The sessions will be structured to gather the kinds of applications most suited to this type of learning environment; opportunities that would not have been available without PeachNet connectivity; recommended changes in the services offered or how the services were used; and potential for future uses either for courses or for individuals involved in personal learning. Recommendations will be taken by OIT and DPLS personnel and implemented if feasible.
Mr. Joe Forsee, Department of Education DPLS director, hopes that state funds will be forthcoming to connect public library systems statewide. To that end he has included in this year's budget a request for supplemental funding to cover implementation costs. Because every community in Georgia is served by the system of public libraries, access to PeachNet can make all Georgia's library materials available to every citizen.
OIT GSAMS Site by Ken Kling, OIT December 1993/January-February, 1994
Two-way interactive video and audio equipment was installed in January at the Office of Information Technology Training Center in Athens, making that site part of the state distance learning GSAMS (Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical System) network. The Division of Academic Services of the OIT will explore the potential of the technology for delivering training seminars in the use of computer systems and software and will participate in distance learning "teleclasses" offered over GSAMS.
Tentatively, new seminars on topics such as NovaNET and the Internet are planned. Faculty and staff at other GSAMS sites in the University System would be able to participate in these seminars without having to drive to Athens. There are 104 GSAMS installations at public schools (K-12), technical and adult education institutes, and University System campuses. Anyone interested in participating in GSAMS seminars and classes should check with a nearby facility that is a GSAMS site.
If you have suggestions for seminar topics or if you would like to originate a GSAMS seminar from your campus site, contact Ken Kling by e-mail

at kling@oit.peachnet. edu or by phone at GIST 241-5242 or 706/542-5242.
Revisiting the Annual Computing Conference December 1993/January-February, 1994
The 1993 University System Computing Conference is over, and reactions have been reviewed. In general, those attending have found the conference a source of information and an opportunity to make new friendships and renew old ones with colleagues from across the University System. High quality presentations, topic variety, expert presenters, hands-on training sessions, and low cost have made the conference a success.
Organizers are already planning the 1994 conference and are considering suggestions received from participants. An overwhelming interest in Hewlett Packard, Unix, and Oracle may prompt inclusion of more in-depth sessions. Additionally, participants are interested in more offerings concerning the Internet and locator tools like WAIS and World Wide Web. Others would like more coverage on the use of the Internet in library reference services, in addition to Listservs, new Gopher information, and the development of Gophers. Many people would like more material on multi-media, which is emerging as the new-fashioned presentation tool.
In the past, Writing Across the Curriculum has been a hot topic on campus; "Computing Across the Curriculum" may be the new direction, with library information access a consequence. Relational Database Management has emerged as a topic that attendees would like to have presented, and some participants have requested inclusion of a problem-solving forum where realworld problems could be addressed by a panel of computing experts. Sessions covering computer-assisted instruction will continue to be in demand.
Ironically, the success of the conference has created a dilemma. Greater interest has filled sessions to more than capacity; classroom facilities at the present site have become strained; and participation has been limited. Hands-on training sessions, especially, have become problematic.
However, based on feedback from this past year's event, organizers have been working to alleviate congestion for the November 1994 computing conference. They have been able to reserve the entire Rock Eagle facility, thus gaining access to additional meeting rooms and space in order to accommodate greater participation.
The Agony and the Ecstasy: Libraries and Computer Centers Can Coexist Peacefully
by Mary K. Dudman Henderson Library Georgia Southern University December 1993/January-February, 1994
The implementation of the Henderson Library on-line catalog and the discovery of a number of library-related, on-line resources necessitated a special working relationship between Georgia Southern's Computer Center and the on-line library operations. VAX computers, which heretofore had solely maintained student records and processed computer programs, became information access sources, as well as information storage and processing units. Using the VAX for electronic mail and listserv subscriptions was only the beginning of technical progress for library staff. Once the wonders of the Internet were revealed and librarians began exploring the myriad information sources available, developing resources at Georgia Southern was no longer an option, but had become a requirement. Because a commitment to the use of a VAX-based on-line library system had already been made, a cooperative working relationship between the Computer Center and the Library was crucial to the successful implementation and maintenance of the on-line catalog and the Information Services menu.
Installation of the library database onto the VAX was the first major task. For library staff, understanding the way the database operated was essential to the maintenance, management, upgrading, and effective usage of the on-line library system. The existing database on tape had been created

remotely according to library specifications, and the software for the on-line system was a proprietary system which required special maintenance techniques.
Because of the potential difficulties which might be encountered in maintaining an effective working relationship between distinct units, some agreement had to be made concerning channels of communication. We decided to designate two individuals for transferring information essential to keeping the library on-line system running, one in the Library and one in the Computer Center. Suggestions, ideas, and matters requiring coordination of effort would progress through these individuals.
The entire process has not been flawless, but the pipeline approach has provided us an ideal means to transmit information consistently. For instance, coordination of downtime is especially important on our campus because the library maintains a 24-hour operation, resulting in round-theclock demand on the on-line library services.
After the library catalog came on-line and initial excitement subsided, questions surfaced about the creation and management of supplemental text files for library hours, the library guide, the on-line suggestion box, and for numerous other on-line options. In addition, it was time to work with the Computer Center to write a program for automatic loading of data from the student information system into the on-line library system patron database. This project brought more staff members from the Computer Center into the effort in order to achieve the first massive entering of student data.
Because the library had set a goal to have technical services up and running during the summer of 1992 and to have circulation up and running for fall quarter 1992, both the computer center and the library had to tie up loose ends, to get files ready for use, and to ensure that equipment was operating, including a complex cabling system, so that the OCLC terminals would transfer cataloged records into the database. However, the latest Field Service Bulletin from the on-line vendor was missing, so we had no access to the proper cabling configurations and settings until we received a fax from the vendor. Thousands of dollars invested in the training visit would go down the drain if the system would not actually transfer a record into the database.
The computer center communications expert pulled off our miracle when he resolved the problem at the last minute. Without true goal-oriented spirit and cooperative effort, the effectiveness and practicality of the training would have been jeopardized.
Computer Services personnel taught me to do as much as possible in managing and maintaining the library on-line system, such as loading student data, modifying command files and reports, updating news files, and handling overdue notices. Librarians have certainly come a long way from the days of quill pen and card catalog: we venture daily into on-line catalogs, remote databases, and computer files and deal with the mysteries of backups, disks, and FTP's.
Libraries and computer centers can work miracles in cooperative efforts. The significant accomplishments of the past two years have been the result of Georgia Southern's Computer Center and the library working in tandem. Without the assistance of computer center staff and without the cooperative spirit which has developed between library staff and computer center staff, the library on-line project would be still be on Park Place rather than having passed GO.
What's New on the Gopher December 1993/January-February, 1994
The University System of Georgia Gopher is now running on a faster machine, and its menu has a new appearance. The main screen has been reorganized as have lower level menus and contains additional information in a more organized, easier to use format.
We encourage comments and suggestions; please reply to gopher@gopher. peachnet.edu or contact Jayne Williams (912/681-5764 or GIST 364-5764).
With the Gopher reorganization, the Libraries directory was updated to

include Telnet connectivity to University System libraries with on-line catalogs. Additionally, the University System of Georgia Libraries directory contains information about each of the thirty-four System libraries.
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