The following is the first of what may be several evaluations of library resources available to the average network computer user. For those unfamiliar with network use, I recommend "The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog" (Krol, 1992).
As a starting point, I have somewhat arbitrarily chosen libraries at what are thought of as "good" universities, and evaluated them for Quaternary subjects which I consider common (you will note the biological and glacial bias I have--your interests may differ). Each topic was rated from 0 (worst) to 5 (best), and the topics were added to produce a cumulative total out of a possible 80 points. Thus, each library can be rated according to either specific personal taste (individual subjects), or comprehensively (all topics). All rating results are shown on Fig. 1.
Although telnet instructions and logon procedures are given here, by far the easiest way to do this is to use your hytelnet facility, usually through the Unix operating system. The hytelnet system I used was developed by Peter Scott, and provides essentially the same service as telnet, but is more sophisticated and easier as it does not require remembering details of the host system. Hytelnet itself is transparent, and allows communication with both the remote (host) and local system if desired. Peter provides frequent updates to the hytelnet system, giving network postings of new or changed library systems, network access facilities and public information services.
This may be subscribed to by e-mailing listserv@kentvm.kent.edu and
sending the following message:
SUBSCRIBE HYTEL-L First Name Last Name
To unsubscribe, send the following to the same address:
UNSUBSCRIBE HYTEL-L
To try hytelnet on your local system, get into the Unix operating system, and type "hytelnet" [return]. This should start hytelnet. If at any time you wish to exit the hytelnet system, type [Ctrl] ] or [Ctrl] C and this should release you to the telnet portion of your Unix operating system. To get out of telnet, type "quit", and this should return you to the Unix operating system you started from.
Caution must be used in searches to get good results. Often the same term will not produce results in the title and keyword searches, or there may be differences between different types of keyword searches. Another problem is the Library of Congress keyword selections. For example, till is almost never found- you must search for the antiquated term drift instead. Similarly, diamict(on) is almost never found. I also found this with tephra- it is usually found under volcanic ash. There are many references to glaciomarine and glaciolacustrine deposits, but the terms glaci(o)marine and glaci(o)lacustrine rarely show up. I assume this is because of the way they have been reviewed by the Library of Congress evaluators.
CANADA
Carleton University- poor display of holdings, but good holdings
telnet libray.carleton.ca or 134.117.1.46
at the first option prompt, type "profile vt100"
at the second option prompt, type "help" to see search
commands
Dalhousie University-
telnet novanet.dal.ca or 129.173.1.22
press [Return] to enter the catalog
McGill University-
tn3270 mvs.mcgill.ca
on menu, choose option 2 (MUSE) for library holdings
at CICS screen, hit [Return]
to exit, type "sto" (for stop)
Queen's University- good holdings, and good display,
but some tricks getting things to work. Their system
uses function keys, which are not recognized as such
using telnet. To emulate a function key, use [Escape]
followed by the number key for that function (i.e. F3
is [Esc] 3).
tn3270 qucdnadm.queensu.ca or 130.15.125.20 once
connected, follow instructions as they appear
onscreen
University of Alberta-
telnet or tn3270 (preferred) dra.library.ualberta.ca
or 129.128.5.180
for username, type "gate"
University of British Columbia- good holdings in
most subjects, but frustrating way of listing search
findings.
telnet library.ubc.ca or 137.82.42.5
at Enter your id: press [Return]
at the first menu, choose LIB for library
at the second menu, choose CAT for library holdings
catalog
University of Saskatchewan-
telnet sklib.usask.ca or 128.233.1.20
for username, type "sonia"
follow instructions that appear after login
University of Toronto- the only search system seen
that is menu-driven! Unfortunately, the menu also
obscures the search results (it cannot be removed
from the screen when scrolling through search hits).
Generally a badly designed system - inconvenient.
telnet vax.library.utoronto.ca or 128.100.95.1 for
username, use "utlink" for user id, type [Return]-
this limits use to non-commercial services after
login, follow instructions to get to holdings
catalog
UNITED STATES
Columbia University- ranked well overall. Has good
display of holdings.
telnet clio.cul.columbia.edu or 128.59.40.200
when connected, hit [Return] enter terminal type as
"vt100"
to exit, type "stop"
Cornell University- MUST use tn3270 rather than
telnet. Using telnet gives garbled screen image.
tn3270 cornellc.c.t.cornell.edu or 128.253.1.19
at user ID/password screen, press [Return]
at CP Read appears, type "library"
to exit, type "x"
Duke University- holdings are good, but awkward
display of holdings and doesn't show the total
number of findings for each search
telnet ducatalog.lib.duke.edu or 152.3.7.2
for username, type "library"
on main menu, select "1" for catalog searches
to exit, enter "q" from main menu
Harvard University- overall, one of the best for its
holdings, but also one of the worst for searching and
displaying results. Display organization is poor;
excellent long display for detailed search records,
but must browse through badly displayed first list to
find a single entry.
telnet hollis.harvard.edu or 128.103.60.31
press [Return] when Mitek Server screen appears
type "hollis" on the Harvard University/Office for
Information Technology screen to get catalog searches
to exit, type [Esc] xx
Johns Hopkins University- generally very good, but
some bugs. Sometimes difficult to proceed from
JHV/HAC login screen. Repeated attempts should
eventually get you there- it's worth trying. Display
of holdings is good- by chronological order, and
either short or long display.
telnet jhuvm.hcf.jhu.edu or 128.220.2.2
at "enter terminal" prompt, enter "56"
at JHU/HAC logo screen, press [Return]
at command prompt type "dial janus"
when port assignment appears, press [Return]
Kent State University- generally very good. Has good
display of holdings.
telnet catalyst.kent.edu or 131.123.1.9
when given the control character for telnet, press [return]
at "enter terminal", type "vt100"
at "select application", type "a"
at CICS screen, type "luks"
to exit: from inner menu type "stop"
from outer menu type [Ctrl] ]
Notre Dame University-
tn3270 irishmvs.cc.nd.edu. Telnet will not work.
at Enter Command or "HELP" type "library"
choose database wanted- ND for Notre Dame
to exit type [Ctrl] ]
Ohio State University- generally a disappointment.
Awkward search procedure and display only fairly
good. Holdings average to slightly above average.
telnet lcs.us.ohio-state.edu or 128.146.15.141
for device or terminal type, enter "vt100" or "mac.ibm"
University of Chicago-
telnet olorin.uchicago.edu
after line saying escape character is ^], press [Return]
at enter class prompt, enter "LIB48"
at "connected" message press [Return]
to exit, type "logout"
University of Colorado at Boulder- this is available
through the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries
(CARL), a network of libraries. A central number is
accessed, and the desired site is chosen from inside
CARL. Also available is the Colorado State University.
telnet pac.carl.org or 192.54.81.128
login as "pac" and follow directions and questions from there
to exit, type "//exit"
University of Minnesota-
telnet lumina.lib.umn.edu or 128.101.92.3
when prompted for terminal type, choose either 8 or 56 to emulate
VT100 with echo on or off, as required
follow directions on screen to select correct library and
search area
Yale University-
tn3270 orbis.yale.edu
choose OPAC- Yale University Catalog
Reference.
Krol, E. 1992. The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog. O'Reilly & Associates, ISBN 1-56592-025-2.