Usage data is not available for those databases that are accessed via the WWW browsers such as Netscape, Internet Explorer, etc. However, LIAS "telnet" databases and Web databases accessible via LYNX WWW browser software were accessed 2,428,848 times during 1997. For the first time, this number includes the number of sessions established in The CAT. After The CAT, which was accessed 1,740,534 times, Periodical Abstracts was the most heavily used LIAS database, with a total of 180,895 sessions. Please refer to the appendices for additional LIAS telnet database usage statistics.

During the reporting period, LCS continued to work with the Libraries in converting locally-produced databases, such as Mass Media which was originally available via Gopher, into LIAS databases. Other locally produced databases that will be converted to LIAS databases include indexes to the Daily Collegian and the Centre Daily Times. LCS also continued to participate in the English Emblem Book Project which is a cooperative venture of the Libraries Electronic Text Center, Rare Books, Special Collections, CAC and the Department of English. The aim of the project is to digitize the University's emblem collection and make it available online. "Emblems" consist of three components: a picture, a motto, and a verse or prose passage that teaches a lesson. LCS will assist in implementing the project and will maintain its image archive server.

CIC Virtual Electronic Library (VEL). LCS has provided access to the VEL (Virtual Electronic Library) of the CIC since October 1996. The VEL, which is accessible via LIAS on the Web, provides a Web interface to the CIC library catalogs via Z39.50, including The CAT, and also allows them to be searched one at a time or simultaneously. Since July 1997, it has also been possible for users of the LIAS VEL to place their own interlibrary loan requests for materials at any of the CIC libraries through the VEL. With the release of Webz version 1.5 in October, 1997, the VEL also includes the Penn State Virtual Catalog consisting of The CAT, ABI Inform, AGRICOLA, Books in Print (BIP), ERIC, NTIS, Newspaper Abstracts, Periodical Abstracts, and Table of Contents (TOC).The databases can be searched simultaneously, and also provide a Web interface to the locally loaded LIAS databases. Since the searching is done via Z39.50, however, the full functionality of LIAS is not present in the VEL databases. As of October, 1997, the VEL also provides advanced searching and full text capabilities.

Searching Enhancements. As of December 1997, users can determine if an item has full text from the brief citation display in the LIAS databases accessible via telnet. Previously, this information was not visible until the user viewed the full record. The phrase *Full Text* appears on the right edge of the citation. The Web version of LIAS (LIAS VEL) is also being enhanced so that this information will appear on brief citation records as well as full records.

The USMARC Format for Bibliographic Data, which is the communications standard that LIAS uses for identifying, storing and communicating cataloging information, contains Field tag 856 (Electronic Location and Access). This field contains the information required to locate an electronic item. For example, this field may include a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), which is used access sites on the Internet. Field 856 in LIAS records has been "hot linked," so that users can now go directly to the electronic item that the hot link points to. LCS has completed the hot-linking in the VEL version of LIAS so that users can link directly to HTTP and FTP files from the LIAS record. LCS is also working on implementing a 'LINK" command in the LIAS databases accessible via telnet. This enhancement will be implemented during Spring semester, 1998.

PALCI (Pennsylvania Academic Library Connection Initiative). The Penn State University Libraries is a member of the Pennsylvania Academic Libraries Connection Initiative (PALCI), an organization of private and public academic libraries that was formed in 1996 to foster cooperation among academic libraries in Pennsylvania. The first major PALCI initiative is to create a virtual online union catalog using a Web-based interface to provide Z39.50 searches across multiple vendor systems. Searches will be conducted concurrently, and the system will enable direct borrowing of books by library users from member libraries. LCS will assist the University Libraries in this project by providing support to CPS, a third party vendor with whom PALCI has contracted for programming.

Other Database Projects. Records representing the collection of Penn State Harrisburg are now being extracted semi-annually for uploading to the Academic Libraries in Pennsylvania (ACLCP) union catalog. In addition, copies of records in The CAT having holdings in the Cable TV Museum were extracted to a separate file from which printed reports were produced to support migration of these materials to Denver. The Cable TV materials were shipped and the file FTPed to Denver in December 1997. LCS also assisted the Libraries in the North American Title Count Project which was a CIC initiative to conduct a collection analysis of all CIC libraries. LIAS titles were counted using call number breakdowns and parameters provided by the NATC. The data will be collected and analyzed by the University of Illinois Data Center. Finally, LCS also extracted all the LIAS serials records for the CIC Serials Retention Program which maintains a database of all serials titles at all of the CIC institutions. Having access to this data assists each CIC institution in making serials cancellation and subscription decisions. These records will be extracted and FTPed to the CIC semi-annually.

LIBRARY OPERATIONS

Non-Bibliographic Acquisitions. LCS worked with Libraries Acquisitions staff to develop a specifications document defining a new format for non-bibliographic entities such as Memberships, Standing Orders, and Business Records. Using the new format, staff will be able to input/edit/delete LIAS records for these entities and eliminate manual procedures. These records will not be visible to the public since they are behind-the-scenes processing records. LCS began working on the development of the new format during the reporting period.

Help Desk. Working with guidelines from both LCS operations staff and the Libraries Computer-Based Resources and Services Team, LCS development staff began working on a Web-based Help Desk during the second half of 1997. This Help Desk, scheduled for release in early 1998, will enable Libraries staff to report problems and request help via the Web, rather than by phone, email, etc. It will also eliminate the need for users to determine whether their help request should go to LCS or to CBRST since all requests will be consolidated in one central place.

Trouble Calls. LCS staff resolved 809 trouble calls between July 1 - December, 1997.

AUTHENTICATION

ICAAP. LCS is participating in the Inter-CIC Authentication and Authorization Project (ICAAP), whose objective is to demonstrate a secure interoperable authentication and authorization architecture which allows members of the CIC, both inter and intra-institutional, access to restricted materials and distributed computing resources. LCS has purchased and installed a Compaq Proliant 3000 dual 300 MHz CPU NT server as one step in building the necessary architectures and infrastructure for this project. The goals of ICAAP are twofold. First, it will allow Penn State students, faculty and staff to authenticate and gain access to protected IP resources (e.g., Encyclopeadia Britannica, JSTOR, etc.) no matter where they are on the Internet. Currently, only users coming in on PSU IPs can access the protected and licensed databases and resources. Second, it will enable authorized users at the other CIC institutions to connect and authenticate in order to gain appropriate access to authorized PSU resources. Each campus will maintain a registry of users and groups in a campus authorization system. Authentication and authorization information will be carried between campuses using DCE network credentials.

DCE Authentication in LIAS. LCS will utilize the DCE inter-cell model to authenticate users in LIAS, which will enable Penn State students, faculty and staff to authenticate using their PSU Access Account IDs and passwords. Currently, all LIAS authentication (e.g., to access patron circulation information, databases from non-library locations, etc.) is done via the Penn State nine-digit ID number and last name.

HARDWARE AND NETWORK PROJECTS

Library Construction Hardware Moves. LCS was heavily involved in providing ongoing connectivity for Libraries' faculty and staff as they relocated to temporary work areas while Pattee is under construction. More than 200 workstations were moved to the Thomas Building and work areas throughout Pattee, with no loss of connectivity for the staff other than for the duration of time when the actual move occurred. All of the work for the first move was completed by the end of October 1997. Movement of hardware will continue during the entire construction period as Libraries staff are relocated.

Library Construction Planning and Design. LCS systems staff spent significant time reviewing the Libraries original program plans to ensure that they provide adequate data connections, and also support future networking, telecommunications, automation, etc. needs. In addition, working together with the Office of Physical Plant, the Libraries architects and OTC, LCS was able to redesign the plan so that only one communications closet per floor is required resulting in cost savings to LCS and the Libraries. The original plan called for three communications closets per floor. Working with staff from the Gateway Library, LCS looked at ways to make that area "work better" and have more flexibility, as well as eliminate raised flooring. With the change in the flooring, the Gateway area gains approximately 500 square feet. Finally, LCS worked with the Office of Physical Plant, the Libraries architects and Factory Mutual Insurance Company to reorganize the Computer Room into two separate spaces. One, protected by the current Halon system, will be the Computer Room, while the other, protected by a sprinkler system, will become a pc staging and storage facility.

Networks. By the end of December 1997, LCS was partway through the conversion of LCS from 10 mb to 100 mb workstation access to the network. The conversion will be completed when LCS' current workstations are replaced by 300 MHz workstations in early 1998.

Servers. In late 1997, LCS installed a second Digital Alpha 2100 OSF/1 Unix server. The second Alpha 2100 was clustered with LCS' original Alpha 2100 to provide enhanced Web server support.

Staff PC Upgrades. LCS staff replaced 39 existing Libraries staff pcs with new IBM Pentiums to support upgrading to the Windows 95 platform. An additional 207 Libraries staff workstations will be upgraded during the coming year.