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July 1994 LANL Research Library Monthly Newsletter
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ASK - Anomalous State of Knowledge: An anomaly in one's state of knowledge, or lack of
knowledge, with respect to a problem faced. The start of the information retrieval
process. Call 7-5809 or e-mail ref@lanl.gov to ASK.
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1. Alerts on DIALOG
2. News from the Report Collection
3. Two New Environmental Journals
4. ...And Even More New Journals!
5. Test Drive New CD's
6. Electronic LANL Research Library What's New
7. July Training Opportunities
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1. Alerts on DIALOG
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After starting a new project and working through the initial literature search, it is
important to stay current on new developments, new products, changing legislation or new
patents that affect the project. The DIALOG Alert(SM) service provides researchers a cost
effective current awareness service. DIALOG is a major vendor of databases, providing
access to over 450 databases. The scope of these databases is great, ranging from current
news to science and technology to patent literature. This breadth of material is one of
DIALOG's strength. For example, if your area of interest is HIPPI (high performance
parallel interface) and possible technology transfer opportunities, an Alert in the New
Products File or PTS Promt would inform you of current developments. Another example might
involve patents, what activity is happening with LIDAR or computerized tomography. Running
an Alert in the US patent file would keep you tuned in to who, what companies, and where
the technology is leading. For even broader coverage, an Alert in the World Patent
Database would be wise. If your current assignment is to find commercialization
opportunities for a Laboratory skill or product, you have narrowed the search down to 2-3
companies, an Alert would allow you to track news stories, new product announcements from
those companies, and potential mergers or acquisitions.
The first step in setting up an Alert is to establish a search strategy that provides the information required. Several iterations of the search may be necessary. Next, one must decide in what databases the Alert should occur. Since the databases have differing update schedules, Alerts must be set up for each desired database. The results that occur when your search is run automatically upon update of the database may be delivered by first class mail, DIALMAIL, fax, or e-mail. The frequency of the update can range from daily to monthly and is database specific. The cost of an Alert is also database specific. The time an Alert exists is totally dependent upon the researchers' needs.
Please contact the Research Desk to get your DIALOG Alert service established.
Frances Knudson, fknudson@lanl.gov
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2. News from the Report Collection
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Patrons can now borrow unclassified microfiche reports from the Report Collection. Until
now, technical reports in microfiche did not circulate but had to be used in the Library.
The loan period is 7 days, unlike paper copies, which circulate for 28 days. However,
patrons can renew microfiche report loans just as they can books and paper reports,
providing no other user has placed a hold on the item. This change in policy permits
Laboratory customers to borrow from a unique collection of approximately 1,100,000
unclassified technical reports.
New Los Alamos unclassified reports are now being displayed in a prominent position on the Library's "What's New" shelving area. New reports are displayed for a two-week period. If you see a new report that you are interested in, please contact the Report Collection at 7-4446 about borrowing or obtaining your own copy -- however, we ask you not to permanently remove the copy on the "What's New" shelf.
A change that we believe will be helpful is that effective immediately, when a report is given to a patron, whether at the Report Collection circulation desk or main level circulation desk, it will include a slip clearly indicating the report's circulation status, e.g., 28-day loan, 7-day loan, day-use only, gratis (i.e., give-away) copy.
Ken Collins, kac@lanl.gov
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3. Two New Environmental Journals
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Issues have started arriving for two environmental titles - "Journal of Environmental
Regulation" and "Ecological Engineering."
The "Journal of Environmental Regulation" is written for environmental managers, engineers, lawyers, and other environmental professionals. The goal of the journal is to keep readers up-to-date on both legal and practical developments in environmental management of business organizations. Recently there has been a series on the environmental implications of NAFTA. New rulings or interpretations from the EPA are covered in detail. There are regular features including "Washington Watch," "State and Local Developments," and "Enforcement Trends." An article about electromagnetic fields and the growing public concern will appear in a future issue.
The second journal, "Ecological Engineering," is aimed toward ecologists involved in designing, monitoring, or constructing ecosystems. "Ecological engineering has been defined as the design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and nature. Specific topics covered in the journal include: ecotechnology; synthetic ecology; bioengineering; sustainable agroecology; habitat reconstruction; restoration ecology; ecosystem reclamation ecology; non-renewable resource conservation. Because ecological engineering is based on the premise of conserving both renewable and non-renewable resources by using both in partnership, the journal will also be pertinent to those involved in global change, alternative energy policies, ecological economics, environmental conservation, and global geopolitics."
Frances Knudson, fknudson@lanl.gov
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4. ...And Even More New Journals!
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Want to know more about how various health care proposals might affect benefits offered by
the Laboratory, but previously have been frustrated that the Research Library does not
have the journals to satisfy that non-technical need? How does "Comparisons of Major
Health-care Reform Bills" from the "Personnel Journal" sound? Interested in
contracting out? How about "Winning Strategies for Outsourcing Contracts" from
the same journal? Similarly, if your need is new satellite developments around the world,
would "New Deals in China," from "Satellite Communications" aid your
research? Or, perhaps other pieces from "Asian Business" or the "Far
Eastern Economic Review?" Well, the Research Library does subscribe to those
journals, just not in a traditional format.
Come explore the newest CD product available at the Library, called Business Periodicals [under Specialized Databases] on the access menu for each of the public workstations. The 300+ journals available full-image have expanded the non-technical collection substantially. Each full-image journal article is an exact reproduction of the journal, including charts, diagrams or photographs -- even ads, if that's your need! The Library is now better able to provide access to journals such as "Group and Organization Studies," "Journal of Forecasting," "Journal of Property Management," "MIS Quarterly," "NPN: National Petroleum News," "Network World," "R & D Management," or "Risk Management." The system is easy to use and has extensive coverage, so come try it with your own subject need!
Marie Harper, mharper@lanl.gov
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5. Test Drive New CD's
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The Research Library is currently evaluating a number of CD-ROM databases for possible
addition to the specialized database collection on the library network. They are being
tested for a very short period of time. You are welcome to take a look at any of these
databases. Be sure and call the Research Desk (7-5809) before you come to verify that the
CD is still available in the Library. The following are being evaluated:
GeoRef - This is the CD version of the "Bibliography and Index of Geology" covering the world's literature in geology and the geosciences. This database covers the geology of North America since 1785 and the rest of the world since 1933.
IHS Worldwide Standards Service Index - This CD is an index to 100,000 current standards from 375 developing bodies.
MathSci - This CD contains information from "Mathematical Reviews" and "Current Mathematical Publications" and provides information on mathematics and its applications in related fields, such as statistics, computer science and operations research. The CD being tested covers 1988-1993.
Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts - Published by the American Meteorological Society, this is the CD version of "Meteorological Abstracts." The library is testing a demo version while the full database covers 1974-present.
Standards Infodisk -This British database indexes 200,000 national, international and military standards.
Thomas Register - This CD database corresponds to the "Thomas Register of American Manufacturers" and covers US and Canadian companies with a manufactured product. Company information includes address, phone, SIC codes, products, sales and number of employees.
In addition the Research Library has added some new CD databases to its collection. Currently not on the library network, these are available for searching on the standalone CD-ROM workstation by asking at the Research Desk. These are:
CASurveyors - Subsets of the Chemical Abstracts databases, these CDs cover magnetic resonance, organometallic chemistry, cancer chemical research, and chromatography, all from 1991.
DOE Energy Science and Technology - 1974-1985 - This CD adds the backfiles to what is available on the Library network.
Jeane Strub, jstrub@lanl.gov
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6. Electronic LANL Research Library What's New
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In August we are planning to electronically distribute a weekly publication of What's New
in the Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library. Approximately 50-100 new books are
added to our collection weekly. This electronic publication will give you an opportunity
to review these titles in your office. In some cases the title might give enough clues
that you will want to put a hold on the book. In other cases, a trip to the library to
peruse the What's New book display might help you decide if a particular title is really
of interest. Later this year, we also hope to add the Los Alamos reports that we receive
weekly to this list.
If you are interested in being on the list for our electronic issues of the What's New, please contact Frances Knudson (fknudson@lanl.gov) to have your name on the e-mail list. When you receive your first issue, there will be instructions on how to put holds on the new books added to the collection.
Jackie Stack, jstack@lanl.gov
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7. July Training Opportunities
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Date : Topic
5: Materials /Engineering Resources(1 pm)
6: Melvyl UC's online catalog & associated databases (11 am)
7: Information sources on the Internet via Gopher (10 -N)
7: Chemical Resources (1 pm)
11: Bioscience and Biotechnology Resources (1 pm)
12: Multidisciplinary Science Citation Index (1 pm)
13: Melvyl UC's online catalog & associated databases (11 am)
14: Information sources on the Internet via Gopher (10-N)
14: Earth & Environmental Systems (1 pm)
19: Business Periodical Resources (1 pm)
20: Melvyl UC's online catalog & associated databases (11 am)
21: Physics/Weapons Sciences Resources (1 pm)
26: Analysis and Assessment Resources (1 pm)
27: Melvyl UC's online catalog & associated databases (11 am)
28: High-Performance and Super Computing (1 pm)
Sessions begin at times indicated and will last approximately 30 minutes, except the Internet sources which is 2 hours. Please call the Research Desk at 7- 5809 or e-mail ref@lanl.gov for reservations for all sessions, to arrange a special session or tour or for more information.
Marie Harper, mharper@lanl.gov
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