LANL Research Library Newsletter

August 1996


Did you know that the Research Library has a free photocopy service? To find out more call 7-4175 or send e-mail to library@lanl.gov
See end of Newsletter for publication and access information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
August 1996 Issue


RESULTS OF THE JOURNAL REVIEW
With help from more than 250 Laboratory staff, the Research Library recently completed an extensive evaluation of the journal collection. The purpose of this review was to ensure that the journals we are currently subscribing to are the most vital to the Laboratory's core areas of research, and to identify new titles that need to be added to the collection.

In April the Research Library began collecting comments from researchers throughout the Laboratory on the usefulness of journals currently in our collection. Panels of experts in each subject area then met to evaluate these comments and make final decisions on the retention or cancellation of each title. As a result of this process, 67 journals were recommended for cancellation, for a total savings of $35,661. These cancellations will allow us to acquire new journals in subject areas that were under- represented in the past, and to better support new research areas.

Ninety new journals were recommended for addition to the collection, with a total cost of $29,753. Seventy-five percent of the recommended titles will be ordered immediately, based on strong recommendations from Laboratory staff on their relevancy to current research efforts. Additional information is needed for the remaining 25% of the recommended titles. Sample copies of these titles still under review will be placed on display at the front of the Research Library. We welcome your comments on these journals, and appreciate all the suggestions and feedback we have received throughout the journal review process..

Nancy Sprague

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LIBRARY TO INTRODUCE NEW WEB-BASED REQUEST FORM
Be on the lookout! The Research Library is introducing a newly designed Web-based Library Request Form [URL] later this month. The need for a single form to replace the five earlier forms used to request products and services was based on frequent comments from customers stating that the existing forms were confusing and redundant. This was confirmed by the number of times forms were incorrectly used (e.g., journal articles being requested on the report request form).

The new form will permit customers to fill in information about themselves one time, and then once a product or service is selected, to fill out the second part of the form with the specifics of the request. Templates for each product or service were developed to maximize consistency, and thereby eliminate confusion.

The form will be evaluated after a three-month trial period. During the trial period, the Research Library's forms revision team will collect customer input but not make any changes.

Please try out the new form when it becomes available, accessible from the Research Library's home page when it becomes available, and send your comments to library@lanl.gov. We are anxious to hear from you so that we can make the form even easier and more convenient to use.

Mary Ann Ross

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NEW CLASSIFIED TECHNICAL REPORTS INFORMATION WEB PAGE
The Research Library has added a new Web page on classified report information. This page, which is linked from the recently implemented Technical Report Resources page, contains a wealth of information about the classified report holdings in the Research Library's Report Collection, has an extensive set of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), and links to other security-related Web sites at Los Alamos National Laboratory (e.g., information security memoranda, security-related online forms, and the Classification Group, FSS-16, home page).

One interesting feature is a list of documents that Report Collection is seeking. Anyone with a copy of the report who is willing to donate it should get in touch with the Report Collection at 7-4446 or library@lanl.gov

Please note that this page is restricted to users with a "lanl.gov" domain address.

Send your comments and suggestions for improvement to library@lanl.gov

Ken Collins

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PRINT/EMAIL OPTION ENHANCED IN THE ONLINE CATALOG
Several enhancements have recently been made to the print/email option of the Research Library's Online Catalog. For all print formats, the database now shows at the top of the printout. In the Summary Listing (call number and title only), all unique call numbers for each title are printed. For all output formats other than the Summary Listing, technical report numbers and URLs are now included when they are part of the record. In addition, numerous cosmetic changes were made to improve the readability of the printout.

We are continually trying to improve the usefulness of the Online Catalog printouts. If you have suggestions for further improvements, please feel free to send them to Doug Chafe

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WHAT'S NEW IN UNCLASSIFIED MICROFICHE REPORTS
Many Laboratory customers of technical reports are not aware of a useful electronic publication that announces most of the new unclassified reports received in the Report Collection. The Report Collection receives approximately 20,000 reports annually in microfiche from DOE's Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI), the main scientific/technical information clearinghouse for the Department.

You can find out what we receive by consulting our electronic What's New in Unclassified Microfiche Reports. This PDF document is organized into 25 broad subject areas, and is text-word searchable. Adobe Acrobat Reader software (free to Laboratory customers) must be on your machine to view the publication.

The Research Library keeps the latest five issues of this publication up on the Web. Although the publication date often seems behind, the date reflects OSTI's production date rather than the Research Library's receipt date.

You can locate What's New in Unclassified Microfiche Reports from the Technical Report Resources Web page or from Library News & Information at the Library's Web site.

Ken Collins

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ASIAN TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION PROGRAM
In collaboration with Scientific Computing Group (CIC-19) and the Advanced Computing Laboratory (ACL), the Research Library (CIC-14) is providing access to the Asian Technology Information Program (ATIP). The Asian Technology Information Program is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing objective and high-quality information about technology developments in Asia.

Sample titles from recently published ATIP reports: Information Technology and Global Trade; Photopolymer Science and Technology in Japan. India's Zeolite Research - - Catalysts to Zeozymes; Parallel & Distributed Systems.

There is a link to ATIP from the Research Library's Web site. The link resides on the Electronic Databases page. Access requires a user name and password. These can be obtained from the Research Library; with the password, it is possible to access the full-text of reports written for ATIP.

Below is a brief description of ATIP services, taken directly from its Web page.

ATIP is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, and is a collaboration with the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) and the New Mexico US-Japan Center (at the University of New Mexico).

ATIP's objective is to help bridge the technology information gap by promoting collaborations and other profitable interactions between Western and Japan/Asian organizations. Producing and distributing accurate information adds value and gives mutual benefit to both providers and receivers.

ATIP is a new activity using a modern electronic approach and providing unique benefits to companies, research institutes and government agencies, in Japan, Asia, and the West.

ATIP provides information about technology developments and opportunities, using ATIP's on-site experts and facilities in Japan, China, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, India, and other Asian countries, as well as in the US.

ATIP provides access to its information programs and activities through public outreach activities, paid subscriptions, and special services. These support the timely collection, analysis, and dissemination of Asian scientific and technological trends and opportunities to industry, government, associations, academic organizations and individuals.

Information programs and activities include: regular reports detailing trends, technical advances and developments, report abstracts, technology seminars, briefings, biannual newsletters, technology tours, advisory meetings, consulting, custom projects, etc.

Frances Knudson

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NEW ON THE RESEARCH LIBRARY'S WEB SITE
Every month the Research Library adds valuable information for its users through its Web site. Check out the exciting new links added over the past month by going directly to the New on Our Page area of our Web site.

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Newsletter Editor: Ken Collins

To receive an electronic subscription to the Research Library Newsletter, sent the first of each month to your e-mail address, do the following:

1) Send an e-mail message to ListManager@lanl.gov
2) Leave the subject line blank
3) The body of the message should contain the following two- line message exactly as shown:

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The name and e-mail address of the Library member who contributed an article appears at the end of the article. If you have comments or further questions, please contact that person. If you have general questions or comments about the Newsletter itself, please contact the Newsletter editor, Ken Collins

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