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In attendance: Dr. Keith Seitter, AMS
Carolyn Argentati, North Carolina State University, Natural Resources Library
Pete Banholzer, Goddard Space Flight Center Library
Peter Brueggeman, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library
Patricia Carey, University of Washington, Natural Sciences Library
Ellie Clement, Dartmouth College, Kresge Physical Sciences Library
Jerry Curry, EOSDIS
Melissa Lamont, Penn State University, Maps Library
Maria Latyszewskyj, Environment Canada
Lisa Recupero, Penn State University, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library
Julia Triplehorn, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute Library
Trevor Wakely, Bureau of Meteorology, Australia
Maureen Woods, NOAA Library, Seattle Office
Update on AMS Journals online:
The AMS is creating an SGML archive starting with the 1997 issues. The
journals will be available via the Web in PDF or HTML format created
"on the fly" from the archive.
The articles in the electronic versions will be full-text and have
figures (appearing as thumbnail sketches which can be viewed full-size
by clicking on them) and internal links to cited references in the
bibliography.
The pilot site will be available for preview around July 1, 1997.
A three tier pricing schedule has been established. The prices
indicated are the additional cost to receive the electronic version if
your institution already has a print subscription.
Departmental scheme for up to 100 workstations will be $30.00 per
journal (except Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology and
Weather and Forecasting which will be $20).
Small Institution scheme for 100-500 workstations will be $90 per
journal (except Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology and
Weather and Forecasting which will be less).
Large Institution scheme for over 500 workstations will be $150 per
journal (except Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology and
Weather and Forecasting which will be $100 each). (So at the large
institution level, if you receive all 7 of the AMS periodical
publications and want to receive the electronic versions as well, it
will be an additional $950 per year.)
It is costing the AMS over $194,000 to produce the electronic archive,
there for they need to generate over $200,000 to profit. They are
hoping for many large institution level subscriptions.
The Bulletin of the AMS will be available for no cost and no subscription via the Web. However, it will not be in SGML format.
You will be able to search all AMS publications included in the archive to the abstract level for no cost via the AMS Web site.
Subscriptions will be written so that years paid for by an
institution/subscriber will be "owned" by the subscriber and access
will not disappear if the subscription is terminated. If the AMS can no
longer "support" a server/archive, they will supply the purchased
issues in an alternative format.
If you subscribe with the 1998 charter subscription, access to 1997
will be received gratis. (This "2 for 1 special" will be advertised
with the initial launch of the service).
AMS is considering links to abstracts in MGA but does not plan to have this option available anytime soon.
Questions regarding the AMS online publications:
If a library links to the online AMS publications from its catalog,
will the remote logins affect the number of workstations in its
profile? Answer: No, the profiles are based on "good faith guesses" by
the institutions on the actual number of workstations that will be used
for the subscriptions.
Are there plans to load the backfiles? Answer: Not at this point as it
is prohibitively expensive. JSTOR was suggested as an alternative to
AMS loading the material themselves.
Earth Interactions update:
Individual subscriptions are working.
No institutional subscriptions are available yet due to continued
negotiations with AGU over "ownership" issues of canceled
subscriptions.
An announcement will be made over the ASLI listserv when institutional subscriptions are available.
International Issues:
Some international members, specifically the Australian BOM and others
with multiple copy subscriptions, have experienced problems with the
proper number of issues arriving. This problem surfaced when AMS began
using a new publisher (Allen Press, KS). Institutions can contact Beth
Jaraber, at the amspubs@ametsoc.org if you have experienced this or any
problem with your subscriptions. Possible distribution problems will
also be looked into.
The members present expressed interest in the AMS producing their
covers with the SICI barcodes for journals printed on the cover, in
order to speed check-in of material.
Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts update:
MGA is now being almost entirely produced by Inforonics a databases
production company in Massachusetts. AMS still holds copyright to the
database and is the publisher on record. (Inforonics does all the
coding, pricing, delivery etc., with AMS approval.)
There was discussion regarding how Inforonics monitors the literature
and what it includes in the database. MGA includes a maximum of 9000
entries per year, and is required to include all the AMS publications,
and the JGR: Oceans and Atmospheres sections. Previously, additional
entries were located via contacts at the Woods Hole and DC area
libraries. However,it is not known if these contacts are still being
used.
Since AMS has turned over production of MGA to Inforonics, AMS must be
careful how requests or negotiations are initiated. (Whether or not MGA
profits or losses is up to Inforonics). AMS has requested the ability
to download records but has not gotten any response from Inforonics.
With the concensus of those at the meeting indicating that downloadable
records are highly desired, AMS will appoach Inforonics once again,
perhaps with a bit more leverage.
Dr. Seitter asked that we, the primary users of MGA, notify the AMS
with any concerns with quality and coverage we find in the MGA
database. Since MGA is only allowed 9,000 items per year and
approximately 1/3 of that is "required materials" alot of material that
used to be considred core to MGA database is now falling out of the
scope of its coverage. This is especially evident in international and
conference publication coverage.
Questions regarding MGA:
Can the database provide the ability to "not" out conference proceeding
abstacts which have the long listings of papers given? Or can the
database allow the user to break the entries down and search them by
field? This will be explored.
How many subscribers are there to the MGA database? There are currently
only 259 subscribers to the MGA database, so pricing and alternative
outlets are difficult to pursue because the database is so specialized.
(We all agreed however, that the CD and Web access is much better than
the days in which Dialog was the sole access point to MGA).
How does Inforonics monitor or fill in missing issues in MGA, or do
they? Inforonics does not fill in holes (and some holes do exist). If
they did fill in the holes, then the articles indexed later count
against the 9000 for the year in which they are added. (ouch). A
question was raised on whether or not Inforonics could clean this up,
and if they do could they ametorize the clean-up entries over serval
years in order to prevent a big hit for one year.
Data issues:
The question was posed as to the group on wether or not ASLI wanted to
coordinate or somehow index data for use in a reference setting.
M. Latyszewskyj indicated that Environment Canada has a large amount of
uncataloged international data. She also indicated that they have a
large amount in their catalog, but that their catalog is behind a
firewall and publically accessible. However, maybe it should be noted,
that the Environment Canada Library, Downsview still offers free
reference service, except for questions on Canadian Weather and Climate
Data. For information on past weather conditions, climate data,
specialized weather forecasts for mariners, etc. you have to use 900
numbers for which there is a $1/95 per minute, two minutes minimum
charge.
J. Curry indicated that the NCDC will be going to a cost recovery service for all its web-based data by the end of 1997.
J. Curry suggested that the Global Change Master Directory might be a
good place to start for reference queries for meteorological data. He
also indicated that the GCMD will accept suggestions for additions to
its listings. (GCMD URL: http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov)
ASLI issues:
Those gathered felt that affiliation with the AMS would be most
beneficial. AMS will agree to host meetings for ASLI at their annual
conference (providing meeting service and some food service).
Those present felt a model similar to the Geoscience Information
Society, which meets as an associated society of the Geological Society
of America, presented the best option. (GIS URL: http://library.berkeley.edu/GIS/)
ASLI, depending on a majority vote of yes from the listserv, will meet
with a limited program at the AMS meeting January 11-16, 1997 in
Phoenix, Arizona. ASLI needs to decide yes or no to meet with AMS in
Phoenix by the July 1, 1997. And, if ASLI decides to meet in Phoenix,
we need to send preliminary program information to Dr. Seitter by the
end of August, 1997.
If ASLI wants to pursue a program for Phoenix, make suggestions via the
listserv. P. Brueggeman suggested starting with the basics, by asking
speakers from organizations or institutions which could discuss what a
new atmospheric sciences librarian would need to know. Additional ideas
included speakers from the NCDC, NOAA, Data producers and international
and national organizations.
It was also suggested that in Phoenix ASLI consider establishing
bylaws, minimal dues, look into finding a gift to get the organization
financially established, explore travel options for members,
maintaining its international focus and consider establishing a
newsletter or publication outlet.
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