University of Udine - Library System

Institution name:

Universita degli studi di Udine-Sistema Bibliotecario d'Ateneo
University of Udine, Library System
CEDA-Via Palladio 8
33100 UDINE (Italia)
fax +39 432-556309

Library contact person:

dr. Liliana Bernardis
Librarian responsible for the management of the ALEPH system
tel. +39 432-556241
e-mail: Liliana.Bernardis@amm.uniud.it

Automation contact person:

Mr. Antonio Cunei
System manager for the University Library System
tel. +39 432-556236
e-mail: Antonio.Cunei@amm.uniud.it

ALEPH configuration:

Version: 3.2_5 (patch 12)
License: 50 users, 150.000 records
Functions implemented & used:
Search, Acquisitions, Cataloging, Holding management, Maintenance, Serials, Circulation, Iutil
Operating system: Solaris 2.5
Server: SUN SPARCserver 1000E (a 85 MHz dual processor,192 MB RAM, 9 GB HD)
Network configuations: It includes Ethernet, Local Talk and TokenRing technologies with TCP/IP, LAT, AppleTalk, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, SNA protocols
Workstations: Digital terminals VT 320 and 420, Macintosh, Pcs, SUN IPX
Catalogue: 1 local library and 43 sub-libraries
94.000 records ( 88,000 monographs and 6,000 periodicals)

Major developments since last ICAU meeting:

During 1996 our more interesting experience has been the switching from 3.2._4 VMS to 3.2_4 UNIX version. Firstly, in December 1995, a ALEPH UNIX version was installed on the new SUN server University had bought for the Library System. Then we loaded the files and the data from the MicroVAX 3300 to the SUN station (the servers were connected between them by TCP/IP); on this server we took many kinds of tests and simulations, while the official catalog was still on the VAX. We had some difficulties in budgets tranferring (in the UNIX catalog the budgets were displayed with minus sign and the system added the new commitments to the budgets instead of deducting them): the problem was solved through the Ex-Libris' intervention. At the same time we organized some meetings with the University librarians in order to present the new operating system and the consequences the libraries would face.
Finally, on 12-13 March the definitive shifting to UNIX was carried out; on the first day all SUN files and data were deleted; the procedures to transfer the data from VMS were invoked again and by NFS we copied the files and the data in the SUN server. On the second day, we used the utilities to load and to reorganize the data in the new data base. While we were performing these procedures, users were not able to reach the updating functions, but the search could be performed in the VAX system. At the end we set some network services and defined the users accessing the new system.
Among the advantages that the new system has been offering, in addition to excellent performances, we record: the disk mirroring (duplications of data to prevent a service interruption also if the HD hardware fails), striping, logging and the possibility of performing on line backups.We introduced some changes in order to tailor the system to our needs (now a script using TCSH shell replaces the CSH shell, each user has a different ID, the start-up and the shutdown ALEPH procedures were modified).
After we installed the new ALEPH version (3.2_5 patch 12), the background updating of the word file doesn't give problems any more. We purchased the licenses for the WWW server and the Z39.50 server and we have just customized the first (to access the OPAC functions go to: http://aleph.bib.uniud.it:4001/ALEPH/ITA/UDN/UDN).

Major developments planned:

In a few months we are going to define the ILL procedures to register Inter Library Loan requests: according to the libraries system regulations, only one structure among the libraries in our university is running this function.
The card catalogues conversion goes on; this project concerns the input of the card catalogues data (a few data for each record) in the ALEPH data base by library staff engaged for a definite time; in order to authorize the circulation function, the bibliographic descriptions are provided with the holding records.
Yet, our greater requirement is to setup again an italian network of ALEPH data bases, in order to be able to access other libraries, in other nodes, in a transparent mode.

Open problems:

We sent a lot of requests to ICAU data base in order to show the need of improving some software functionalities that, as for as we are concerned, are fairly stiff; e.g., it should be possibile in the Maintenance function to work with different level passwords so a central facility, where the catalogers are assigned local level passwords, can control the authority records: the aim is to the sub-libraries catalogers, using a lower level password, update the records modified by the central facility catalogers. An other requirement many Italian users share concerns the inventory report: we wish the system would add the invoice number and the invoice date in the holding record; moreover, the inventory number would be added in the IUTIL 3.9 as a retrieval parameter.