![[GPO logo]](../../images/deposicn.gif)
Documents Users Group
February 12, 1999
San Antonio Public Central Library
Attendance: Dorothy Blow, Jackie Crinion, Patricia Haynes, Amory Irby, Myrna Langford, Victor Lopez, Holly Nelson, Tina Petimezas, Wilson Plunkett, Ruby Wehmeyer, Steve Wise and Kathy Amen.
We had a very fruitful information-sharing session with such good attendance! Here are the items, in more or less chronological order: (please email Kathy with corrections or additions so that complete and accurate information will be in our "archives")
--Palo Alto was not represented because they are getting ready for an INSPECTION! It seems that moving into a new facility triggers the inspection process. Something to think about!
--SAPL downtown offers income tax assistance from the following groups at these times:
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by AARP on Wed. 9:30-5:00 and Thu. 1:00-5:00 by appointment (207-2694)
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by VITA on Sat 9:00-12:00Noon, first-come first-served
--The House Commerce Committee Tobacco CDs (44 CDs of supplementary documentation) are being kept and cataloged by SAPL and St. Mary's Academic Library. Most of the documents on the CDs are TIFF files, but there are also some text, PDF and HTML files. A few of the CDs require Win95 to be read.
--Marcive is now including in their tapeload records for the FBI's FOIA files on famous people. In other Marcive news, they are using a new production method for the CATPAC which results in the inability of some (very) old CD-players to read the disks. This happened at SAPL.
--SAC and Palo Alto (also other ACCD campuses) are due to get a Web-based catalog courtesy of a TIF grant.
--It seems that no one in town has retained their Dialog searching capability. St. Mary's Academic is re-upping with them through Amigos, who are footing the new monthly charges for member libraries. Kathy has done one search under this new system and will let the group know when billing is received to see how this will work. The office at Amigos handling this is A+ Services.
--Myrna has results of a survey Trinity conducted regarding the use/non-use of Item Cards. It contained some good ideas. Email her if you'd like to see this information.
--In case anyone else (besides Kathy) missed the announcement, we will NOT be getting a printout this summer for item number adds/deletes. We will be expected to use the Item Lister at GPO.
--There was an extended discussion about patent resources. SAPL is not pursuing the idea of becoming a patent depository or virtual patent office site, since so much patent information is available on the Web. A Web search can't be substituted for the full "patent search" that is required for a patent application, however. Rice does have a virtual office site, so that patent applications can be completed there. The Gazette is still published in paper and fiche and is received at SAPL, St. Mary's Law Library, and UTSA. SAPL and UTSA also receive the USPTO CDs, which give the complete record for each patent (all claims and drawings); the Gazette gives only abstracts.
--A discussion of Braille documents led to these tidbits: SAC has two Kurzweil machines that synthesize speech from appropriately programmed media, and SAPL has a magnifier that can be used by patrons with some vision, but who need a "boost" in print size.
--Congressional Universe (from CIS): UTSA offers onsite use to anyone; Trinity also has the database, but it is available for students/faculty only. We think that only UT Austin (in our region) has the CIS Executive Series, which includes all Executive Branch documents.
--Photographs from the San Antonio Light's collection are going to be digitzed at SAC and eventually will be available on the Web.
Again, please email Kathy with corrections or additions. Our next meeting will be held at the SAC Library (Technical Services Office, main floor) on May 7 at 9:15.
