Project Number 15 – 1994

SAGE Networking at the University of Vermont

Project Number 15 – 1994

Abstract

SAGE is the University of Vermont’s Libraries & Media Services gateway to electronic information resources. It runs on a Novell server (version 3.11), and SaberMenu software is used for the menus (screen capture of a SAGE menu is attached).

SAGE was developed to increase and facilitate access to electronic information services, experiment with the scholar’s workstation by uniting multiple stand-alone databases into one system available from multiple locations, explore an alternative to local mounting of databases for libraries without large mainframe capacity and/or computer center support, and deliver information in a cost effective manner.

SAGE allows University of Vermont students, faculty, and staff to connect to over 50 databases/services over the campus network from the libraries, dormitories, and offices. Script files allow users to connect to and disconnect from databases/services without knowing host connection protocols. With SAGE, the Libraries is attempting to place research tools into the hands of its users when and where needed. Menus categorize information resources into subject areas to guide the choosing of appropriate databases. Databases and services for SAGE are selected with the Z39.50 standard in mind so that users can eventually search disparate databases using a common search interface. The majority of the databases/services available through SAGE are located at remote sites. Only five are loaded locally; one is the Libraries’ online catalog, LUIS, the others are fulltext CD-ROM databases. SAGE usage data shows that many databases can be made available in an unlimited simultaneous connections environment for less than the cost of a single user CD-ROM title.

Currently, SAGE is available to users of the campus network from DOS-based machines. Multiple platform access, including Macintosh and modem users, will be achieved this summer through a UNIX version of SAGE.

Project Criteria

Telnet, the Internet remote login protocol, is used to connect our users to over 90% of the databases/services available on SAGE. Thus far, our primary approach is to provide access to services available on the Internet.

The Libraries’ Faculty Liaison program works closely with teaching faculty and departments to integrate networked resources into the teaching and learning process. An example is the Dartmouth Dante Project which UVM English seminar students are required to search. Many students experienced problems reaching the Project using Gopher. In response, the library quickly created a direct link between SAGE and the Dante Project — a process which took less than a quarter hour.

UVM collaborates with area colleges and universities, and the Vermont Automated Library System (VALS) to make certain services available through SAGE. A consortium of academic libraries including UVM, Middlebury College, Norwich University, and the Vermont State Colleges share the cost of providing access to Expanded Academic Index (EAI). EAI is loaded at Middlebury College and we connect our users to it with Telnet over the Internet. The index to the Burlington Free Press, a local newspaper, is compiled locally and loaded remotely at the Vermont Department of Libraries for access statewide.

With SAGE the UVM Libraries made a transition from approximately 15 standalone CD-ROM titles to over 50 online resources available through the Internet without adding staff or major computer support. SAGE provides a unified approach to accessing electronic research tools and distributes that approach campuswide. The cost of providing some services in a multi-user, distributed environment like SAGE is less than the cost of a single user CD-ROM title. For example, our users for FY93-94 logged 2048 searches against the FirstSearch version of Art Index. At a rate of $.50/search our yearly cost for Art Index through SAGE is $1024 which is $696 less than the CD-ROM single user version and $1126 less than a 2-8 user LAN version.

SAGE is easily replicated by other institutions especially those with minimum computing capacity and support. The hardware/software for SAGE may be purchased off the shelf. The limitation of SAGE on the current Novell platform is that it limits access to DOS machines. The UNIX version of SAGE will expand access to users regardless of operating system and hardware. The software and script files for Sageunix were written locally and are easily portable.

Attachment

                Sage Main Menu & Arts & Humanities Sub-menu

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 11:26 am   PPHILBIN      83 Mb   F:\STAFF\PPHILBIN       06/02/94 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

    +-----------------------------------+
    |           Sage Services          +-----------------------------+
    |----------------------------------|      Arts & Humanities      |
    | A) LUIS - UVM Catalog            |-----------------------------|
    | B) UVM & State Resources         | A) General                  |
    | C) General Reference             | B) Art Index                |
    |----------------------------------| C) Arts & Humanities Search |
    | D) Arts & Humanities             | D) MLA Bibliography         |
    | E) Business, Law & Public Affairs| E) Dartmouth Dante Project  |
    | F) Education & Social Sciences   |-----------------------------|
    | G) Science & Technology          | Enter  Esc=Previous         |
    |----------------------------------|                             |
    | H) Staff Applications            +-----------------------------+
    | I) SAGE Advice                    |
    | J) Exit                           |
    |-----------------------------------|
    | Enter                             |
    +-----------------------------------+

SAGE - The Information Gateway for the UVM Libraries and Media Services