I noticed that you have begun placing bar codes on the outside back covers of books instead of the inside cover. I can understand why you might want to make this change–it probably reduces wear and tear on books–but it does cause some problems with the Automatic Checkout Machine. When you check out a book with a bar code on the inside cover, the spine of the book rests against the back of the machine, and the anti-theft mechanism is desensitized properly. When you check out a book with a bar code on the outside, however, the spine of the book faces outwards; the anti-theft mechanism is not desensitized properly, and one must go to the circulation desk, thereby defeating the purpose of the automatic checkout machine.

If you want the machine to be useful, you should place the bar codes on the inside cover (or upside-down on the bottom of the outside cover).

Thanks,

Dan
danfrog@hotmail.com

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Actually, the placement of the barcode on the outside cover does work, at least in Answer Person’s experience. Answer Person has been able to check out books, and the anti-theft mechanism works fine. The trick is–just like with your barcode-in-the-book approach–to place the spine of the book against the back of the machine. Your comments have been passed on to the Head of Access Services, who also recommends that you let the staff at the Circulation Desk know when you are experiencing problems with the system.

I would like to see a copy of Prentice Alvin, a novel by Orson Scoot Card, on the shelves. It is reported as missing.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Answer Person will pass on your request. It always helps to make the request in person. Just stop by the Circulation Desk (or call them at 660-5870) to let them know what you need, and how to contact you when the book arrives.

I’m writing to ask you to consider acquiring the journal Maritain Studies, which is devoted to metaphysics and history of philosophy in the spirit of wide-ranging scholarship found in the work of Jacques Maritain. The website for the journal is http://www.stfx.ca/people/wsweet/etudes.html

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Thank you for your suggestion. Answer Person has passed it on to our resource specialist for philosophy, who is responsible for making final decisions on new serial subscriptions. It would be very helpful if you would contact her directly (see the “Resources in Philosophy” web page: http://www.lib.duke.edu/reference/subjects/philoso/index.htm) so you may answer any questions about potential use of the annual.

For some reason, I am unable to use the BARD service from home–says NETSCAPE unable to recognize Proxy server. Can this be fixed?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Usually the problem is that you don’t have your proxies set in Netscape (or whatever interface you are using). This is also necessary if you are using any of our subscribed databases and are not coming in through DukeNet–the system needs to verify that you are an authorized user.

OIT has instructions on how to set the proxies: http://www.oit.duke.edu/remote_access/proxy.html.

As you can imagine, this is a difficult problem to work out via e-mail, much less the normally elegant communications of the Answer Person. As with any of the your information access needs, I suggest you call the ever helpful people at the Reference Desk (660-5880) for expert, one-on-one assistance.

Why am I so preoccupied with looks (mine and other people’s) and how do I stop living in this obsessive hell?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Sometimes the best way to deal with an obsession is to develop a new one. How about obsessive surfing of the Internet? Too broad a topic, I know, so how about mining the wealth of the Duke libraries! In the process you will be entertained, you will gain untold knowledge, and will discover even more interests. More importantly, you will attain higher wisdom and more mature values. And remember: no one cares what you look like on the Internet!

Question or suggestions:

I would like to read the recent issues of journal of portfolio management, which perkins has subscribed already. However, it would be more convienent if I could broswer throught the internet on my PC in my office.

The Journal website http://www.iijpm.com/issue.asp does provide webaccess to subscribers. So if the arrangement can allow us at duke community access the journals on line through their website, it would be great!

Here us what they say:
If you are a current subscriber, but don’t have your online account info,
please call our Customer Service at 212-224-3800 or email us at
info@iijournals.com to get your web access.

please check it out with them and let us know how it goes.

thanks and best regards,

benjamin

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The good news is we are way ahead of you. We already have electronic access to the journal. If you look it up in the online catalog (always a good way to see what we have, in whatever format), you will see two options; I suggest you try the ProQuest approach.

Happy portfolio management!

I found that we cannot access the Journal “Computer Networks” at http://www.sciencedirect.com. However, it is the current subscription in Vesic library. I think it may be caused by the changing of its name in 1999.

Can you check and solve this problem so that we can have access to it?

Thanks.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: There are actually two problems here. First, it did change titles from “Computer Networks” to “Computer Networks and ISDN Systems,” but in 1999 it changed back to the original title. (All this is indicated in the online catalog, if you follow the chain of evidence, but it is confusing.)

The other problem is that when searching SCIENCE DIRECT, you can’t go directly to the URL. As we have this on license from the publisher, to insure that only authorized Duke users have access you have to go through our gateway. Simply go to SCIENCE DIRECT through our “Research Databases” pages, click on “more Info,” and then click on “Search Science Direct.”

Even more simply, you should be able to either go through links in the “E-Journals” list, or through the journal’s online catalog entry. Our Electronic Resources Coordinator does yeoman’s service trying to keep the thousands(!!!) of e-journal listings up-to-date, but we don’t always get up-to-date listings from the publishers. In any case, the links will be added and should be up within a couple of days.

It would be useful to have a link of the most recent electronic journals to come out, just like (at least in the Biosci) there’s a shelf for the most recent hard copy journals the library has recieved.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: That is a very good idea! I’ll pass it along to the people who do the main library web page and database updates, and we’ll see what is desirable and possible. More later.

For non-Duke researchers, there seems to be inadequate parking for any kind of extended stay in the library.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: And inadequate parking for attending campus events, or even for Duke employees! Answer Person shares your frustration, and, sometimes, the excitement of looking for an available space . . . in Durham County.

One thing that might help is a guide to parking for outside users. It is located at http://www.lib.duke.edu/reference/directs.htm.

Happy hunting.

When I want to search the Duke catalogue, I always start at the NCSU home page — http://catalog.lib.ncsu.edu/. Their interface is so much more convenient as compared to the Duke interface. I suggest Duke adopt a similar design.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Well, what can Answer Person say? I have to admit that the NCSU site is a lot less complicated (some would say less cluttered), and in that sense is much easier to navigate. On the other hand, ours has developed as we have determined user needs and responses, and reflects the range of resources we offer and the range of information people tell us they want. We can’t please everyone, but I can assure you that we will continue to keep in mind your plea for convenience.