Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 18-25, 1999

Volume 28, Number 9

Enhancements to Orbis-on-the-Web
make it faster, more detailed

One of the latest developments in the long history of the Yale Library catalog is a completely new and full-featured World Wide Web interface to the catalog, which will provide fast, reliable access to Orbis (see related story) through standard Web browsers such as Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

This project seeks to combine the best of traditional Orbis with the convenience of a fully Web-based interface.

A trial version of the new Orbis-on-the-Web is expected to be available through the Library Research Workstation by the end of October and will include a variety of enhanced features not available in the old Web interface to Orbis. These include:

* improved reliability and response time (compared to the current WWW Orbis);

* complete and detailed holdings for multi-volume material (as in standard Orbis);

* guide and index displays with cross references for navigation of large sets of retrieved records (as in standard Orbis);

* a graphical keyword search input form which will make the construction of complex keyword searches easier;

* a combined author/title search option;

* scrollable guide, index, and record displays for more efficient and convenient viewing (as opposed to the multi-screen presentation in standard Orbis);

* course reserve information; and

* hot links to related Orbis records, to full-text and image databases, and to external Internet resources such as electronic journals.

During the trial period, the University Library's systems staff encourage members of the Yale community to assist in the testing of Orbis-on-the-Web. Individuals are asked to watch for announcement of the new service, use it for their own research and report any problems they discover.

For readers who prefer the traditional command-driven, text-based interface, "standard" Orbis will remain available and unchanged. Hours of service have increased significantly for both versions of the library catalog -- 23 hours daily, Monday through Friday, and no less than 17 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

-- By Frederick Martz

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

University Library begins major expansion of its Orbis database

'Communications mogul John Malone offers advice to students: 'Be willing to take risks'

Nursing School venture will help elderly residents to stay healthy

Shalala stresses importance of keeping Medicare healthy

Pataki applauds virtues of 'compassionate conservatism'

Serving society must be a central goal for universities, says Rodin

Edelman recalls mentors at Yale and elsewhere in new book

Student seeks to raise awareness about scoliosis through book

City and Yale managers learn new leadership skills in joint program

'Mesmerizing' drama about marital infidelity opens at the Rep

Drama School stages German play that has been likened to 'Hamlet'

Scientists' test screens for a newly discovered tick-borne disease

The 'amazing' human eye is the focus of the 'VISION' exhibit

Yale center testing drug to prevent cancer-causing infection

New test offered at Yale identifies women at risk for cervical cancer

Enhancements to Orbis-on-the-Web make it faster, more detailed

Exhibit traces the history and evolution of Yale library catalogs

Health students will describe their research overseas

Divinity School fellowships honor individuals' work for social justice

Campaign aims to reduce bike thefts

Engineering program honors John Malone and Robert Grober

Meeting to focus on libraries' future renovations

Union meetings for United Way

. . . In the News . . .

Campus Notes