Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!sparky!kent
From: kent@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM (Kent Landfield)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: Help define Environment: usage in c.s.m
Message-ID: <1991May29.033947.13960@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM>
Date: 29 May 91 03:39:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: sparky.1991May29.033947.13960
References: <1991May26.041741.22210@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM> <1991May26.122801.4205@newshost.anu.edu.au>
Organization: Sterling Software, IMD
Lines: 50

In article <1991May26.122801.4205@newshost.anu.edu.au> cmf851@anu.oz.au (Albert Langer) writes:

>Also there might be scope for including named software packages
>that the item requires even when they are not operating systems,
>shells or libraries. (e.g. various graphics packages use pbm).

This was overlooked.  Boy could the list of keywords grow long here... :-)

A couple of people have said in email that making a small core list was
the important starting point.  The list of keywords would be expanded as
needed.  This approach makes sense to me.  External named software
packages would probably fit into the category of "on first encounter".

>Perhaps a separate header line for Requires: to include any
>package name and version number without controls, while
>Environment: is restricted to a controlled thesaurus of keywords
>that are listed monthly.

This might be useful in comp.sources.reviewed but for comp.sources.misc,
the Requires: would be placing a lot of up-front communication requirements
on the authors and myself... I do agree that the keyword list will need to
be made available on a timely basis, such as part of an INF posting at the
beginning of a new volume.

>Finally I would suggest you get in touch the Library of Congress
>or some local research library and ask for advice about the
>methods used and proposed for cataloging computer software
>(or "computer data files"). There is also a mailing list
>PACS-L%UHUPVM1.bitnet@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU for a public access
>computer systems forum that would have relevant contacts,
>which published a paper on cataloging of online information
>resources and included the following address:
>
>Sally H McCallum, Chief
>Network Development and MARC Standards Office, LM 639
>Library of Congress
>Washington DC 2050
>
>smcc@seq1.loc.gov

Again, this might be overkill for comp.sources.misc (I could be wrong.. :-))
but the archivist in me will check it out... Thanks for the pointers...

			-Kent+

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Kent Landfield                   INTERNET: kent@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM
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