[comp.society] electronic card catalog

NRCGSH@RITVAX.BITNET (04/10/88)

The rapid spread of electronic card catalogs at libraries across the
country is amazing.  It will probably go a long way to help with minimum
computer acceptance among the public.  I agree that on-line access by a
modem is a great virtue.  At the Rochester Institute of Technology,
Rochester NY, we have had that capability for a couple of years.
Actually, it runs on a program on the VAX.  But having phoned the VAX,
the user can then bring up the connection to the library's computer.  As
a teacher, I find it convenient to be able to check on the availability
of a book from my office.  The reference department now has an
electronic mail box, and I can get a response from them on any item 
within a day as well.

These features are especially useful to me as a blind user.  For the
first time in my life, I can access a card catalog by myself with the
aid of a PC, modem and speech synthesizer.  Features like this will
become common sooner or later.