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.