NOTJPK@LSUVM.BITNET (JANE KLEINER) (02/02/90)
----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Involvement with Expert Systems (ES) at LSU began about two years ago when we started participating in a National Ag Library project which focuses on text digitizing and ES. We sent a Reference Librarian to NAL for training in the use of the ES shell 1stClass. Her project was to develop an ES for Louisiana Aquaculture research - it was completed last year. Researchers who have used the system like it. Basically, it is a simple ES system. In development is an ES for interlibrary loan requests verification. It will be used to train graduate assistants & students in verifying practices. We plan to include a component for problem verifications along with the standard practices approaches. Responses to your queries: La. Aquaculture (L'Aqua) is a public access system; the ILL system will be for staff use. Shell - 1stClass Informal project team - several staff have contributed ideas; one person coordinates. ES team - Ref. Librns- a couple have technological expertise on a level with our systems people. Hardware - unfortunately limited to an IBM-XT - hope to get to at least AT level within the year. Barriers - though we are working on ES there are still barriers: cost of more sophisticated equipment and lack of time for ES efforts are the biggest problems. Jane Kleiner, Louisiana State University
LACH@UKCC.BITNET (Michael J. Lach) (02/05/90)
----------------------------Original message---------------------------- At the University of Kentucky Business library we are building an "Expert System" of sorts using "Ask Sam" software. What we are doing is putting in answers to frequently asked questions in the Reference room of the library for those times that we are unable to staff the ref. desk with librarians. Ask Sam is a text-based database software package that allows you to search for strings in the text that might have something to do with what you are looking for. You can also use indexed terms the would pertain to the answer being built. The grad. assistant enters the terms that he/she is looking for information about and the DB pulls up records that may be of some help. It is all pretty simple in its approach, but it does work.