DPLS News June 1994 Virtual Library The concept of a virtual library, in which a user can access the store of information held by a library through electronic means, without leaving one's desk or picking up a physical object such as a book, is "virtually" a reality at DPLS today. Of course we have a head start compared with traditional academic libraries because our holdings already consist of electronic data files, but recent technological changes are making it easier for us to provide convenient electronic services for our users. For example, the data storage medium that dominated the data world for decades--9-track magnetic round tape--is gradually becoming a dinosaur as campuses (including this one) are reluctant to continue paying for expensive mainframe tapedrive maintenance. More efficient off-line data storage media are replacing them, such as 4mm DAT cassettes, 8mm cassettes, 3480 cartridges, and CD-ROM (see next article). An appealing advantage of these media are that users do not need access to mainframe computer systems to use them (though they may need to acquire baseline knowledge of the Unix operating system for some of these storage options). Another technology making the transfer from 9-tracks easier is a simple and ubiquitous networking application called FTP (file transfer protocol). DPLS is increasingly using FTP both to rapidly acquire new datasets (instead of sending 9-tracks through the mail), and to distribute data to users. One requirement for heavy ftp use is enough hard disk space to accommodate moving large files. Compression algorithms and Unix TAR processing can help reduce this factor for both the library and the user. How does all this affect data library users? Following is an example of a completely virtual scenario, although there are still many cases in which physical reality intervenes in the process: 1) A user may search the DPLS gopher on WiscInfo for a dataset s/he wishes to use; 2) sends email to a librarian requesting a given dataset; 3) the librarian searches the electronic database of holdings to determine the format of the data and documentation, and IF the data is stored on DAT, and IF the documentation is machine-readable (not print), THEN 4) she can place the files on the DPLS ftp site and email instructions for the user to download his/her files. The format for the files can be DOS zipped executable, Unix-tar and gnuzipped, or just plain ascii. Remember, we are in the process of getting our data off 9-track tapes, but for many datasets, 9-track is still the only available medium. Also, just because we can transmit more data electronically, doesn't mean we don't still like to see our users in person! CD-ROM Mania! In the previous issue of DPLS News we described the statistical programs of some of the U.S. Federal agencies. The decentralized nature of our federal statistical program has had a direct impact on the varying quality and quantity of data coming from the government. Never has this been more apparent than in the proliferation of CD-ROM products, and never has there been such a good reason for encouraging the integrations of such programs. Numerous agencies including the Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis are producing CD-ROMs. In terms of general review, one is struck immediately by the plethora of different tailor-made software products designed to accompany the various disks. Often (as in the case of Census disks) the software is merely capable of producing tables, nothing more. In addition, pricing schemes vary wildly. Census Bureau STF disks, along with their less-than-useful software, sell for $150 a piece; NCHS disks sell for a tenth of that price, and include sophisticated extraction and retrieval program; and NCES disks are often free! Equally variable is the quality of the related documentation. There are, of course, examples of truly excellent CD-ROM products: the U.N. Statistical Yearbook, the Canadian Labour Market Activity Survey Data, and the National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experience. The good news is that DPLS has many of the CD-ROMs described in this article, so that you can judge for yourself! The Greening of the GDP Also in the previous issue of DPLS News we discussed the possible addition of natural resource measures to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Last month the Commerce Department took the first step toward accounting for environmental "goods": the newest Survey of Current Business will include estimates of the nation's mineral resources, translated into dollars and cents. Next on the list are "renewables" such as timber and fish, according to the Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Some economists have argued for years that narrowly conceived statistics distort our view of reality and, as a result, our policies. They defend the development of a Green GDP, followed by a host of other adjustments, that would take account of economic activities not currently measured in our definitions of goods and services. There are other economist who, of course, disagree. They argue that the inclusion of such subjective measures is a political rather than an academic move. The debate is expected to continue. Selected Recent Acquisitions Canadian Labour Market Activity Surveys, 1986, 1987, 1988, 9189, 1990 Cross-Section, and 1986-1987 and 1988-1990 Longitudinal Files. (CA-510-001 through -008) Current Population Survey, 1979-1991: Outgoing Rotation Group Annual Extract Files. (AH-005-076) Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of the Lifestyles and Values of Youth, 1992; and 1976-1992: Concatenated Core File. (QK-027-017 and -018) Roster of United States Congressional Officeholders and Biographical Characteristics of Members of the United States Congress, 1789-1993: Merged Data. (ZA-008-001) CBS News/New York Times Pre-election Tracking Polls, 1988 [various]. (KB-041-004 through KB-041-008) ABC News/Washington Post Republican Delegate Poll, 1992. (KA-006-001) Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) [1990 and 1991 Panels--various new waves and topical modules]. (CA-043-023 through CA-043-033) National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort: 1979-1992 [CD-ROM version]. (Order pending) International Financial Statistics, 1948-1994 [CD-ROM version; monthly updates]. (Order pending) United Nations Statistical Yearbook [CD-ROM version]. (Order pending) United States Supreme Court Judicial Database, 1953-1992 Terms. (GA-017-001) Panel Study of Income Dynamics: Childbirth and Adoption History File, 1985-1989, and Marriage History File, 1985-1989. (Orders pending) Census of Population and Housing, 1990: Public Use Microdata Sample: 1/10,000 Sample. (AH-020-001) The DPLS News is published twice a semester by the library staff and sent to faculty members in the Social Science departments. Since we cannot distribute issues to all of our users, we ask that faculty pass on this information, especially to graduate students. A limited number of extra copies are available at the DPLS. DPLS Summer Hours Alert Please take note of the following changes in DPLS hours of operation and plan ahead if you need access to library resources. June 27 (Mon.), June 28 (Tues.) CLOSED July 1 (Fri.) 12:30-4:30 CLOSED July 4 (Mon.) Independence Day CLOSED July 5 (Tues.) CLOSED July 8 (Fri.) 12:30-4:30 CLOSED Thank you for your cooperation. Prior to June 25 and after July 8 DPLS is open 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday as usual. FREE Health Resources The Association of Public Data Users (of which DPLS is a member) made two announcements in their May 1994 newsletter of interest to health researchers: 1) 1994 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Users Conference: Gateway to Future Health Information, to be held July 20-22 in Bethesda, Maryland, free registration. Topics such as the elderly, HIV/AIDS, minorities and new technology will be covered in 42 workshops. Contact NCHS at 301-436-7122 for information. 2) The National Library of Medicine is offering free access to three federal AIDS-related databases and an online directory of organizations. Contact Robert Mehnert at the NLM to get a password: 301-496-6308. Internet Corner World Bank Launches PHNLINK Project The Department of Population, Health and Nutrition at the World Bank recently announced two new electronic services. PHNFLASH is a weekly electronic newsletter on general issues in population, health, and nutrition. QCARE is an electronic discussion group on quality health care open to the public. Both projects are distributed through email via listservers. Moreover, the department is creating electronic archives for serials such as Population Network News, Health Policy, Human Resources Dissemination Notes, New and Noteworthy in Nutrition, Mothers & Children Bulletin, as well as World Bank Project Information documents and various working papers. To inquire about these services or to request a subscription, send an email message to the project manager, Sara Kim: SKIM4@worldbank.org. EDsearch: Education Statistics on Disk The National Center for Education Statistics has packaged Edsearch for 1992 and 1993 education statistical tables to be available to researchers for use on IBM-PC or compatible computers. The package includes search and retrieval software for several education studies including 1993 Digest of Education Statistics, 1993 Condition of Education, Projections of Education Statistics to 2004, 1993 Youth Indicators, Historical Trends: State Education Facts 1969-1989, 120 Years of American Education: a Statistical Portrait, and Education in States and Nations. The pk-zipped files can be downloaded through a gopher client by `gophering' to the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Educational Research and Improvement at gopher.ed.gov (port 70), and following the path: Educational Research, Improvement, and Statistics (OERI & NCES)/ National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)/Searchable Statistics/Edsearch: Education Statistics on Disk - 1993/. Besides the zipped files there are three text files: About Edsearch, Edsearch Instructions, and Packing List. If you do not have a gopher client you can use anonymous ftp at ftp.ed.gov. Electronic Democracy: The Beltway FAQ "The Beltway FAQ: How to Communicate with the White House and Congress Frequently Asked Questions" is a regularly updated compendium of sources for phone and fax numbers, email and "snail mail" addresses for the White House and members of Congress, as well as the Cabinet, Congressional committees, and selected federal agencies. A document of 2,000 lines, it contains virtually everything you need to know to be a noisy constituent/citizen, as well as some interesting miscellaneous information. To receive a current copy, send a request to the author, Paul Havemann (paul@hsh.com). The DPLS Staff Wishes You a Happy Summer Break!