Malaysian Libraries & Internet
Kent Mulliner
****************************************************
* Cross-posted to SEASIA-L, SEANET-L, CORMOSEA, & *
* Soc.culture.asean; *
* sorry (minta ma'af) for the duplication *
****************************************************
Monday, 4/3, I had the opportunity to discuss the
advantages of the internet with the Director General of the
National Library Service of Malaysia (in fact, National
Librarian of Malaysia), Puan Mariam Abdul Kadir, who is in the
U.S. on the USIA International Visitors Program.
She had a number of her own ideas as to the advantages
and was quite interested in exploring what would be required for
fuller access. It is my understanding that Malaysia has a UUCP
connection via the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic
Systems (MIMOS), and I recall a recent (past couple of months)
from USM in Penang as well as discussion of access through JB.
I will be trying to dig these out of the SEASIA-L files, but
the interest here is for KL (where the National Library is
in the midst of moving into a new building). I have also
found the recent report on Thai access at Chulalongkorn
University very helpful.
Puan Mariam asked me to expeditiously prepare a
background paper for her on the benefits and requirements
for greater internet access. Of immediate concern in our
discussions were exchanges of bibliographic information
(presumably using telnet and/or ftp), but obviously the
benefits could serve and reach a much larger group of
users (and allow the NL to access DIALOG and other online
services through the internet).
So this is a plea for information. Anyone who can
offer suggestions as to benefits or requirements will be
appreciated. Of course, Puan Mariam will carry things
through in Malaysia but at this point she needs background
prior to begin approaching the appropriate offices. Please
respond to me directly rather than to the list. She asked
for the report by the end of the month.
K. Mulliner, Ohio University Libraries
mull...@ouvaxa.ucls.ohiou.edu
--
* Kent Mulliner * Voice(614)593-2707 /Fax(614)593-2959 *
* Assistant to the Dean * Mull...@OUACCVMA.Bitnet *
* Ohio University Libraries * Mull...@OUVAXA.UCLS.OHIOU.EDU *
* Athens, Ohio 45701-2958 * Mull...@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu *
Dr Tan Tin Wee
:
: National Library Service of Malaysia (in fact, National
: Librarian of Malaysia), Puan Mariam Abdul Kadir, who is in the
: U.S. on the USIA International Visitors Program.
: background paper for her on the benefits and requirements
: for greater internet access. Of immediate concern in our
: discussions were exchanges of bibliographic information
: (presumably using telnet and/or ftp), but obviously the
Have you heard of HYTELNET. It is a hypertext internet browser program
which provides telnet access to hundreds of
libraries throughout the world. The code for unix or TCP/IPed PCs
can be obtained from access.usask.ca via anonymous ftp.
Here at the National Univ of Singapore,
we run WAIS (the by-now famous wide area information servers) and
GOPHER (nearly famous but definitely extensively used - 2000 hosts run
it now) as well as WWW (world wide web) information retrieval systems.
I would recommend that anyone considering networking should study these
systems. Our technology network in Singapore (TECHNET), is at our initial
instigation, actively implementing these software which we already have
set up for biologists.
See alt.hypertext, comp.infosystems.wais, alt.gopher etc for current
discussion about these things. If you wish, you can email me for more
pointers.
Tan Tin Wee
Biocomputing Research and User Support (BRUS)
Biocomputing Interest Group (BIG)
National Univ of SIngapore.
--
Dr Tin-Wee TAN / INTERNET: bcht...@nuscc.nus.sg
Dept of Biochemistry / BITNET: BCHTANTW@NUSVM
National University of Singapore / Tel: (65)-772-3678
Singapore 0511 / Fax: (65)-779-1453
--
Tin-Wee TAN / INTERNET: bcht...@nuscc.nus.sg
Dept of Biochemistry / BITNET: BCHTANTW@NUSVM
National University of Singapore / Tel: (65)-772-3678
Singapore 0511 / Fax: (65)-779-1453
Black...@mts.rpi.edu
bcht...@nuscc.nus.sg (Dr Tan Tin Wee) writes:
|b> mull...@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (Kent Mulliner) writes:
|b> :
|b> : National Library Service of Malaysia (in fact, National
|b> : Librarian of Malaysia), Puan Mariam Abdul Kadir, who is in the
|b> : U.S. on the USIA International Visitors Program.
|b> : Puan Mariam asked me to expeditiously prepare a
|b> : background paper for her on the benefits and requirements
|b> : for greater internet access. Of immediate concern in our
|b> : discussions were exchanges of bibliographic information
|b> : (presumably using telnet and/or ftp), but obviously the
|b> .... [stuff deleted]
|b>
|b>
|b> Have you heard of HYTELNET. It is a hypertext internet browser program
|b> which provides telnet access to hundreds of
|b> libraries throughout the world. The code for unix or TCP/IPed PCs
|b> can be obtained from access.usask.ca via anonymous ftp.
|b>
I think you missed the point by a mile wide. Malaysia at
present does not have INTERNET connectivity other than some
multinational corporations. However their IP connectivity
are ``firewalled'', meaning they can run TCP/IP stuff
within their corprate network but not out to the internet
at large. Hence what you suggested will not work for them.
Black Swan
Black...@mts.rpi.edu
Dr Tan Tin Wee
:
: I think you missed the point by a mile wide. Malaysia at
: present does not have INTERNET connectivity other than some
: multinational corporations. However their IP connectivity
: are ``firewalled'', meaning they can run TCP/IP stuff
: within their corprate network but not out to the internet
: at large. Hence what you suggested will not work for them.
Well, perhaps I may have missed the point by a mile, but
GOPHER and WAIS etc. IMHO are useful information retrieval systems
that anybody considering setting up a national or institutional
network of databases should take into account.
Besides, if Malaysia hasn't got INTERNET connectivity, and if
people in places of power knew about the huge resources available
via internet, then there would be sufficient justification to
get at least the academic institutions and R&D organisations linked up.
Of course I speak from the point of bioscientific and biotechnology-
related databases, and library resources, which may not apply to other
less computerised fields.
In any case, what the original poster needed to do was to write up
a paper. Such material might, although they needn't necessarily, be
useful. I tend to prefer a more positive and encouraging approach
that is characteristic of the INTERNET community that I know in the
bionet discussion groups, for I have benefited tremendously
from the help and advice and hints my unseen colleagues worldwide
have given me and as a matter of gratitude, I am putting in a bit
of what I have taken from the network.
I hope the original poster will not be too discouraged by Black_Swan's
comments but will consider that a national library network for Malaysia
and possible connectivity to the rest of the world in the wider context
of a national network of computerised resources an eminently
desirable option to present to the National Librarian in the
paper.
Tin Wee.
(disclaimer: all comments made here are those of my personal opinion and
do not in any way represent the opinions of the Natl Univ. of Singapore
or any other bodies whom I am associated with.)
Black...@mts.rpi.edu
|b> GOPHER and WAIS etc. IMHO are useful information retrieval systems
|b> that anybody considering setting up a national or institutional
|b> network of databases should take into account.
I missed your point by two miles 8). I would not disagree with you on
this. My comment above was made at your enthusiasm of the qouted
paragragh below, which you wrote. I have the impression that you
were assuming they have Internet as you were explaining the details of
how and where to get the codes. On a second reading you have valid
points on the benefits which was what I wrote to Kent about too.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
|b> |b> Have you heard of HYTELNET. It is a hypertext internet browser program
|b> |b> libraries throughout the world. The code for unix or TCP/IPed PCs
|b> |b> can be obtained from access.usask.ca via anonymous ftp.
|b> In any case, what the original poster needed to do was to write up
|b> a paper. Such material might, although they needn't necessarily, be
Ya those are useful information on the benefits, though
it has to be tied to the requirements, which I think is
very important for them to convince the higher authorities
to set up internet link.
|b> useful. I tend to prefer a more positive and encouraging approach
|b> that is characteristic of the INTERNET community that I know in the
|b> bionet discussion groups, for I have benefited tremendously
|b> from the help and advice and hints my unseen colleagues worldwide
|b> have given me and as a matter of gratitude, I am putting in a bit
|b> of what I have taken from the network.
BIONET users must be very gentle. Sorry if you feel a bit
roughened up here 8). There are gentle guys around
here too, so don't get discouraged anf ignore me if you wish 8).
|b> I hope the original poster will not be too discouraged by Black_Swan's
|b> comments but will consider that a national library network for Malaysia
I know Kent would not 8). I hope you are not discouraged too 8).
Black Swan
Black...@mts.rpi.edu