4—The Daily Collegian Monday, Oct. 23, 1978 Library working on magnetically coded ID system Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-part series on automation in Pattee Library. By AMY ENDLICH Daily Collegian Staff Writer Magnetically coded student ID Cards will be required to activate the automated circulation system tentatively scheduled for Winter Term installation in Pattee. The University began issuing the new form of ID card this fall. A black strip on the back of the card contains a student identification number, a status code and a lost card code. Students enrolled prior to Fall Term 1978 must register with the library to receive a separate coded library card. The cards will not be automatically issued, according to Murray S. Martin, associate dean of libraries. •• Visible components of the automated system will include computerized circulation terminals, new book labels and the new cards. : The book-check out transaction will involve reading the borrower's identification and the book's identification number with a light pen linked to a computer terminal. The pen *ill 'read the book label in much the same way department stores use it to read price tags, Martin said. : After identification information has been entered and stored in the system, the computer terminal will automatically eject a date due slip for the borrower. Initially, the library staff will Operate the terminals. Eventually a borrower-operated system may be designed, Martin said. "Most of the manual work of filling out cards will be eliminated," Martin said. "It will speed up the individual transaction." The lost card code information included on the new ID is an improvement in borrower protection, Martin said. Student Escort Service planned for winter Editor's note: Strife Line is a service for readers of The Daily Collegian. If you have a question, problem or complaint concerning any aspect of town or University living, send it via campus mail to: The Collegian Strife Line 126 Carnegie Building. day TAMMY WALRO Daily Collegian Staff Writer Dear Strife Line, Will there lie a student escort service this term? I work off campus in the evenings and with all the stories I hear; I am afraid to walk home alone. Yes; the Student' Counselors, Association of Residence Hall Students, Undergraduate Student Government, Interfraternity Council and the Student Assistance Center are working together to organize a volunteer escort service. Tentatively, the service is set to start in the beginning of Winter Term, but it may begin sooner, according to Betty Moore, supervisor of student counselors. There is a drive for volunteers, on now, Moore said. The volunteers, who are screened and whose ID numbers are recorded, would probably only be called . 11l II ' $ WASHINGTON (UPI) The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday the military advantages once enjoyed by the United States could shift to the Soviet Union by the 1980 s. "A number of years ago, we had a substantial ad vantage over the Soviets in most categories, but we were saying that the trends were adverse," Air Force Gen. David Jones in an interview with U.S. News and The S • ecialists at 352 e college ave HALLOWEEN SPECIALTIES CANDYCORN, PUMPKINS, JELLY BEANS, TOM CATS, WITCHCRAFT MIX, BLACK LICORICE SCOTTIES, LOLLIPOPS, CANDY NUTS AND OF COURSE, TABLE FAVORS.AND WE ALWAYS HAVE PILLOW PETS the candy shop Collegian Strife Line 126 Carnegie Bldg. University Park, Pa. on three or four times a term at most, Moore said. Interested students can volunteer by contacting any of the above organizations. Females are requested not to ablise the service, Moore said. Volunteers should be called only when other resources, such as the Loop, are not available, she said, Dear Strife Line, I have recently seen pictures in the Collegian of people feeding squirrels on campus. I adore watching the little World Report said. "Now, the advantages are disap pearing." Jones said the Soviets "are spending substantially more" than the United States on defense and that while Russia has doubled the military manpower of the United States, "a lot of our defense resources" were used up in the Vietnam War. Jones also said the United States' has "generally "It is essentially the same idea as a credit card," he said. A student is protected against fraudulent use of his card if its loss is reported. If a card that has been reported lost is read by the computer terminal it will automatically block the transaction. "There isn't really any protective device in the current check out system," said Martin. With the rush at the check out desk ID pictures are rarely looked at by the attendant, he said. "Also, students are currently permitted to fill out the entire form by hand if they don't have their ID." Martin said there are also mix-ups because of illegible handwriting on the forms. The extended base loan period of four weeks introduced in Pattee this fall is the first element of the automated circulation system to be put in operation. "The four-week period better corresponds with standard reading time," Martin said. "Overall the computerized system will help with collection management and will make us more able to respond to other patterns of use," he said. , The computer terminal will automatically block the tran saction of any borrower who owes overdue fines or has a lost book on record. The terminal display would show the amount due or the lost book identification number. Information available to any borrower would include the number of books checked out, identification of reserved books, and fines owed. In accord with the Library Bill of Rights, all information stored in the terminal would be confidential. "The system is designed to protect the privacy of a borrower's records, along the same lines as any other com puter protection check in the University," Martin said. Although the general outline of the system is clear, the specifics of its operation depend on testing currently being done on the terminals, Martin said. creatures, and was wondering if they will bite and if I could get rabies if they did? Is it safe to feed them, and what do they like to eat? . Dear Nuts, Squirrels are not vicious animals by nature, said Larry Hutchinson, ex tension veterinarian at the University. They will only bite if they are cornered or frightened, he said. It is extremely unlikely that you would get rabies from a-squirrel bite. He said he is not aware of any cases where Firm, my tittle {aerie, tet us make great haste ! To old Uncle Elts for our Christmas Shoppint! It's never too early to prepare. cor the yuletide.. Officials at Pattee are working on a new magnetically on the number of books a student has checked out and the coded identification system. Cards like the one above amount in fines he or she owes. will be issued to each student and will contain information rabie's in a human was traced to squirrels. However, he said that because they have such strong teeth, squirrels can inflict a painful bite, and medical attention should be sought immediately. Squirrels will eat acorns, nuts, crackers or any other hard and crunchy food. . Dear Strife Line, Help! My bike has been locked to the bike rack for the past month. The lock is jammed. The maintenance man in my dorm can't help and I tried to borrow something from the hardware store, but it doesn't lend supp lies.‘ Don't suggest that I rent something or get a locksmith, because the bike isn't worth that much. Footsore and Furious Dear Footsore and Furious, You can contact campus police ser vices to help you. They have equipment that will cut through the lock. You must present them with positive identification of ownership. Also, if your bicycle is not registered, you could be fined, according to University regulations. In extenuating circumstances, the violation may be overlooked, officer John E. Rideout said. 'underestimated more than we've overestimated what the Soviets were going to do. They have moved faster than we expected. "I'm not talking about just numbers, but I include quality as well," he added. - Jones said if the Soviets are to be convinced a con tinued buildup is counterproductive, the United States must increase its defense budget. Verily, my impetuous Lord, I. know not v4ilerefor we hasten. So soon? in truth, the leaves have barely turned! rm hip. Leave us now tarry no longer any more! Uncle Eli VW plant workers approve first pact NEW STANTON, Pa. (AP) Rank-and-file' production workers at Volkswagen's new U.S. assembly plant have accepted their first union contract,' ending a labor dispute Marked by a six-day strike. Members of United Auto Workers Local 2055, back on the job a week after striking, voted 1,166-435 Saturday in favor of the second contract offer made by the German automaker. "This contract will ensure labor peace for the next three years," said Harry Davis, UAW International representative, after the results were announced. "I hope we can sit down in a gen tlemanly manner and work out any problems that could arise without the necessity of the notoriety we have now," he said. The 1,800 members of the newly formed local, ignoring management and union pleas, walked off the job two weeks ago after turning down the first proposal by a 1,235-94 vote. "We airmilea* with.lh qutcome of today's vote';" William C. Craig, executive director of personnel for Volkswagen of America, Inc., said following the vote. "We have a good work force and they have demonstrated the ability to build a high-quality product. We are confident this agreement will serve as the foundation for a strong and lasting relationship." The new contract calls for an im mediate pay boost to $7 an hour for assemblers, the largest group of production workers. The workers made $5.50 an hour before the contract and would have received $6.50 under the first proposal. The ratified contract increases hourly wages to $7.50 an hour next year and $8.20 in the final year of the agreement. The rejected proposal would have raised hourly wages to $7.15 in the second year and $8.20 in the last year. According to Cecil Hampton, an assistant regional director for the union, the approved contract will cost Volkswagen $3OO million over three years. "I think we have a beautiful con tract put together for a new plant," Joseph Dominick, chairman of the local bargaining committee, said. "When you look at it, $7 an hour is a good starting salary." Dominick said the UAW In- ternational now will Telinquish ad ministrative control to the local, which must elect officers within six weeks. "We have a lot of young people who have never worked for a big company such as Volkswagen," he said. "They don't understand grievance procedures. The union and the company will have to work together to educate."
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