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
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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."