edge within a specialized domain) will exist ... domains. Many of the initial products will have their origin in research un- ... How To Get Your Computer Up and.
Book reviews
ALBERICO, RALPH AND MICCO, MARY. Expert Systems for Reference and Information Retrieval.
Westport, CT: Meckler, 1990. 395 p. $47.50. ISBN: 0-88736-232-X.@ Is there a role for artificial intelligence and expert systems in libraries? This book answers that question with an emphatic yes and goes on to give librarians a wealth of information that will help them to understand the possibilities. Alberico and Micco begin with a brief and lucid discussion of that loosely defined and much debated term, artificial intelligence (AI). Al has as its general goal the use of a computer to simulate any of various processes of human intelligence. The authors provide an overview of the history of artificial intelligence, bringing the reader from the precursors of the concept in the early days of computing to the current golden years that started in 1982, when Time magazine's Man of the Year was the computer [1]. They suggest that artificial intelligence includes a number of areas of research that hold promise for libraries but posit that the most promising Al technology for libraries is expert systems. Alberico and Micco go on to describe various aspects of expert systems, including knowledge structure and representation, knowledge acquisition, vocabulary control, and the user interface. They suggest that the user interface is the most important predictor of the likelihood that a system will be accepted by its intended users. With useful references to research on information-seeking behaviors and the reference process, requirements for the user interface are described and numerous examples of systems addressing these concerns in different ways are given. If the user interface is the key predictor of use, knowledge ac-
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quisition methods are arguably the key predictor of whether a system can be developed and maintained. As librarians know well, knowledge acquisition is an arduous and time-consuming task, and while technology may assist, a large intellectual effort is still required. The authors discuss various methods of knowledge acquisition and the library's role. They anticipate the day that knowledge refineries (entities that acquire and encode knowledge within a specialized domain) will exist, and they suggest that these refineries will both grow from and depend on libraries. A particular strength that librarians and other information professionals bring to the expert systems arena is an understanding of the organization of knowledge and vocabulary control concepts. Alberico and Micco do a good job of describing subject access issues and the role of the vocabulary control system, providing a chapter that could fruitfully be read by any Al system developer. The book describes many expert system projects, in and out of libraries. Methods for designing expert systems are discussed, beginning with the selection of an appropriate topic area and continuing on through the stages of development to implementation and testing. The steps are described for both small and large expert systems. Alberico and Micco, unabashed proponents of expert systems in libraries, bring a definite point of view to this book's organization and contents. Both have previous publications in the area of libraries and technology; Micco has been directly involved in the development of a library expert system. This background is evident in the presentation of the material and adds credibility to the advice that librarians can learn expert systems best by building them. The authors are not afraid to emphasize those
issues that they think are important and to encourage readers to consider their own role in expert system development and use. The book includes an extensive bibliography to support the text, including the classics going back to Vannevar Bush and his "As we may think" predictions (p. 343), but also including recent material, including citations to conference proceedings in which so much systems information is published today. Coverage is provided for both the library science and computer science literature. The authors have ended each chapter of the book with a "Recommended Readings" section, which picks up on key items referenced in the text and also adds additional references for more information. This book is highly relevant to the particular issues of health sciences librarianship. Alberico and Micco give many examples of expert system-and other-developments in the medical area, pointing out that medicine was one of the first areas to pick up on the potential of AI for support of its activities. One early pioneering system mentioned frequently in the book is the National Library of Medicine's Hepatitis Knowledge Base, still a model particularly for its knowledge acquisition methods. The authors also discuss some of the classic diagnostic systems in medicine such as MYCIN and Roundsman (p. 162). In discussing the future of expert systems and artificial intelligence in libraries, Alberico and Micco predict that more flexible development tools will result in the introduction of navigation systems designed for specific library domains. Many of the initial products will have their origin in research underway in medical informatics. Medical expert systems will help clinicians and researchers search, evaluate and organize the medical literature. De-
Bull Med Libr Assoc 79(2) April 1991
Book reviews
SCHUYLER, MICHAEL and HOFFMAN, JAKE. PC Management: A How-ToDo-It Manual for Selecting, Organizing, and Managing Personal They go on to envision that the Computers in Libraries. New development of enormous bodies York: Neal-Schuman, 1990. 212 p. of highly organized and intercon- $35.00. ISBN 1-55570-076-4. nected knowledge about diseases will lead to expert systems devel- Vast changes have occurred in miopment in other areas, so that ul- crocomputer technology over the timately "every library will main- past decade. From the Apple II and tain its own unique collection of IBM PC to the latest Macintosh and databases and knowledge bases DOS-based machines, CD-ROM, while also being part of wide and laser printers-we are offered bandwidth international commu- an amazing array of choices. Innovation and diversity, however, nication networks" (p. 322). Keeping up with such challeng- have proved to be as much a bures and developments in informa- den as a blessing to the librarian tion technology is an integral part given the task of managing microof health sciences librarianship to- computers in the work place. PC Management, by Michael day. This book provides an excellent overview of expert systems Schuyler and Jake Hoffman, and technology and in the process in- Microcomputer Management and forms the reader about a wide va- Maintenance for Libraries, by Elizariety of related issues. It should be beth S. Lane, are two recently pubuseful to librarians, whether they lished books that will be welare seeking a better understanding comed by anyone with the task of of the phenomena of expert sys- managing a library's microcomtems, considering the develop- puter resources. Both works atment or use of an expert system, tempt to ease the "burden" conor anticipating the role that expert fronting the microcomputer systems will play in the future of manager by addressing the myriad problems faced. Although there is libraries. some overlap of coverage, each title presents a unique perspective on the topic of microcomputer K. Roderer Nancy management. Health Sciences Library Schuyler and Hoffman's PC Columbia University addresses the chalManagement New York, New York lenges inherent in the management of a diverse collection of IBM Reference or IBM-compatible microcomputers and ancillary hardware. Schuy1. MEYER JA. Computer is machine of ler, who wrote most of the book, the year [publisher's letter]. Time 1983 is chief of support services at KitJan 3;121(1):3. sap Regional Library in Bremerton, Washington. He has several book and journal publications to his credit including Now What? How To Get Your Computer Up and LANE, ELIZABETH S. Microcomput- Running [1] and The System Librarier Management and Maintenance an's Guide to Computers [2]. Hofffor Libraries. Westport, CT: Meck- man, microcomputer consultant for ler, 1990. 205 p. $39.50. ISBN the state of Idaho, wrote chapter eight. You might recognize him as 0-88736-522-1.G
velopment efforts will occur in individual libraries with the support of the national medical establishment (p. 321).
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author of a number of articles on CD-ROM and "The Hoffman Hack" (p. 205), a "free-ware" program that details the handling of CD-ROM software and hardware conflicts. As the authors state, "... PC management entails more than simply filling out purchase orders. It is a 'hands-on' job that requires no small amount of aggressive learning on your part" (p. 187). To that end, PC Management offers practical advice on software, hardware, support staff, tools and supplies, and the creation of a standard interface for all microcomputers within an organization. Practical is the key word here. If you have ever wondered which applications software to purchase, PC Management suggests options and mentions brand names. Schuyler also offers advice on purchasing everything from computers to printer ribbons, based on his experience dealing with vendors. Addresses, pricing structures, and thumbnail sketches of dozens of vendors are listed. In a chapter titled "Applications Toolbox," Schuyler compares several commercial utilities packages useful for diagnosing and rectifying disk problems. He continues with a discussion of utilities for diagnosing hardware and memory problems. The information in this section alone is worth the price of the book; it can save time and aggravation diagnosing the memory, disk, and hardware problems you are likely to encounter. Besides utility programs for the microcomputer "guru," the author also recommends applications programs for the user: database, spreadsheet, word processing, and communications software. Schuyler is not dogmatic in his recommendations and recognizes that experienced managers might not agree with his selections, though the novice might be well advised to consider them. _
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