Library wires up hotline book exchange
Users dial for materials
via ‘Oregon connection’
to save inter-library walk
The “Oregon Connection" began service Wednesday but contrary
to the labels which identify the three telephones behind the information
desk in the main library, it doesn't really connect to Moscow, Peking and
Plains, Ga.
Instead, this new service is designed to speed exchange of materi
als among libraries in the University library network. It is another of the
University library’s programs to increase efficiency without incurring
substantial expense.
Rita Sharpe, acting head of circulation, stressed the material ex
change service is an "intra-library connection." Therefore, the phone
labeled Moscow’ is really connected to the science library; Peking is the
architecture library in Lawrence Hall; and Plains is the law library.
Any student working at the science library, for example, upon
discovering that some necessary materials are housed in the main
library, may simply pick up the "hotline.’’ This is a direct phone connec
tion to the main library. When the student picks up the receiver in the
branch library, the phone at the main library automatically rings. Then
the student may request the materials and have them delivered directly
to the branch library.
By KEVIN RASMUSEN
Of the Emerald
There will be two daily deliveries, except on weekends, according
to Sharpe. One delivery will be at 8 a.m.; the other at 1 p.m. Any
requests made after 1 p.m. will be delivered at eight the next morning.
The "hotline” connection in the various branch libraries can be
easily identified: it is a bright red telephone. In the science library, the
phone is on the reference desk and at the law library, students need to
ask at the main desk. When using the "hotline," students will be asked
to supply their names and the call numbers for the materials they need.
All library patrons are eligible to use the new service which elimi
nates running back and forth. More importantly, Sharpe pointed out,
‘‘students need not come all the way over here (the main library) for
nothing” if the references they needed were already charged out. In that
case, a “hold" could be placed on the desired book and the branch
librarv would be notified as soon as the reference was returned.
"The hotline’ works both ways,” Sharpe indicated. The main library
can use it to call the branch libraries, too.
Faculty and graduate students will be especially benefited by the
new service, said Sharpe. They can be working on a research project at
one specific branch library, and have incidental materials from the other
libraries delivered to them.
The music library currently has no direct material exchange phone
hook-up.
It looks suspicious to see this woman talking on a
red phone marked “Plains," but chances are she is
in touch with someone at the law library who needs a
book transtered there. The phones are part ot an
Ptiolo by Kurt Kr**n»
intra-library system connecting the branches so that
users may have materials shipped to them across
campus and avoid the walk
Committee studies bikepaths
The Lane Council of Govern
ments’ Metropolitan Bicycle
Committee furthered its efforts to
develop bicycle policy recom
mendations for the Eugene
Springfield Area Transportation
Master Plan in a Wednesday
meeting.
The policy recommendations
are intended to act as guidelines
for future bikepath and bikeway
development in the Eugene
Sprirtgfield metropolitan area
The committee made no final
decision on what proposals will be
included in the recommendations,
but discussed several policies for
consideration.
The following are some of the
possibil;ties the committee may
review and take action on in its
Feb. 2 meeting:
• bikeway systems should link ac
tivity centers in the metro area
• adequate covered bike parking
and locking facilities should be
provided at trip attractors
• bikeways systems should pro
vide for the continuity of internal
movements as projects within the
plan are constructed
• the minimum age of licensing
drivers should rise to age 18
• community education programs
and system information should be
provided
• media advertising campaigns
should take effect to discourage
auto use
• traffic closure and diversion on
streets should not impede bike
movement.
The committee also proposed
guidelines for planning new
facilities. These guidelines in
clude allowing for bike and alter
native modes of transportation;
constructing facilities for a
minimum of conflict between
bikes, motorists and pedestrians;
including special treatment for
handling bikes at intersections;
and including bikeway construc
tion in development proposals
The funding of bike proposals is
another problem for which the
committee is developing propos
als One proposal is to levy a local
gas tax to fund improvements
The committee is also looking into
the idea of increasing the state's
funding for bikeway construction
Local governments, the commit
tee says, should fund bike im
provements at a level appropriate
for the goals of non-auto transpor
tation they have set
Grant allows for continued brainstorms
America s inventors may
breathe a sigh of relief. The Na
tional Science Foundation has
just given a two-year,
&i/i,uuu gram 10 ine
University’s Experimental
Center for Invention and Inno
vation (ECU).
The center, located in Hoom
131, Gilbert Hall, is one of only
three in the nation. It aids in
ventors throughout the country
PATENT
OFFICE
/
Drawing by Cecity Reeve
in developing and marketing
their creations It also sponsors
“innovative" classes in con
junction with the College of
Business Administration
“We help the inventor see
whether he can successfully
market the product," says
Gerald Udell, director of ECU.
"If we can improve their know
ledge, then they can be better
inventors."
A primary function of the
center is to combat the influ
ence of so-called "idea brok
ers," who take large amounts
of money from inventors while
promising to help market the
product, and then simply keep
the money. “The idea-brokers
have been able to rip people
off,” says Udell.
The center helps people with
many inventiohs, both practical
and useless, with invention
evaluations costing $25. It
serves approximately 650
clients across the nation each
year.
"We've gotten all sorts of in
ventions,” says Udell, "such as
a process for printing on wood,
a device to prevent bedwetting,
and a smokeless waste burner.
We once received an inquiry
from someone who had per
fected a manjuana gin — a de
vice which removed the larger
stems and impurities from the
plant."
The center also works to
promote entrepreneurship at
the University. Since its estab
lishment in 1973, the center
has worked with the marketing
and management depart
ments, and about 650 students
are currently involved in the
program. "Specifically, this
program is an experiment to
test various methods for
educating inventors,” says
Udell
Udell says he feels there is a
definite need for this type of
educational program. "We've
reached a technological
watershed in this country.
Several other countries are
achieving greater innovation
on a per capita basis."
The ECU returns $9.40 to
the federal government in in
creased income taxes for each
dollar invested. "There is
dearly no money at the Uni
versity level,” says Udell. "At
the end of five years the exper
iment may end.”