Overview of the Heard Library Network

The Heard Library relies on a complex network environment to provide electronic services to its users and to automate the many tasks involved in the operation of the library. The network provides a diversity of services and covers a wide geographical extent. The various divisions and departments of the Heard Library occupy space in seven different buildings on campus and one building off campus.

The Heard Library Network consists of Ethernet networks installed in each library building, a set of servers that perform various specialized functions, and desktop computers that connect to the network.

The individual networks in the libraries connect to the campus network, based upon the gigabit ethernet standard, which then connects to the Internet.

The library uses a variety of servers in its network environment. Servers running Novell NetWare provide access to software applications and allow users to store data files. NetWare is also used to provide network printing services.

The Library uses Pegasus Mail for electronic communication. Pegasus mail operates through the Library's Novell servers. The Library's public web site and staff web site each reside on a different Novell Server.

Novell NetWare is also used to share CD-ROM-based products. The library subscribes to a large number of CD-ROM databases. Three NetWare servers are dedicated to providing access to CD-ROM information: Library2A, Library7 and Library8.

The Library uses Unix servers for many of the services it provides to library users. Acorn, the library's cataloging and automation software, operates using Unicorn software from Sirsi.

SiteSearch, an open source software package from OCLC, is used to integrate searchable collections under Athena, a service of the Nashville Area Library Alliance, and Kudzu, a consortium of southeastern academic libraries.

The library also provides access to cd-rom based databases using the Electronic Reference Library (ERL) from SilverPlatter, using their WebSPIRS interface.

Acorn, SiteSearch, and the ERL Server all reside on Sun Solaris software, a form of Unix.

One Cisco router also supports access to the OCLC Prism service for the library network. The router is managed by OCLC, but is physically located in the general library building.

Please contact LITS (netfix@library.vanderbilt.edu or 2-7073) if you have
any questions about Library Information Technology Services.

Go to: LITS Home Page Library Staffweb Heard Library Vanderbilt University

last updated 6/26/2002 by Michael Martin