ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES Newsletter of the Federal Depository Library Program ----------------------------------------------------------------- June 15, 1999 GP 3.16/3-2:20/10 (Vol. 20, no. 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1999 Recommended Specifications for Public Access Workstations in Federal Depository Libraries These recommended specifications are intended to assist depository librarians who are planning purchases of new personal computers (PCs) for public use in Federal depository libraries. This document supersedes the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) "Recommended Specifications for Public Access Work Stations in Federal Depository Libraries" (Administrative Notes, v. 18, no. 9, June 15, 1998). Recommended New Workstation Configuration COMPUTER Processor IBM-compatible Pentium chip, 333 MHz Pentium II processor minimum. Consider 450 MHz. System board should be "ATX" form factor. Memory (RAM) 64 MB (expandable) minimum - 128 MB (expandable) recommended. Ports One (1) Serial One (1) Universal Serial Bus (USB) One (1) Parallel One (1) P/S-2 Mouse One (1) SVGA Video (If video is built into system board.) I/O bus PCI. Should have at least four available PCI or shared PCI/ISA slots after system is configured for delivery. Video 64 or 128 bit PCI interface SVGA controller. Should come with 4MB Windows RAM (WRAM) or Video RAM (VRAM), and be expandable to at least 8MB WRAM or VRAM. Recommend the selected device provide MPEG hardware acceleration. o FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE: 64 or 128 bit PCI interface SVGA controller with 8MB WRAM or VRAM. Audio Sound Blaster 16 or better, or compatible (only if appropriate for library setting). Drive Bays One (1) 3.5" half-height (HH). Three (3) 5.25" HH Externally Accessible. Two (2) 3.5" HH Internal. DISK DRIVES AND STORAGE Hard Disk Drive 8.4 gigabytes (GB) or greater capacity, partitioned into smaller drives for quicker access time. IDE or SCSI interface. o FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE: 9.0 GB or greater capacity, or network connectivity that provides the same. Removable/External Storage 3.5" 1.44 MB drive. Use an older system for 5.25" floppy conversion. Also, strongly recommend additional external and/or exchangeable drives, especially drives such as Zip or Jaz drives for downloading files too large to fit on a regular floppy disk, and tape drives for periodic backup. DVD Drive 4.8X speed minimum, 5X recommended. Ensure compatibility with CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-Rs. Must have a MPEG-2 decoder card for video. o FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE: 5X speed (comparable to 32X CD-ROM). Single platter or changer design. Should support all available standard CD formats. Avoid proprietary I/O designs. PERIPHERALS Monitor 17" Super VGA (SVGA) Multimedia monitor, 0.28 dpi or smaller. May want to consider rotatable displays if in a technical services area or if users do a lot of word-processing. o FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE: 21" monitor, Super VGA (SVGA), with at least 70 MHz vertical refresh rate at 1024x768 resolution non-interlaced, 0.28 or smaller dot pitch; display card which supports 1024x768 resolution at 70 MHz or faster. Printer Ink Jet or laser printer. Must support PostScript. 10MB Memory, minimum. More recommended if using PostScript or color. o FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE: Color ink jet plotter, 36", 600 dpi, 68 MB or more memory, or access to a comparable networked printer. Keyboard and Pointing Device Microsoft-compatible keyboard, plus mouse or other compatible device. Strongly recommend ergonomically-designed products. Internet Connectivity Local Area Network with TCP/IP (Strongly Recommended) or Dial-up SLIP/PPP connection using 56 Kbps or better Modem (internal modem would be advisable to reduce cabling and power requirements) SOFTWARE Operating System Microsoft Windows 95b (OEM release which includes "FAT-32" and their fixes), or Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Communications Package which supports multiple file transfer protocols; several terminal emulations such as ANSI-BBS, TTY, VT-100. Data transfer rates up to 56 Kbps. Supports Hayes "AT" compatible modems; manages telnet sessions. Must have ability to "script" log-on files. Client Software World Wide Web graphical browser with forms support. Java-enabled browsers such as Internet Explorer 4 or Netscape Navigator 4 are required for use of some online databases (for example, the DOE/GPO Information Bridge partnership). Also recommend consider EINet winWAIS 2.06 customized for use with GPO Access WAIS databases. Viewers WWW graphical browser (see above) will handle both GIF and JPEG graphics. Additional PDF viewer and MPEG player; strongly recommend viewers for other file formats such as TIFF. o FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE: GEOTIFF file viewer. Viewing software for raster data, such as Photo Shop or Print Shop. Applications Software Consider getting an integrated "office suite" product such as Microsoft Office or Corel WordPerfect8 Suite. Otherwise: Database dBASE file format compatible or dBASE and ASCII comma delimited file importing database management software; useful to have fixed field format (SDF) import ability. Spreadsheet Lotus.WK1 file format compatible software; support for other formats such as Excel and Quattro Pro. Word Processing Software capable of importing major text file formats (Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, WordPro, etc.) and ASCII text files. Mapping Software o FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE: Data manipulation package, such as ArcView 3.0 or higher, Landview, MapInfo 4.5 or higher, or other similar packages. DVD as a Peripheral A DVD external drive may be purchased to add to an existing workstation. However, here are some cautionary notes about this. Most of these products are first and second generation DVD drives and not all of them read CD-ROMs. If you want the flexibility to use this as an additional CD-ROM drive, verify its compatibility with CD-ROMs before purchasing. External drives are available only at 1X and 2X speed. This is equivalent to 9X or 18X speed CD-ROMs and slower speeds than were recommended in last year’s specifications. Most external DVD models use a SCSI or PC card interface. Macintosh machines and many recent PCs have a SCSI interface. Make sure your system has a compatible interface. It must also have a MPEG-2 decoder card for video. Y2K Depository librarians are reminded to check computer and network configurations and software to ensure Y2K compliance. Most software developed in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and to a lesser extent the 90s, was not designed to be operable into the 21st century. If you are using any application programs (database management, spreadsheets, word processors, etc.) to administer any part of the depository operation, verify their Y2K readiness and upgrade or migrate to a new program if necessary. Related Issues and Considerations These specifications are intended to assist depository staff in making informed purchases which will best achieve the goal of providing public access to Federal Government information in a variety of electronic formats. These guidelines are aimed at providing reasonably robust workstations which should provide years of service before they become obsolete, but LPS encourages the purchase of equipment that exceeds these specifications if at all economically feasible. The speed at which computer capabilities are evolving indicates that the higher the initial outlay, the longer the useful life for the equipment. If a higher end system is not affordable, look for flexibility and expandability in the system that will allow for enhancements and upgrades at a later date. As of this writing the Pentium III was just released. LPS believes it is too soon to recommend its purchase for depository libraries. At this early stage not much software supports the Katmai New Instructions (KNI) of the Pentium III that make it a more powerful and speedy processor. Of greater concern is the unique ID number associated with each chip that has potential security risks. Intel is going to release software that allows the ID number to be turned on and off. When this problem is eliminated and if your software supports KNI, consider purchasing a 500 MHz Pentium III. Depository libraries must have computer equipment sufficient to allow timely and equitable public access to Government electronic information products and should allow printing or downloading information selected by the user. During a depository library inspection LPS will use a functional approach to determine compliance with this requirement. LPS cannot anticipate or address every possible depository library computer scenario and depository libraries are encouraged to adapt this menu of specifications to fit their local situations. Depositories may require multi-purpose single workstations, electronic access in networked environments, or a combination of both. Given the large variation in the size of Federal depository libraries and the numbers of users served, LPS cannot recommend a universal standard for the number of public access workstations in any given library. However, when assessing workstation needs, librarians should consider such local factors as: * the amount of information provided over the Internet compared with the amount from CD-ROM * whether and how the workstations are networked * to what extent users are permitted to perform additional information processing at the public access workstations * whether users are experiencing extended waiting times at library peak service hours, etc. When configuring workstations bear in mind that some government CD-ROM products now link to the web to update information on the CD-ROM. This means that for the user to get the newer information and the full benefit of the product at least one workstation must have both CD-ROM capability and Internet accessibility with a graphical browser. Additional or different capabilities may be desirable for workstations used by library staff. Some libraries may elect to add applications software, such as spreadsheet, word processing, or data base software, to their public access workstations, but this is a local resource management decision. Many depository libraries have existing computer equipment that is no longer "state of the art." These specifications should not be applied retrospectively to existing equipment, although they may assist in determining the appropriate time for replacement or upgrading. LPS has deliberately not provided specifications for Apple Macintosh (Mac) or UNIX workstations. Based on responses to the 1995 and 1997 Biennial Surveys, Mac's are the computer of choice for a small minority of the depository libraries. However, depository libraries that have a Mac or UNIX environment should assess their functional capabilities in light of these specifications. LPS works with the Cartographic Users Advisory Council (CUAC) to develop any additional specifications which support GIS applications. These are included in the recommendations with the indicator "l FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE:". For additional information, or if you have any questions about these specifications, please contact Cynthia Etkin, Depository Library Inspector, at or by voice at (202) 512-1119. Related guidelines: * "Public Access to Electronic Government Information Provided Through Federal Depository Libraries," Administrative Notes, v. 17, #7 (May 15, 1996). * "Depository Library Public Service Guidelines for Government Information in Electronic Formats," Administrative Notes, v. 19, #11 (September 15, 1998). * "FDLP Internet Use Policy Guidelines," Administrative Notes, v. 20, #2 (January 15, 1999).