Machalow, Robert. 101 uses of Lotus in libraries. Supplements to Computers in Libraries, 40. Westport: Meckler, 1992. xiv + 350 pp. A$? cloth ISBN 0-88736-791-7.
Lotus, the fruit, conjures up that admirable state of dreamy and contented oblivion that can readily be achieved in libraries. Lotus in this case refers to the more prosaic, but widely used computer spreadsheet program, Lotus 1-2-3. Does it really provide as much variety as 101 Australian sporting heroes or 101 dalmatians? I think so.
The book assumes an elementary knowledge of the software, but then details an excellent range of applications for the library environment. Some of these are a bit contrived (he had to get to 101!), but the descriptions are useful beyond the specific Lotus applications that are described.
An introductory chapter deals with bread and butter for Lotus, the budget, except of course the examples use library departments and suppliers. Subsequent chapters, each with at least 4 different applications, deal with specific library housekeeping systems: circulation, reference scheduling and statistics, interlibrary loans, serials lists, cataloguing, acquisitions, and database service support. In addition, there are a dozen different administrative applications covering the likes of labels printing, timesheets and calendars.
In addition there are 30 applications provided under the heading of Bibliographic Instruction. These range from setting up the software to deal with question and answer quizzes, to using the normal character set (/ _ - \ | ) to construct maps.
In every case, the specific Lotus instructions and macros (named groups of executable instructions) are provided.
An accompanying index provides access by both general terms (videos, reserve collection, etc) and by Lotus commands and functions ({MENUBRANCH}, @IF, etc).
This book should provide ideas for users of any type of spreadsheet software in libraries. However, I would also recommend it as an aid to analysis of library systems, and for instruction of library studies students who are coming to terms with the working environment.
Michael Middleton m.middleton@qut.edu.au
Last updated 14 March 1995