Issue 30

1. Survey of SCISWeb
   We would appreciate you spending a few moments to complete the survey form, which may be printed up from the 'SCISWeb Message Centre' page. Feedback will ensure that the SCISWeb product meets your needs. Please fax your completed survey to SCIS at (03) 96391616 as soon as possible this y ear. Those customers who respond by 31 August are eligible to win a copy of the new fourth edition SCIS Subject Headings book to be released later in 1999.
2. Survey of SCISCO
   We would appreciate you spending a few moments to complete the survey sent to schools with issue 3 in June. (The survey form is also on our website) Feedback will ensure that the SCISCO product meets your needs. Please fax your completed survey to SCIS at (03) 9639 1616 as soon as possible. Those customers who responded by 31 July are eligible to win a copy of the new fourth edition SCIS Subject Headings book to be released later in 1999.
3. Access to SCISWeb 1999
   We intend to upgrade the Voyager System during December this year. This is a complex exercise requiring considerable time, expertise and involves a number of parties to ensure it is successful. Hence, SCISWeb will not be available for the duration of the upgrade. At this stage we are advising customers to finalise all cataloguing for 1999 by the end of November. When the dates for this upgrade are confirmed we will advise you with a message in the next issue of Connections and in 'Message of the day' i n SCISWeb. We anticipate that SCISWeb will be available a gain on 17 January 2000.
4. Access to SCISCO 1999
   We are hoping to have SCISCO available for use in January but this arrangement is yet to be finalised. At this stage we wish to advise customers that the fifth issue of SCISCO expires on 31 December 1999 and that the first issue will be delivered to schools in the first week of February. It is dependent, however, on feedback from the customer survey and some other technical issues. Notice will be given to customers with delivery of the 5th issue, next issue of Connections and on the website.
5. Local Cataloguing
   77% of schools are subscribing to SCIS to enable them to have the bulk of their cataloguing done quickly and easily hence saving an enormous amount of time. It is a far more effective use of Teacher Librarian's time to download the SCIS records and make some modifications where necessary than to merely use SCIS as a guide to one's own original cataloguing. However, there will be times when local cataloguing may have to be done by the Teacher Librarian for a variety of reasons. Sometimes resources that have been produced locally for specific needs will not be on the SCIS database and will need to be catalogued by the Teacher Librarian. In some instances libraries may wish to edit the record to i nclude specific local details such as acquisition details, reviews, further subject headings and notes.
6. CIP-Cataloguing In Print
   Some Teacher Librarians consider using the CIP printed in books for cataloguing details. We would like to issue a warning to be careful if copying the details. Sometimes changes are made to the resource after the CIP has been completed hence some details will b e incorrect. Obviously when obtaining records for those resources from SCIS, which is a specialised database for schools, you will receive the correct cataloguing details.
7. Subscriptions 2000
   Due to requests from Teacher Librarians we are making arrangements for SCIS subscriptions for the year 2000 earlier than in previous years. SCIS Subscription forms will not be sent out to all schools because in many instances their current subscription is a standing order and they will automatically receive the product for the year 2000. Curriculum Corporation is pleased t o announce that there will be no increase in the Recommended Retail Price for SCISWeb and SCISCO.

Customers will be able to commence using SCISWeb again on 17 January 2000. Customers will continue to use the same password in the year 2000 as they had for 1999 but the counter for records downloaded will be reset to zero. Contact SCIS to have password reset if necessary (only if misplaced or unknown).

Email: [email protected], Fax: (03) 96391616, Tel: (03) 9207 9600 or 1800 337 405.

Below we have identified the categories that all schools fit into to ensure that all Teacher Librarians are informed before the end of the school year. Schools need to identify which of the following SCIS subscription categories they belong to as this will determine what has to be done, if anything, to have SCIS in 2000:
a) Education Department bulk deal arrangements
b) National Catholic bulk deal arrangement
c) Independent Schools bulk deal arrangement
d) Christian Parent Controlled Schools bulk deal arrangement
e) Current subscribers to SCIS not involved in the above arrangements
f) Non subscribers who do not belong to any of the above arrangements.

See below for more specific details. This information will also be on our website at <http://www.curriculum.edu .au/scis/ subscrib.htm>.
a) Education Department Bulk deal arrangements will continue for the year 2000 for schools in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory. Negotiations are underway with South Australia.
b) National Catholic bulk deal arrangement The National Catholic Education Commission will negotiate another bulk deal arrangement for Catholic schools. Their State Catholic Education Office will contact Teacher Librarians asking them to confirm their subscription to SCIS. This will also provide the opportunity for new subscribers to join the National Catholic bulk deal. Schools will be notified when the discount level is finalised so that payment may be forwarded to their local Catholic Education Office.
c) Independent Schools bulk deal arrangement In 1999 there was a discounted price available for schools in Victoria, Western Australia and Australian Capital Territory. The National Council for Independent Schools Association is hoping to negotiate a national discounted price. Teacher Librarians will be contacted by their state Independent Association asking for an expression of interest to be involved in the arrangement.
d) Christian Parent Controlled Schools bulk deal arrangement The Association for Christian Parent Controlled Schools arranged a discounted price for their schools in 1999 and this process will be continued.
e) Current subscribers to SCIS not involved in the above arrangements Your subscription to SCIS in 1999 was a standing order, which means that you will not be required to subscribe again. You will automatically be given access to the same product in the year 2000 that you subscribed to in 1999. An invoice will be sent to you in October requesting payment for the year 2000 and asking for confirmation of product required.
f) Non subscribers who do not belong to any of the above arrangements A SCIS subscription form will be sent to schools that do not have a subscription for 1999. This form will be posted to those schools in September and if an order is placed before the end of 1999 the school will have access to the products at the beginning of the year. If subscribing to SCISWeb a letter will be delivered to the school by 17th January, 2000 outlining passwords and how to access the product.

Please note: Customers whose subscriptions to SCISWeb are received at Curriculum Corporation after 1 January 2000 will receive instructions (including new default password) and access to SCISWeb within five to ten working days upon receipt of subscription form.