Special Collections' endeavor to completely convert all of its existing paper guides and preliminary inventories to the Manuscript holdings of SUL/AIR into electronic versions available online is continuing at a rapid pace. At the start of the current efforts in early March, 2002, approximately 80% of the guides had been converted over a period of nearly seven years. Using the experience gained during those years, Special Collections staff can now convert guides much more quickly and efficiently than previously. As a result, the Department has already reached the 92% mark in terms of conversion for its existing guides in the last four weeks. At this rate, the Department is well on its way to reaching its goal of 100% conversion by the end of the next month.

To see a full list of the guides made available in the weeks of March 25 - 29 and April 1 - 5, please see the Web at:

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/diroff/news/april19/encoding.html

These guides can be accessed from the Special Collections home page (http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/spc/) under the links to Finding Aids. They are listed by title of collection, by call number, and by topic.

Come explore the IT Open House next Wednesday, April 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Meyer Library's lobby (and the decks adjoining the lobby).

Stanford faculty, staff and students are invited to attend this informative event, which will house under one roof representatives from about thirty campus-wide technology services groups who are prepared to meet and talk to you about their resources, and answer your computer questions. Of particular interest, Green Library's Information Center, Lane Medical Library, and a number other service groups from SUL/AIR will be represented.

For more information see the Web at:

http://itopenhouse.stanford.edu

The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) houses one of the largest archives of numeric data for social science research. Begun in 1963, the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research offers a comprehensive, integrated program of studies in research design, statistics, data analysis, and social methodology. Basic methodological and technical training is offered, along with opportunities for advanced work in specialized areas. As Stanford University is a member of the consortium, its faculty, staff, and students are eligible for a discount on the summer program course fees of up to 50% of the regular non-member fees.

For online registration or more information about the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods for Social Research, check out their web site:

http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/TRAINING/summer.html

Learn the theory and practice behind the Open Archive Information System -- fast becoming the theoretical framework upon which many digital repositories are being structured, including that of SUL/AIR. This Friday, April 19th from 9 - 11:30 am in Room 183 Meyer Library, SUL/AIR staff will have the opportunity to view and participate via telephone in the 2nd of a 3 part videoconference series sponsored by the OCLC Institute. Host of the event is Meg Bellinger, Vice President, OCLC Digital & Preservation Resources, and featured speaker will be Donald Sawyer, Lead, Science Office of Standards and Technology, NASA. Expert practitioners who will leaven the theoretical discussion include Bruce Ambacher, Electronic & Special Media Records Services Division, US National Archives and Records Administration; and MacKenzie Smith, Assistant Head of Technology, MIT Libraries. Hope to see you there! Please call Angela Wright at 3-2015 to reserve a place for this event.

SUL/AIR has no new positions this week.

For a complete description of open positions within SUL/AIR, visit the recently redesigned Opportunities for Employment page on the Human Resources Web site.