lib-MOCS-KMC364-20131012114302 304 Reports and Working Papers Cable Library Survey Results Public Service Satellite Consortium: Washington, D .C. The following paper was distributed to PSSC members in May 1981 , and is repro- duced here to bring it to the attention of a wider audience. BACKGROUND The Public Service Satellite Consortium (PSSC) conducted a survey of academic li- braries in July 1980 to study their data com- munications needs and services. Results of that study, coupled with library interest generated by that study, convinced PSSC that: (1) libraries have a wide variety of communications needs which could be ad- dressed with appropriate uses of telecom- munications; (2) all types of libraries are affected, not just academic libraries; and (3) data transfer was but one of many types of library services in need of better com- munications. This information motivated PSSC to take a broader look at library communications. That second look resulted in the identifica- tion of the "cable library" (CATVLIB) phe- nomenon and video library services. In December 1980, PSSC launched a sec- ond survey directed to cable libraries; that is, libraries of all types which are connected to local cable companies. This study was aimed at determining to what extent, if any, a national satellite cable library net- work might be already in technical exis- tence. How many libraries are presently connected to cooperative cable companies with satellite hardware and excess satellite receiver capacity? And of that number, how many cable libraries would be inter- ested in participating in satellite-assisted li- brary services and video-teleconferences? To answer these questions, PSSC mailed questionnaires to 101 libraries that had been identified as potential cable libraries. In order to allow the participation of uni- dentified cable libraries, PSSC also adver- tised the survey in various library periodi- cals, including American Libraries, Cable-Libraries, and lOLA. That ad re- sulted in an additional 97 cable libraries re- questing to participate in the survey, raising the total number of libraries receiving the questionnaire to 198. As of April 1981, 86 libraries have responded, yielding a 43 % return. Follow-up phone calls have indi- cated that more surveys are forthcoming, or that the questionnaire proved to be irrele- vant to present library conditions. In some cases, copies of the survey were requested and distributed for informational purposes only. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT The questionnaire incorporated explana- tions of terminology and was eight pages long. Additional enclosures furnished more specific information about PSSC and video- teleconferencing. The respondent was not only questioned about his/her library facili- ties, but also was asked to interview theca- ble company for necessary technical infor- mation. Though contributing to slower returns, this two-tiered approach did suc- ceed in establishing contact between the li- brary and the cable company, as well as provide all the data required to profile each library as a potential network participant. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS Since a national network is being pur- sued, an attempt was made to reach as many of the states as possible. Thirty-seven states received copies of the survey, while thirty-one had at least one responding li- brary. All types of libraries were surveyed. Those surveyed included elementary school libraries, high school libraries, vocational school libraries, academic libraries, public libraries, regional library networks, state li- braries, library systems, special libraries, and libraries that also double as their local community access center for cable televi- sion. Of the 86 who responded, 63 were public, 18 were academic, 4 were school, and one was a special library. Responding libraries have been catego- rized according to their ability to be an ac- tive member of the network: UF Usable Facility-Those libraries that have met all the technical require- ments for network participation. The library must be currently connected to an operational cable system which has a satellite receiving station and excess receiver capacity. In addition, the cable system and the library must have indicated an interest in partici- pating in and hosting occasional satellite-transmitted events. NXC No Excess RO Capacity-Libraries that meet all technical cable connec- tivity requirements, but whose cable system cannot presently accommo- date any more activity on its satellite receiver(s), are grouped here. Should time become available in the future, these libraries are then technically able to advance to the usable facility group. NRO No CATV RO- Here are placed those libraries that are connected to an operational cable system . How- ever, the cable system has no satellite receiving station and, therefore, no satellite access. In order to become a usable facility, these cable systems must install a satellite receiving sta- tion and be able to offer excess re- ceiver capacity. NCC No CATV Connection- While a ca- ble system with all the satellite hard- ware requirements may be operating in the library's area, these libraries are not connected to the cable system. Reasons given in the survey are var- ied including logistics, economics, and disinterest . Depending upon the technical status of the cable system, a Reports and Working Papers 305 simple link may be all that is needed for the library to become a usable fa- cility. NCA No CATV in Area- Libraries in this group are located in areas that pres- ently have no operational cable sys- tem. Some areas are now in the fran- chising process, some have awarded franchises but are not operational, and others have no idea if and when cable service will come to their areas. Libraries here have the advantage of knowing what requirements are nec- essary for network participation and can use this information when fran- chising negotiations begin. NI No Interest-Here are grouped those li- braries that are at various stages of technical capability, but have no de- sire to participate in a national satel- lite cable library network. Table 1 illustrates responses according to geographical location. (Numbers refer to the quantity of libraries from each state that fit into the above defined categories .) Exactly half of these respondents are us- able facilities. The largest hindrance to net- work participation is lack of connectivity between the library and the cable system. LIBRARY /CABLE CONNECTIVITY Part one of this survey established the de- gree of connectivity between libraries and their local cable companies. PSSC's major concern was to find libraries wired to at least receive cable programming. PSSC also discovered that the highest percentage of libraries had two-way connection, usually for the purpose of cablecasting. Connectiv- ity among the 86 respondents was broken down as follows (all percentages have been rounded off): 33 (39%) two-way interconnection (transmit and receive video) 29 (34%) one-way CATV drop (receive only- regular subscriber) 14 (16%) no CATV connection 9 (10%) noCATVinmyareaor presently operational in my area 1 (1%) no answer to question Other questions in this section profiled the technical capabilities of the cable sys- tem. Specific hours of each day of the week a satellite receiver was available for occa- 306 Journal of Library Automation Vol. 14/4 December 1981 Table I. State Nabama Naska Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho lllinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mi ssouri Nevada New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virg inia Wash ington Wisconsin Wyoming TOTAL Total State Respondents UF 0 - NO RESPONSE 3 I 5 2 2 4 I I I 0- NO RESPONSE 2 2 I I 2 2 2 I 3 3 I 2 2 II 7 I I I I 4 I 14 5 2 I 0 - NO RESPONSE I I 0- NO RESPONSE 2 2 2 2 I 2 2 2 0 - NO RESPONSE 4 2 2 I 3 3 0 - NO RESPONSE 86 43 sional use were charted. Weekday morn- ings proved to be the most available time block. It is also imperative for PSSC to know what transponders (channels) of the satel- lite cable systems can access. There are twenty-four transponders on SATCOM I, the main satellite used by cable. When PSSC coordinates a satellite telecast, time on a satellite transponder must be secured . Each transponder is leased to someone, such as Home Box Office (HBO), Ted Turner's Cable News Network, or the Ap- palachian Community Service Network NXC 3 I 7 NRO 2 3 9 NCC 3 I 2 2 2 14 NCA 2 I 2 8 Nl 5 (ACSN), to name a few, for the carriage of their programming. Time needed by PSSC for a two-hour satellite event, for example, can be sublet from a transponder lessee, subject to availability. However, finding time slots on SATCOM I transponders is be- coming increasingly difficult as many les- sees are expanding the number of hours of their own programming. As a result, PSSC must know which transponders each cable system can receive so that an attempt can be made, where possible, to accommodate the majority of survey facilities. The ideal situation is for CATVs to own "frequency agile" satellite receivers; that is, receivers that can access any of the tran- sponders. Some receivers can get only even- numbered transponders or odd-numbered transponders; others can access only certain individual transponders. Transponder ac- cessibility is usually related to the type of programming the cable operator offers or plans to offer to the local cable subscribers, or to the age of the system. (Older systems often use twelve channel receivers, tunable to only even- or odd-numbered transpon- ders on SATCOM I.) For example, if a ca- ble operator does not anticipate offering anything besides HBO now or in the future from SATCOM I, often he/she cannot jus- tify the need for a frequency agile receiver. Table 2 outlines transponder accessibility for usable facilities only. This abundance of frequency agile re- ceivers will provide the connected libraries with a greater amount of flexibility in re- ceiving programming since their participa- tion will not be dependent upon a certain transponder. Another question probed the availability of provisions for closed-circuit, discrete de- livery of satellite transmissions from theca- ble system's receiver into the library. Being able to provide closed-circuit capabilities would ensure the privacy of a satellite tele- cast. Some PSSC clients insist that their transmissions be safe-guarded through closed-circuit delivery. As expected, closed-circuit arrangement does not exist between very many libraries and their CATVs. Unless part of an institu- tional cable loop, most libraries cannot presently be singled out for closed-circuit cable reception. Under normal conditions, what is transmitted from the head end of the cable system travels to everyone sub- scribing to the cable service. Eleven of the forty-three usable facilities claimed closed- circuit capabilities are currently available. Those thirty-two without described what technical considerations must be present be- fore such provisions could be offered. These technical requirements included scram- bling devices, mid-band channel usage, modulators and demodulators. Such up- grading of the cable company's hardware was quoted as costing from hundreds to sev- Reports and Working Papers 307 era! thousands of dollars. No CATV indi- cated willingness to assume the expenses for such special capabilities, but a few did offer to investigate the possibility of temporary special links on a per-occasion basis. LIBRARY FACILITIES The survey also asked about the library's facilities. Information in part two centered on library accommodations and equip- ment. Answers here provided a description of each library, which gave PSSC an idea of how adaptable to hosting satellite telecon- ferences each might be. A basic satellite program viewing facility consists of the viewing area, equipped with chairs and tables, at least one television monitor (wired to receive the cable pro- Table2. # of Facilities Able to Access Transponder # Transponder I 2 2 2 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 4 7 3 8 3 9 6 10 3 11 0 12 2 13 I 14 3 15 0 16 3 17 I 18 I 19 0 20 2 21 3 22 4 23 0 24 5 Frequency Agile 30 Not Sure 4 NOTE: These ligures are for transponder accessi- bility on SATCOM I. Numbers for the specific transponders were tabulated from those surveys that indicated their satellite receivers were not frequency agile, but rather could access only those transponders they had listed. 308 Journal of Library Automation Vol. 14/4 December 1981 gramming), and , for interactive programs, a telephone. Survey libraries reported they had conference rooms, auditoriums, and classrooms available for viewing satellite telecasts. The number of viewers able to be accommodated at one time ranged from 6 to 400, with the average facility holding 75 people. Some libraries could provide simul- taneous viewing in more than one room, which increased the total number of people they could accommodate for a single event. A majority of the libraries had more than one monitor; some as many as fifteen moni- tors. Three lib!aries indicated they owned a large-screen television projector. Forty- four percent of the usable facilities have no phones in the viewing rooms, but many ex- plained that phones were either nearby or could be temporarily installed for an inter- active event. In response to a question about the location and accessibility of the library within its community, the general com- ments described the majority of the libraries as being in a convenient part of town, with ample parking and barrier-free design. When given enough advance notice, most libraries were willing to schedule an event at any time, even during hours and on days the library was normally closed to the pub- lic. Traditionally, as a part of its standard networking service, PSSC rents viewing fa- cilities for the client, whether they are pub- lic television stations, hotels, or other facili- ties. Libraries, as another type of viewing resource, would be entitled to receive pay- ment for use of their facilities. Obviously, this fact treads on controversial "fee or free" waters. Being aware of this, PSSC asked the libraries whether they could accept money for these purposes; and, if not, whether they might have some other mechanism, such as a "Friends of the Library" group, to which the money could be given instead. Those libraries that said they could accept money directly for the use of their facilities num- bered thirty-four. Oddly enough, thirty- four libraries also said they could not accept money directly for the use of their facilities. Of that group, thirty-one indicated they did have a "Friends of the Library" or similar group to which money could be given for indirect channeling back into the library. Eighteen libraries did not answer this ques- tion (many due to libraries not completing the entire survey once they felt the cable information made them technically ineligi- ble for participation). Only three libraries might have a problem with financial ar- rangements for an event. PROGRAM INTERESTS The final section of the survey (part three) gave each respondent the opportu- nity to list topics of interest to the library and community that could be presented via a satellite video-teleconference. General comments identified continuing education, organizational conferences, training, semi- nars, workshops, media distribution, and information dissemination as major activi- ties suitable for satellite-assisted delivery and distribution. Special target audiences included the following: 1. senior citizens 2. handicapped 3. minorities 4. the disadvantaged (economically, edu- cationally, socially) 5. the abused (drug addicts and alco- holics; abused children and spouses, teachers and students; victims of crime; and the sexually harrassed) 6. the institutionalized (in hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, mental health centers, hospices) These special patrons are often served through outreach programs and were named here as potential beneficiaries of sat- ellite programming. The most frequently named special population was the elderly, with suggestions for retirement, social ser- vices, nursing-home care, insurance, and other senior-oriented programming. Three major classes of other potential users of satellite video-teleconferencing in the library were identified: 1. Education-oriented: Preschool and nursery students; elementary, middle, junior high, and high school students; postsecondary and graduate students; vocational, technical, extension, and cooperative education students; special education students; adult and continu- ing education students; educational administrators, faculties, and staff 2. Government-oriented: Federal, re- gional, state, county, and local govern- ment officials and employees 3. Employment-oriented: Professional! nonprofessional; salaried/hourly; union /nonunion; management/staff; public/private sectors; employed/ un- employed; full /part-time; permanent/ temporary; big/small business; human services/ trade Particular topics of interest felt to be ideal satellite program areas within each li- brary's community included the following (appearing in no rank order): energy (solar and natural resources) consumerism community services environment historic preservation/oral history legal aid librarianship computers, data processing technology communications/telecommunications fund raising safety recreation , physical education, sports, parks language (bilingual, sign, foreign, liter- acy) economics and finance (investment, banking, inflation, budgeting) conservation genealogy religion business and industry civil defense agriculture and forestry health and medicine mental health arts and humanities curriculum sharing therapy and rehabilitation real estate Several local associations, who have affil- iates or branches located nationally, were listed as potential users of satellite video- teleconferencing (in order of popularity): 1. American Association of Retired Per- sons 2. League of Women Voters 3. Historical Societies 4. American Library Association 5. Chamber of Commerce 6. American Association of University Women Reports and Working Papers 309 7. Parent/Teacher Associations 8. Councils of Government 9. Jaycees 10. Boy Scouts 11 . Friends of the Library Three questions concerning interest and ability to participate in future satellite video-teleconferencing activities were asked . The questions, vital to the outcome of this survey, are reiterated here with their respective answers: 1. Would you be interested in helping set up one or more of these specialized tele- conferences? Yes 63 (73%) No 10 (12 o/o) Maybe 5 (6%) No Answer 8 (9 %) 2. Would you be interested in doing a lo- cal follow-up program after a national teleconference that is of interest to your community? Yes 65 (76%) No 6 (7%) Maybe 8 (9%) No Answer 7 (8%) 3. Periodically, nationally based organi- zations sponsoring teleconferences or special programs enlist promotional and site arrangement support from lo- cal site facilitators. Would you like to be listed as available to provide this support? Yes 54 (63%) No 18 (21 o/o) Maybe 3 (3%) No Answer 11 (13%) The interest of the libraries surveyed is well documented in questions one and two. However, their ability to presently partici- pate is limited to financial and personnel resources as demonstrated by question three's responses. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The majority of surveyed libraries recog- nize the need for libraries to expand their community service roles through some use of telecommunications. Many of the 86 li- braries indicated the concept of libraries be- coming satellite program viewing facilities through their cable connectivity was an idea so new to them that they could not fully 310 Journal of Library Automation Vol. 14/4 December 1981 understand or visualize what would be ex- pected of the library in this novel role. Yet the general consensus was that if joining with their cable systems to provide satellite programs receiving locations was a method of improving community library services, while not making demands on the library's budget, then the concept was worth explor- ing individually on an operational basis. To illustrate this concept of the CA TVLIB as a satellite program viewing facility, a typical scenario would find par- ticipating CATVLIBs contacted by an or- ganization or networking agent who wishes to reach the general community or a special segment with its satellite-transmitted pro- gramming. The CATVLIB, as the commu- nity contact, would have the option to re- spond negatively or positively. If the CATVLIB is interested, it must begin per- forming local coordination duties, most im- portant of which is garnering the agree- ment of its cable system. CATVLIB and cable system discussions will determine five things: 1. Can the cable system access the satellite transponder on which the program- ming will be carried? 2. Will the cable system have a satellite receiver available on the date and time of the program? 3. Will theCA TV LIB have its viewing fa- cility available on the date and time of the program? 4. If desired by the program's sponsor, will the CATV LIB contact the local group who is to participate in the pro- gram and work with them prior to the satellite telecast to the extent needed by the requesting organization? 5. Can the cable system and/or the CATVLIB handle special program considerations, if any? For example, - provide closed circuit capability in the CATV LIB? - tape the program? - provide telephone(s) for interactive programs? - provide local site facilitation? -coordinate local follow -up activi- ties? - provide refreshments? - coordinate advance publicity within the community? Once the CATVLIB has determined whether or not it is able and desires to offer their services, the CA TVLIB would be re- corded as a satellite program "receive site." TheCA TV LIB will then assume the degree of local responsibility requested and con- tracted by the requesting organization, in- cluding all negotiations necessary with the cable system. While there were survey indications of general support for such a national satellite cable library network, what are the pros and cons of its operation? Pros Pre-existing conditions. CA TVLIBs need no investment for hardware, but merely take advantage of pre-existing cable con- nectivity. Community service. Such CA TVLIB participation potentially offers service to every member of the community. Outreach to new patrons. Those commu- nity residents not previously using the li- brary may find this new service applicable to their needs. Economics. CATVLIBs could recoup any charges incurred through this service, as well as expect payment as a rented re- ceive site. Program interaction. Live satellite pro- gramming has the advantage over taped programming of allowing the option of of- fering viewers the opportunity to interact with the program's presenter(s). Resource-sharing potential. This service has the future potential of providing CATVLIBs with an alternative method of accessing new information resources and data bases. Human resources can be shared now through this service. Potential CATV expansion. More CATVs are expanding and upgrading their satellite access capabilities as usage of satel- lites by cable programming vendors in- creases. Some CATV s have already pur- chased WEST AR III hardware in addition to their SATCOM I hardware. Future implications. If satellite-related services become valued by the community, the residents might decide the CATV LIB should have its own satellite hardware so that the community could take advantage of more programming available directly from satellite. Cons Lack of SA TCOM I occasional time. It is becoming increasingly difficult to sublease transponder time on this satellite for occa- sional satellite programs. Dependency. The CATVLIB must de- pend entirely on the cable system to be able to be a network participant and offer this service. CA TVLIB participation is depen- dent upon the cable system's satellite access capabilities, which generally means SAT- COM I only. Lack of CCTV. Generally, most CA TVLIBs cannot offer closed-circuit ca- pability, so absolute privacy cannot be guaranteed to the program's sponsor. CATVLIB policies. Some CATVLIBs will have to make decisions about various controversial items, such as: -accepting money for use of facilities. -allowing some clients the right to limit viewing to only registrants. -hosting controversial groups. Range of CATVLIB capabilities. The survey demonstrated that CA TVLIBs can- not all offer the same degree of service due to the wide range of technical capabilities. At present, each satellite event would have to be judged individually to determine which CATVLIBS were equipped to par- ticipate. A glance at the pros and cons of marrying libraries and satellite communications through cable connectivity suggests a na- tional satellite CATV LIB network is a pres- ently available and usable resource with po- tential for future expanded capabilities and unlimited programming uses. The obstacles imposed by the cons, however, are cause for a serious and objective look at the present and future viability of such a network. Popular present uses of satellite video- teleconferencing are for telecasting contin- uing education and organizational confer- ence interactive programming to special audiences. Some PSSC clients will often re- quest to: -charge his/her special audience for par- ticipating (course or conference fees, for example). -have the satellite-transmitted event Reports and Working Papers 311 closed-circuit telecasted to the receiving locations only. -reach specific geographical locations (often large urban areas, such as New York or Los Angeles). CHARGING SPECIAL AUDIENCES FOR CLOSED-CIRCUIT SATELLITE EVENT The first two client requests are often re- lated. If the client intends to charge the registrant-viewer a fee, he/she often expects the program to be viewed only at desig- nated receive sites that are hosting the pay- ing participants. (Why should a viewer pay if heishe could watch the same program at home on a cable channel for free?) Obvi- ously, those clients interested in a "box of- fice" approach to their event, that is, to make a profit rather than offer a service, are not suited for CATVLIB network use. However, how can the CA TVLIBs accom- modate those public service groups which must recoup expenses in order to offer such satellite program services? Client-designed incentives such as giving the phone number for viewer interaction in a program only to the CA TVLIBs rather than displaying or announcing the number during the program; requiring participants to have special materials and/ or integrating local pre- or postevent activities in the CATVLIBs with the program; even offer- ing course credit to registrants only are manageable alternatives for those CATVLIBs that cannot terminate the pro- gram in their facilities only. Some CATVLIBs may be able to negotiate wHh their CATV for the provision of the neces- sary equipment to provide closed-circuit ca- pabilities. However, this survey did not identify many CATVs that were willing to cooperate with the libraries to that extent. For those CATVLIBs whose policies re- strict their involvement with financial transactions, particularly money exchange among library patrons, advance registra- tion fees paid directly to the client could enable the libraries to avoid being required by the client to "collect at the door." Most libraries, however, by their very nature, cannot prohibit anyone from viewing a pro- gram within their facilities, thereby mak- ing it generally impossible for them to guar- 312 journal of Library Automation Vol. 14/4 December 1981 antee the client their requested selective audience. SIZE, LOCATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF RECEIVE SITES Video-teleconference users generally want to reach as many of their members or special populations as possible, yet they must pay to rent each receive site. Eco- nomics influence their attempt to reach more people at fewer locations, not neces- sarily those most in need of the program. Therefore, it is no surprise that popular re- ceive sites are located in heavily populated cities. While cable television is finally coming to urban areas, present conditions find a lack of operational CATVs available. The typical CATVLIB now is located in a smaller city or rural area. Large states, such as California and Texas, have little or no CATVLIB representation. Only twenty- three states currently have a usable CATVLIB facility, which makes the net- work descriptor "national" not quite accu- rate. Expanding the CATVLIB network to include more and larger cities and all states is a must to make it competitive with other satellite networks available to a client. But even if the network is able to expand, the previously mentioned inability of CATVLIBs to provide closed-circuit capa- bilities will lessen its desirability as a re- source when that capability is offered by another satellite ground facility in the same city. One competitive alternative a CATV LIB can consider is rental cost. Clients expect to pay a reasonable rate for the use of each facility. This rate differs among different types of satellite networks, and even within the same network. For example, renting a public television station is generally less ex- pensive than booking a hotel. Yet the rate for two public television stations can vary in the hundreds of dollars. If a CATVLIB chooses to offer its facilities for free, asking only for compensation os any expenses it might incur because of the satellite event or charges a minimal amount, their facility becomes economically attractive. One fac- tor the CA TVLIBs must not overlook when contemplating such a decision is the cable system. Will the cable system expect remu- neration for its services, especially if the CATVLIB is receiving payment? Libraries must remember they have entered into a cooperative arrangement with their CATVs in order to become a satellite pro- gram viewing facility. TOWARD FUTURE INDEPENDENCE While a skeletal cable library network does technically exist, it is imperative that libraries work toward their own future in- dependence before they can truly establish themselves as a viable satellite network. Evolution of a CATVLIB network to a sat- ellite library network might include the fol- lowing two steps: l. Expanded CATVLJB network. The survey instrument should now evolve into an interview tool for profiling ad- ditional libraries to become part of this network. Efforts should be made to en- courage libraries within poorly repre- sented states to join the network if tech- nically feasible. Expansion is urged for two main reasons: - To allow libraries the opportunity to experience being a satellite program viewing facility without financial obligations. -To allow community residents the opportunity to experience a library service with great potential for all local population segments. Once the library is regarded as the logical place for community communi- cations, it will be much ea~ier to begin a community drive toward supporting the outfitting of the library with the proper hardware necessary to function in that capacity. Requirements for becoming part of the expanded CATVLIB network in- clude: -At least one-way connectivity be- tween the library and the CATV. (A typical subscription for basic service will suffice.) -The CATV must have a satellite re- ceiving station. -The CATV must have excess capac- ity available on its satellite receiver. -CATV must be willing to cooperate with the library in providing satellite reception of occasional satellite tele- casts. - Library must have at least one view- ing room available to seat those viewing the satellite program. - Library must have at least one televi- sion monitor, wired to receive cable programming, available in the view- ing room. - Library must be willing to assume role of community contact to extent requested by client. (Need is for li- brary interest in participating in these occasional satellite telecasts; degree of local responsibility can be negotiated.) Even though this network is de- signed to be a temporary method of al- lowing library participation in satellite communications, future implications could find these libraries expanding, improving, or beginning eablecasting on a library-designated cable channel. Thus, libraries deciding whether they should become involved with a tempo- rary network might contemplate the related activities available from library/cable system cooperation. 2. Satellite Library Network. At some point in the not too distant future, li- braries will be faced with the decision of becoming independent from their cable system and obtaining their own satellite hardware. A library with its own satellite receiving station will be- come more desirable to more users as a receive site for a satellite video- teleconference since it will be more Reports and Working Papers 313 flexible and autonomous. Besides satel- lite video-teleconferences, libraries could investigate other uses of their sat- ellite hardware including: - direct satellite access (with permis- sion recommended) for cable televi- sion fare; - reception of nationwide satellite dis- tribution of taped video program- ming for library use; -facilitation of various library data communications. If the library is able to prove the value and practicality of having com- munity satellite access capabilities lo- cated at its facilities to the residents through participation in the CATV LIB network, local funding of a satellite li- brary project might be realistic. If cor- porations are made aware of how such a satellite library facility could benefit their own communications needs, a corporate grant could prove to be an- other funding route. Other sources of support must also be explored. FINAL WORD As a result of this survey, PSSC has pro- filed cable libraries of all technical capabili- ties for input into a database of network resources. However, the limitations of a CATV LIB network have been noted. Ef- fort will be made by PSSC where appropri- ate to use this network for client satellite telecasts. PSSC will continue to profile in- terested cable libraries for addition to the network , upon request of the library. Statement or Ownership and Management }ourrwf of l.ihrary Automatior1 is published qua rterly by the Arn ericnn Library As~iation, 50 E. lluron St .. Chica~o. JL 60611. Annual subscriptio n prk-e, S 15. Am erican Library A.o,sociation. O\\ rwr; Brian Avcncy. editor. Second Class postage paid at Chicago, Ill inois. Pnnted in U.S.A. A .. a nonprofit organization authorized to mail at special ratL'\ (SL'Ction 132.122, Postal S(•rt:ice .\lanual), the puq>OI,(', fu nction. and nonprofit .;:tatu~ of thh organi zation and the exempt status for ft..--dcral in(•Omt.· taJ; purposes have not chan~ed during the preceding l\\ el\ e month~. Extent and ~aturc of Circulatlon ("A\eras;:e" figures denott• the numlx:r of copies printed each issue during the preccdmg: tweh"e months: ''Actual " figure-. denote number of copies o f sin~le l 'iSUe published neart..-Q to filin~date - -the june 1981 i~sue.) Tot al numbt!r o f copll"i printed: Aq~ra~e. 6,869: Ac t ual. 7,345. Paid circulation: not applicable (i.e .. no ... a C"' throuJ!h dealers. carrie rs. street 'endoro, and rountcnal<.--s} . Mail subscription ... : AH•ra~<·. 6,076: Actual. 6 ,308. Total puid circulation: Average, 6.076. Actual6 ,308. Free dhtrihution b y mail, carrier, o r otlwr means, samples, complirnt·ntary. and ot her free cop ies: A\t~ragc . 432: A<:tuul, 446. T olitl di ~t rihution: Average. 6.508: Actual. 6,i.54. Copies no t di. ... tributcd: Offic<' US(', le ft over, unacco unt ed . 11poiled after printing: Aven~ge, 361; Actual. 59 1. Hcturm from news agents: not applicahlc. T otul (sum prcviouo; thrt.."C entries): A\'erage, 6,869: Actual. 1.345. Stateml·nt of 0\\ ncn hi p. ~1anagement and Circulation (PS 3526. j une 19SO) fo r 1981 fil ed with the United Stat<" Po't Office Pmt rna\tN in Chica~o. September 30. 19hl