Automation Report No. 01-02

Date: October 5, 2001


Index term: NLS Webnet




NLS WebNet is the new web-based service that allows network
libraries to submit CMLS, BPHICS, and MMR transactions over
the web and to view the contents of the CMLS and BPHICS
databases.  The beta test has been completed and the service
is now available on the network library services home page
<http://www.loc.gov/pics/>.

Because of security concerns outlined in __Automation Report
01-01,__staff members at network libraries will need
individual user IDs and passwords.  Users will access the
CMLS and BPHICS databases through the network library
services home page <http://www.loc.gov/pics/>.   The user
will sign on to that page using the library's ID and
password, either the normal ID or the admin ID.  The user
will then select NLS WebNet and be transferred to the
individual sign-on page.  The user will sign on to NLS
WebNet with the library ID, the user ID, and the user
password.

IDs and passwords for the staff of a network library are
controlled through the system by the librarian or a
designated NLS WebNet administrator at the library. A
network library wishing to use the service should contact a
Network Services Section consultant (Mary Mohr, David
Whittall, or Steve Prine) to register.  The consultant
forwards the request to the NLS WebNet contractor, Data
Management.  The contractor contacts the network library to
provide the administrator's ID and password and to provide
initial guidance in the use of the system.  The library
administrator then uses the system to add user IDs and
passwords for individual users at the library and gives
permissions for the user to either read-only or read-write,
to either CMLS or BPHICS/MMR, or in combination, as
appropriate.  Permissions may be changed at any time.

For CMLS, the administrator can grant users access to view
data or to submit transactions only for that library.  An
administrator in a regional library may also grant access
for users in the regional to read or write transactions for
patrons in its subregionals.  For BPHICS, a user with read
access will be able to see a machine record for any machine
in the database, no matter which library owns it.  Users in
a library who have update access to BPHICS will be able to
submit a "transfer in" transaction for any machine in the
system, but will be limited to their own library's machines
for other transactions.

To register your library for NLS WebNet, contact your
network consultant.  The contractor will then contact you
with an administrator's ID and password.  Please understand
that libraries may require that contractor staff spend some
time with the library's administrator to initiate the
service.  During the startup of the service, the contractors
will schedule calls to each library as soon as time permits.

Once a library is set up and using NLS WebNet, the staff may
call the telephone hotline for any assistance that may be
needed.  The hotline number is 1-800-577-3237.  The hotline
is available between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. prevailing Eastern
Time.  The contractor is not permitted to accept requests
from a library to register for NLS WebNet access.  All
requests for library access must be directed to the NLS
network consultants.


For further information contact:

Robert McDermott
Automation Officer