Issue 3

Q. IN THE PREVIOUS EDITION OF "CONNECTIONS" YOU ADVISE THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE BAUD RATE TO ACCESS AN ONLINE DATABASE IS 2400 BAUD SO WHY THEN IS FULL ACCESS TOSCIS ONLY AVAILABLE AT 1200 OR 300 BAUD RATE?

A. Schools are able to access the SCIS database at 2400 Baud rate via AUSTPAC. For country schools this is a cheaper rate than dialing in via STD. This is a communications network set by Telecom Australia AUSTPAC has to joined by the school as a separate subscription.

However access via AUSTPAC to our current on line system, Dobis/Libis, is limited to SEARCHING ONLY and therefore schools cannot use Quick Search, Product Ordering, Bulletin Board or E-Mail. Schools would need to contact their local Telecom office to ascertain pricing for the service.

The SCIS database is available after school hours and ON weekends therefore STD access is still a viable way for country schools to access the database.

Remember it is important to DO THE THINKING about/ORGANISING of the resources BEFORE accessing the database, this can save time and money.