"It might have been nice to have advice earlier on," says Grace K. Lyo '98-'99. "At this point I know who I can go to for advice, now that I know what I'm looking for and what I'm field I'm in. But before, when I was still undecided, it might have been nice."

Modernizing the Library

According to Knowles, one issue the Faculty is certain to tackle this year will be upgrades to the library system.

Any changes to the 3.2 million-book library will be felt by undergraduates as they research for papers and theses.

At its first meeting of the year last week, the Faculty Council discussed changing the current library catalog--Hollis--to a web-based system.

The new system, which could be in place as early as next summer, would replace both the book retrieval and search functions of Hollis, as well as the internal management system of the library.

Those working on the change say the multi-million dollar overhaul will result in a more modern and accessible library.

"The first thing you'll notice is it'll be a much friendlier interface," says Dale P. Flecker, associate director for planning and systems in the Harvard University Library. "It allows you to go directly from the catalog to network-based resources."

Library staff and the administration are currently in negotiations with the St. Louis-based Data Research Associates (DRA) to develop such a system.

Joe Bonwich, vice president of DRA, applauds Harvard's efforts to move away from its telnet-based system--a system which he characterizes as practically antique.

"Primarily the issue in a library is one of access, and our new system is designed to provide as many points of access into the library as possible," he says.

Flecker says the new system will be similar to computer resources with which students are more accustomed to interacting.

"When I use Hollis, I try to click on things that can't be clicked on," Flecker says. "It's going to be an interface which is much more comfortable."

Though some Faculty members are concerned that any major changes to the library system will cause a huge disruption in students' ability to use it, Bonwich says the overhaul could be completed with virtually no interference in students' lives.

"The goal is for you not to even know that it happened other than that you see the new interface," he says.