ELN Ariel Initiative:
Frequently Asked Questions

Please note that this document will undergo periodic revisions. (Last updated: June 11, 2001)

What is the ELN Ariel Initiative?

Funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology, the ELN Ariel Initiative aims to enhance the resource sharing infrastructure in British Columbia through the provision of Ariel document-delivery software and scanners to publicly-funded, post-secondary libraries across the province. An underlying expectation of the initiative is that increased Ariel usage will result in more rapid and cost effective transmission of documents between ELN partner libraries, and beyond.

What is Ariel?

Ariel for Windows is a document transmission system from the Research Libraries Group (RLG). Using commercially available hardware, the appropriate Windows operating system, and RLG's Ariel software, users can scan articles, photos, and similar documents, transmit the resulting electronic images through their LAN over the Internet to each other's Ariel workstations, and print them on any laser printer supported by Windows. Where copyright permits, scanned documents can also be archived by Ariel for redistribution.

Ariel is designed to send documents to other Ariel sites. A print-only version of Ariel is also available for receive-only sites. As described below, this would be useful in cases where a main campus office distributes documents to satellite locations.

Which libraries are covered by MAETT funding?

MAETT funding covers all publicly-funded, post-secondary institutions in BC; each of these 28 institutions will be invited to join the initiative.

What will participating libraries receive through the ELN Ariel Initiative?

Each participating library will be supplied with

• one copy of the full send/receive version of Ariel v. 3.0 software & one copy of the receive-only version.
  
  
• one scanner.

When will participating libraries receive the software and scanner?

ELN intends to distribute the software following RLG's release of version 3 of Ariel, anticipated in mid- to late- summer of 2001. Scanners will be distributed in this same timeframe.

What about ELN affiliate libraries and BC public libraries not covered by Ministry funding?

Affiliate libraries and public libraries in British Columbia will be offered the opportunity to purchase Ariel and/or scanners at the same unit cost achieved by ELN through negotiations with the vendors.

An invitation to these libraries will be issued when ELN is able to confirm the final costs.

What is expected from participating libraries?

Participating libraries will provide

• a network connection (through their departmental local area network or campus network) for their Ariel workstation to provide Internet connectivity
  
  
• a PC workstation that can run both the Ariel software and the scanner
  
  
• furniture (e.g., scanning table) to secure and contain the scanner.
  
  
• staff time to complete the software and scanner configuration.

NB: Additional information on technical and configuration issues can be found below and in RLG's Ariel FAQ.

What if we judge that Ariel would not be appropriate or useful in our library?

Libraries are not compelled to participate in the ELN Ariel Initiative. Unused funds would be redirected to cover implementation and training costs at participating libraries.

Our library already uses Ariel (version 2.xx). What are our options under the ELN Ariel Initiative?

Participating libraries that already operate Ariel have several options: i) obtain new copies to supplement existing Ariel workstations; or ii) upgrade one or more copies of their existing Ariel software to the new version. Libraries considering the latter option should review the new features in Version 3.

What about purchasing additional copies of Ariel or additional scanners?

Participating libraries wishing to purchase additional scanners or copies of Ariel may do so at the discounted pricing achieved through this initiative.

What are the benefits of Ariel: for example, how does it compare with fax-delivery?

Ariel facilitates rapid exchange of scanned documents between / within institutions connected to the Internet. Run as a windows-based Internet application, Ariel is generally faster and more reliable than fax, and incurs no long distance charges. As well, Ariel tends to reproduce images of greater resolution and quality --300 dpi, suitable for laser printing-- than fax transmissions.

Many libraries scan directly from bound volumes with Ariel, eliminating the intermediate photocopying required in most cases when faxing. Some libraries continue to photocopy the originals first, in order to load the photocopies into the scanner's automatic document feeder.

Many institutions deploy Ariel to deliver documents between multiple campuses. One example is in which a central campus with the full, send-receive software delivers documents to satelite campuses that operate the receive-only version of Ariel.

How does Ariel relate to existing Interlibrary Loan management software like AVISO or the Impact/Online ILL system?

Ariel does not transmit or manage ILL requests, nor does it communicate with ILL management systems to update the status of requests fulfilled through Ariel. Ariel's purpose is to provide a means of fulfilling ILL requests using digital scanning and Internet transmission. This provides an additional option to the current practices of faxing or photocopying/mailing of documents to requesting libraries. Libraries would still receive lending requests from other libraries, and update records of lending/borrowing requests, through existing manual or automated systems such as AVISO or Impact/Online ILL.

Who uses Ariel?

Over 4,000 organizations and individuals use Ariel for Interlibrary Loan and document delivery. Included are major document suppliers such as CISTI and the National Library of Canada, as well as a number of ELN partner libraries, e.g., SFU, TechBC, UBC and UVIC.

What equipment is required to operate Ariel?

According to RLG's Ariel FAQ, the PC requirements for running Ariel 3.0 are as follows:

• Operating system: Windows® 95, 98, 2000, or NT 4.0
• CPU: Pentium, 300 MHz or faster; for grayscale/color, Pentium III, 450 MHz or faster; for PDF delivery, Pentium III, 650 MHz or faster
• RAM: 64 MB or more (128 MB for NT 4.0); for grayscale/color, 256 MB or more?faster processor and more RAM will improve performance
• CD-ROM drive
• Hard drive: Average users can expect to need 50-100 MB for document files; 150-300 MB for grayscale/color; for PDF delivery, up to 20 GB depending on usage and retention policies
• Printer: Windows-compatible (Postscript printing not recommended)
• Scanner: Most scanners with an ISIS or TWAIN driver; see RLG-supported models
• Internet access:
  • direct high-speed connection to the Internet through a local area network (RLG recommends against using low-speed or dial-upt; see SLIP/PPP connections in Frequently Asked Questions)
  • for FTP, a permanent IP address for the Ariel PC (usually through an Ethernet LAN); users who dial up for FTP must be connected while scanning, even if not currently sending
  • for MIME e-mail, a POP3 e-mail account

RLG indicates that "[a] faster CPU, more RAM, and a larger hard drive are recommended for installations where grayscale and color support are used and in particular for PDF delivery to patrons."

NB: the "receive-only" version of Ariel does not require the use of a scanner.

Does our library need a dedicated workstation / computer to run Ariel?

Ariel does not require a dedicated workstation, provided the computer it runs on is sufficiently powerful and has enough disk space to store scanned documents (see minimum requirements above). In this case, Ariel can be operated as a background application, i.e., on a workstation running other programs: "...all Ariel operations (sending, receiving, and printing) run seamlessly in the background. Ariel can also be used with other TCP/IP software packages if they comply with the WinSock 1.1 specification. This means that Ariel can co-exist peacefully with programs running telnet or other FTP sessions, including browsers like Netscape."

Libraries might consider running Ariel on a workstation that is used for other ILL-related activities.

What installation assistance will be available?

In addition to the well-documented installation procedures provided on on the RLG website and in the accompanying user manual to be included with each software distribution, libraries can turn to RLG for telephone and email support (see below).

ELN will also provide additional implementation support via email, telephone and selected site visits.

Will there be staff training in the use of the Ariel software?

The operation of Ariel is relatively straightforward and well-documented. While offering assistance as required, ELN anticipates that there will be minimal need for onsite staff training.

What ongoing support will be available?

RLG provides technical support to Ariel customers via email and toll-free telephone:

E-mail: ariel@aslan.rlg.org
Phone: 800-537-RLIN (North America) -- choose option 2
Hours: M-F 6:00 am - 5:00 pm Pacific time

Staff using Ariel will be encouraged to subscribe to the ARIE-L listserv, an electronic mailing list devoted to discussion of the Ariel system. Members use the list to announce when their sites are down for any period, when they are ready to send and receive again, problems they've encountered, and ideas for Ariel enhancements. While they do not administered this list, RLG staff members do subscribe and post news about Ariel, help solve problems, and learn from users' experiences.