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After describing the background and staffing of the library, details are given of the hardware and software used for the automated housekeeping and retrieval systems. These are based on a CDC 6400/6500 and a Cyber 174 having a core of 5 MB. The systems software is written in SCALLOP (similar to Algol) and COMPASS (assembly language). The circulation system, called ELAS, offers online status checking and reservation by users. The badge reader and the SELEX online terminal were specially developed. ELAS can handle 20 online functions and its advantages, which include provision of management information, are described. Other systems described include — periodicals control called PEKOS; cataloguing called M1KAS, which includes fiche output: the catalogue contains 175,000 records and fills 121 fiche (40,000 records are added annually) and there are similar outputs for the UDC, keyword, authority file and index sequences and information retrieval called EDIS. The library is now considering whether to acquire a dedicated computer for a new integrated system with all parts interactively online.

Serials control is thought to be the most difficult of library housekeeping processes to automate. No automated serials control system has yet been demonstrated to be cost‐effective. Reference is made to systems developed for large mainframes, e.g. OCLC, DOBIS, RLIN and UTLAS. Mini‐computer based systems show promise of more efficient operation. Studies at Oxford have shown the feasibility of automated serials check‐in being achieved faster than is possible manually. Further studies have demonstrated the constraints imposed for a comprehensive system to be cost‐effective. Prediction of the arrival date for irregular serials is a major problem. The difficulties (and expense) of updating files in real‐time represents another problem for which a tentative solution is proposed. The need to improve the user interface is emphasised and this is one of the most important matters for further study.

Automation is no longer an option; it is no longer “if” but “when” and “how”. This book has been written for senior librarians who recognise this, for their line managers to whom the detailed work has been delegated, and for the junior staff, library and clerical, who need to know not only how to operate a system, but why it works as it does.

During the analysis of the 1999 avalanche winter and of the winter storm Lothar on 26 December 1999, the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos conducted an inquiry of the cable car‐ and ski lift‐companies in German‐ and French speaking part of Switzerland. This arti‐cle presents the results in detail. In the whole of Switzerland there were 1'821 cable cars and ski lifts in 1999 (not counting 550 small ski lifts). The SLF sent its questionnaire to 117 companies. A considerable proportion of them (79%) have been returned. In February 1999 avalanches and snow pressure induced damages on 44 cable cars and ski lifts; repairs cost more than 17 Mio. SFr. Due to high avalanche danger, 37% of all lift facilities had to be closed for an average of seven days. The loss of earnings for Switzerland (without Ticino) is estimated at 78 Mio. SFr. compared to February 1998. The winter storm Lothar caused damage to 127 cable cars and ski lifts. The cost of damage repairs is estimated at 7.6 Mio. SFr. The storm interrupted power supply for 14% of the lift facilities; 58% had to be closed down due to high wind speeds. The loss of earnings caused by winter storm Lothar amounts to approx. 39 Mio. SFr. for the Swiss cable car and ski lift companies (without Ticino). Immediately after the events of 1999, 32% of the companies interviewed took measures to reduce the negative consequences (e.g. price reductions, press releases or publicity campaigns). To improve public relations is considered to be an important measure to cope with consequences of natural hazards in the future by 39% of the companies.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the media coverage of corporate social performance (CSP), as well as the ultimate impact that such coverage has on the financial performance of corporate entities.

Based on a sample of financial holding companies (FHC) listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the authors select the two most popular newspapers in Taiwan, to construct the unique media coverage of CSP activity database.

First, the quantity of news articles about social activities of FHCs is positively correlated with financial performance. Second, the authors find that news articles about FHCs’ positive social activities for shareholders will trigger a positive evaluation by shareholders; however, news articles about FHCs’ positive (negative) social activities for employees will trigger a negative (positive) evaluation by shareholders. But if the news articles about FHCs’ positive social activities for employees are initiated by the media, rather than by the company itself, they will trigger a positive evaluation by shareholders.

The average shareholders may praise management for one particular CSP activity of a positive nature, whereas they may criticize another CSP activity, despite it being generally regarded outside of the firm as also being positive in nature. It therefore becomes clear that when setting out to investigate whether “doing good” actually does translate into “doing well,” the authors should not attempt to total different kinds of information on CSP; In this paper, the authors emphasize that they need to be analyzed separately.