Students who have been browsing in Parks Library during the last few weeks have probably noticed some changes in the computer system.

On Jan. 4, library officials began replacing the old Iowa State University Catalogue system, known as ICAT, with a new client-based server system.

Systems Support Specialist Fred Gulden said the mainframe-based ICAT system had to be changed because of complications with the year 2000 bug.

“We are moving away from mainframes to a more client-based server,” Gulden said.

George Culvert, associate director of technical services, said a client-based server means a browser is being used.

“[This offers] more flexibility and offers a platform for future growth,” he said.

Culvert added that the client-based server is an evolution from mainframe systems like the ICAT server, and that neither is necessarily a bad system, but the client-based is more common now at universities.

Gulden said the new system, which is the third online system in ISU history, gives the university many benefits, including more Web exposure and the opportunity to look up full text databases.

Kathy Parsons, associate professor of the library, said the new system is different in only a few ways, including the search construction, the command language and displays. She also said holdings records can now be accessed on the full record.

Parsons said that the new feature, hypertext links, adds another convenience that the old system lacked. She said hypertext links allow the user to click on an author’s name to display all the works under that name.

Parsons agreed that students do not seem to be having too many problems with the client-based system.

“For the most part, people are accepting it, and people have understood how the system works,” she said.