Library Staff News

a. Linda Gallaher-Brown Retiring from the CDL

Linda Gallaher-Brown started out in computing in 1965 while a freshman at Sacramento State.  Encouraged by her father, Jean Gallaher she took a summer job with the US Bureau of Reclamation programming in Fortran and SPL on an IBM 1620 with 32K, no operating system and no disk storage.

Linda started work at the UCLA computing center as a Programmer/Analyst I in 1968, transferring about a year and a half later to the Institute for Library Research as a Programmer/Analyst II.  Linda’s Center for Information Services project was transferred to the computer center where her group developed an SDI service on Chemical Abstracts files.  This was Linda’s introduction to bibliographic data.

Linda joined the staff of ULAP (University Library Automation Program), a predecessor organization of both DLA and the CDL as a Programer/Analyst III in 1978.  An early project was the first union catalog of books for UC on microfiche.  Linda worked with David Loy on the UCDBMS, an extension of the MARC format designed to accommodate union catalog merged record formats, and the DLARMS, which mapped bibliographic record structures to ADABAS record formats.  ADABAS remains the underlying database management software for legacy Melvyl, and the DLARMS and UCDBMS are still in use today.

Linda wrote the specs for SGJA, the program which loads the LC and campus bibliographic records for books into the Melvyl Union Catalog of Books.  Linda worked with Karen Coyle and Margaret Low on “full consolidation”, which enabled the merging of records in the Union Catalog, even if they didn’t match perfectly on LCCN.  Linda also wrote the specs for SCOL, as DLA worked to move CALLS into an on-line database.

DLA mounted A&I databases throughout the 1990s.  Linda worked with Margaret Low to design the “generic” table-driven software that was used to build the IAC databases (MAGS, NEWS and COMP), INSPEC, PSYC, BIOSIS and ABI.

More recently Linda worked on testing the Aleph software, both searching and the equivalency algorithm.  We will miss Linda’s depth of knowledge and experience and her commitment to production quality applications.  We will also miss her sense of fun, her flair for Halloween costumes and the many beautiful arrangements from the bounty of her garden.

b. Garland Giles – New CDL Office Manager

Garland Giles will be joining the CDL October 7 as Office Manager.

Garland comes to CDL from Educational Outreach in the UCOP Division of Academic Affairs where he was the Management Services Officer.  Prior UC service includes three years in the UCOP Office of Health Affairs and three years at the UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute.  In these roles, Garland gained extensive experience in managing the special projects, personnel and finances of very progressive organizations.

At the CDL, Garland will manage the work of the Administrative Services Unit ensuring its continued smooth operations of the CDL offices and its high-quality support for CDL staff.  He will serve as liaison to UCOP Building Services and take charge of all matters relating to equipment, PC Support, and facilities.  He will also provide leadership and act as a resource to departmental managers in the area of administrative and special project support, staff development and training.