CHECKING OUT VIRUS IN PUBLIC LIBRARY COMPUTERS : BUG SHUTS DOWN REFERENCE SYSTEM.

Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer

A computer virus has shut down the Los Angeles Public Library's on-line reference service for the past week, locking out people who want to read electronic newspapers or perhaps check out the latest bond ratings.

Technicians finally managed to wipe out the pesky bug at the central downtown branch Tuesday and planned to finish clearing computers of the virus at six San Fernando Valley libraries by today.

In the past year, other high-tech bugs have attacked the ``Virtual Library,'' which offers access to databases ranging from newspapers to Moody's Investors Service Inc., said chief library spokesman Bob Reagan.

But he said this was the first time a high-tech malady had caused so much disruption.

Although the virus didn't travel to other library computer systems such as circulation, it spread to 18 branches of the Virtual Library. They included the Mid-Valley, West Valley, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Porter Ranch and Sherman Oaks branches.

Library officials said they still don't know the source of the virus - whether a computer pirate intentionally infected the system or a library patron accidentally corrupted it by downloading information.

Reagan said library officials are still tabulating the cost of eradicating the virus from the system and installing better virus-protection software.

``At this stage of the game, (the cost) is very difficult to pinpoint,'' Reagan said.

Officials have not launched a full-scale investigation because they are not convinced an act of sabotage was involved, Reagan said.

``But it would be silly not to consider that possibility and to not take measures that would prevent them from doing that,'' Reagan said.

There's a good chance the virus may have been introduced by accident, said Tom Rotella, a library senior system analyst. He said library users often copy material from some 250 terminals at the central library that provide access to the Virtual Library, meaning someone's diskette could have carried the virus.

Rotella said the library has scanned and cleaned the system and installed virus-protection software on all the computers that offer access to it.

The problem was noticed Feb. 12 at the central branch when users could not access the Virtual Library, which debuted in November 1995.

``People are not happy but our public is not the complaining type,'' said Lina Daukus, Porter Ranch branch manager. ``They are being understanding.''

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PHOTO Lina Daukus, Porter Ranch library branch manager, says the public has been very understanding of the system's high-tech troubles.

Evan Yee/Daily News