Juliet Leeves edited the four issues of VINE in 1989. She began her professional career in The British Library where she was involved in the development of MARC‐based services…
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Juliet Leeves edited the four issues of VINE in 1989. She began her professional career in The British Library where she was involved in the development of MARC‐based services. She subsequently worked at the University of London, developing shared automated systems for the schools and colleges of the federal University. Since becoming freelance in 1983, she has worked for all types of library, primarily advising on the evaluation, selection and installation of library and information systems. She is also the author of several publications on library systems, including the popular “Library systems: a buyers guide”, the most recent version of which is published by LITC as “LIBSYS.UK: a directory of library systems in the United Kingdom”. In this article she reviews some of the developments in library systems over the years.
Electronic data interchange, or EDI, can be defined as “the paperless exchange of information between computer systems”. Instead of keying of the same data by numerous…
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Electronic data interchange, or EDI, can be defined as “the paperless exchange of information between computer systems”. Instead of keying of the same data by numerous organisations at different stages, this represents the old idea that data should be entered once only and subsequently passed electronically between all relevant parties. Within the ordering framework this removes duplication of effort, thus saving time and money and reducing the chances of inaccuracies. The full implications for the various parties involved are considered in much greater depth by the contributors to this issue.
Discusses the role of the Library and Information Co‐operationCouncil (LINC), which aims to promote co‐operation as a means ofimproving UK library and information sector…
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Discusses the role of the Library and Information Co‐operation Council (LINC), which aims to promote co‐operation as a means of improving UK library and information sector effectiveness. Examines its action plan for interlending covering automation applications, the Provincial Joint Fiction Reserve, statistics gathering review, performance indicators, and provision for ethnic minorities. Surmises that efficient co‐operation depends on information, commitment, and monitoring.
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This article and the following one on LIBRARIAN contain product descriptions of two systems not previously covered in VINE, LIBRA from Emtek Computers and LIBRARIAN from Eurotec…
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This article and the following one on LIBRARIAN contain product descriptions of two systems not previously covered in VINE, LIBRA from Emtek Computers and LIBRARIAN from Eurotec. Both are supplied to a range of libraries, but have an existing strong user base in the college library sector, a market which is of increasing interest to a number of suppliers. College library systems requirements range from the small, initially single‐user application not dissimilar to larger school library systems to configurations of 8–10 terminals upwards. Budgets are equally variable, both as regards resources for capital and for recurrent expenditure. The systems catering for colleges range from the more traditional, minicomputer‐based turnkey suppliers who can now offer lower cost versions of their systems, running on the bottom end of their hardware range, to DOS and networked DOS systems. In the past VINE has covered college library systems from G & G (now supplying Lending Library), Dawsons Technology Group (Data Trek Integrated Library System), Information Systems Design (current system LibraryPac, based on the original Circ software) and Biblio Tech (Biblio Lend). Updated information on these systems and on others available in college versions (e.g. CALM) is available from the LITC and through publications such as ‘Library Systems: a buyer's guide’, by Juliet Leeves and the recent ‘Guide to Library Systems for Schools’ compiled by Juliet Leeves and Pat Manson. The two descriptions which follow are, in fact, among the 12 described in the Schools Guide.
Three years ago, in VINE 54, there was a review of the trends in library automation over the three years prior to that. Now with our grant renewed for a further three years, it…
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Three years ago, in VINE 54, there was a review of the trends in library automation over the three years prior to that. Now with our grant renewed for a further three years, it seems appropriate to repeat the exercise and to look in brief at the turnkey systems market place and at how that has changed over the three years. One major difference is that now there are additional sources where some of the information is contained at least in part. These are the directory “Library systems: a buyer's guide” by Juliet Leeves, the State of the art report into the applications of new information technologies, and surveys such as those conducted by Chris Batt for public libraries and by Kevin Ellard for COPOL on polytechnics in England and Wales. I have concentrated on the turnkey market for stand‐alone integrated library systems since these have been the dominant factor. Whether they will remain so is open to debate: other factors such as new developments in inhouse systems, as interfacing systems from different vendors, not to mention the crucial area of networks, are bound to be influential in the future.
With a rapid increase in the number of County Library authorities installing new online integrated systems or upgrading older networks, it is neither possible nor desirable for…
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With a rapid increase in the number of County Library authorities installing new online integrated systems or upgrading older networks, it is neither possible nor desirable for VINE to cover in print all the developments, (though we do try to keep details for the information files and reports such as that by Juliet Leeves in VINE 52 are a good guide to trends). However, selective developments do make their way into VINE for a variety of reasons: first site of a new system, unusual application of standard software, typical example of a widespread problem or trend, or, as in the case with Lancashire County, a development unusual, in the first instance, in the scale of the system proposed. In mid 1984, Lancashire County signed a contract with Geac Computers Ltd for the supply of an online integrated system which would extend to 29 branches and Library HQ. According to Lancashire, this will make it, to date, the largest UK Geac user in volume of data, in number of transactions, and in extent of network.
Interlibrary loan (ILL) management systems are an importantcomponent in the document supply process. They manage, at a local level,the various processes associated with requesting…
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Interlibrary loan (ILL) management systems are an important component in the document supply process. They manage, at a local level, the various processes associated with requesting and obtaining documents. There may be links with other component systems, such as location/messaging systems, facilitated by various telecommunications networks, and integrated library housekeeping systems, for ongoing local control. ILL management systems can run as stand‐alone systems or as part of integrated housekeeping systems. Integration can offer, via the circulation module, ongoing control of interlibrary loans, in addition to loans from the library′s own stock, using the same borrower file. It may also be possible to request ILL items via the on‐line catalogue if the user has failed to find an item in stock. Functions which can be automated include: input and transmission of requests; receipt and loan; returns; overdues and recalls; renewals; reports and reapplications; chasers; and cancellations. Systems can also provide management information and control the loan of items to other libraries. In the UK, the links to networks are used, in the main, for transmission of requests, to BLDSC via ARTTel, or via e‐mail to other libraries. BLDSC is the major source for inter‐lending in the UK, and the volume of requests to other libraries is small; however, as network links increase, ILL will become less centralized and there will be greater traffic between libraries for the purposes of ILL.
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From Boolean operators to virtual reality…..
Shelagh Fisher, Rachel Delbridge and Siân Lambert
A library management system is a significant investment for libraries, but the procurement of a system is an infrequent activity with little opportunity for librarians to build on…
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A library management system is a significant investment for libraries, but the procurement of a system is an infrequent activity with little opportunity for librarians to build on their experience. The procurement process is also difficult for potential system suppliers who must respond to specifications which are variable in content, format and quality. The HARMONISE project aimed to determine the feasibility of developing a model system specification which could be used to assist libraries in the procurement of library management systems. Specifications collected from libraries which had recently acquired a library management system were analysed. The results demonstrate that the functional requirements specified for each of the core modules had strong similarities both within and across library sectors. A survey of UK system suppliers was also undertaken to determine their views on the specification as a procurement tool. Suppliers expressed frustration with the tendency for specifications to be dominated by lists of functional requirements which were present in all library management systems on the market today. In conclusion, a model specification incorporating basic functions, which can be expected in all library management systems, should be developed.
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TECHLIBplus is an application of BASISplus, the new text retrieval system launched in the UK by Information Dimensions in April 1990 to replace BASIS. Among the new features of…
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TECHLIBplus is an application of BASISplus, the new text retrieval system launched in the UK by Information Dimensions in April 1990 to replace BASIS. Among the new features of BASIS‐plus are a relational architecture and realtime updating of files. Like its forerunner, TECHLIB/STACS (described in VINE 74), TECHLIBplus can either run alongside a BASISplus system, or can operate as a stand‐alone system. There are a number of new features in TECHLIBplus, and an underlying change of design in that the new system operates on a single, unified database. The following article concentrates particularly on these new features.