The functions of electronic mail and online catalogs are described, and the possible uses of the two in conjunction for library purposes are explored, including notes between librarians, broadcast news, patron notifications, selective information dissemination, and interlibrary loans. (Author/CLB)

Reexamines human factors of human-machine systems from an individual and organizational behavior standpoint, particularly as they relate to library automation. Attitudes about automation, the successful introduction of change, the impact of automation on organizational structure, the impact on humans, and leadership within the human-machine system…

This paper describes methods used for maintenance of bibliographic records in online catalogs and compares them with maintenance in the conventional card catalog: addition of bibliographic records, identification and correction of errors, application of authority control, addition of information to records, and withdrawal of records from catalog.…

This description of the use of IBM Series/1 minicomputers to implement a library automation system includes discussion of current functions of the system, the system configuration, communications capabilities, software, and cost factors. (CLB)

Provides survey questions designed to be used to gather information required in library decision-making process for selection of automated circulation system. User library profile, system profile, hardware and software profiles, interactive workload, service, staff support requirements, educational support, bibliographic/item database, patron…

Discussion of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) that supports operational and managerial planning of automation projects covers challenges of library automation, evolution and scope of SDLC, lack of dissemination of SDLC literature within library and information science community, and corrective measures to meet library automation demands.…

Discussion of the potential effects of fiber optic-based communication technology on information networks and systems design highlights library automation. Topics discussed include computers and telecommunications systems, the importance of information in national economies, microcomputers, local area networks (LANs), national computer networks,…

Discusses various aspects of the application of optical data disk (CD-ROM) technology in libraries. Topics discussed include the need to acquire information directly from optical data disk experts; characteristics of reference works that make them amenable to conversion; barriers to the application of this technology; innovations currently being…

Discusses the importance of maintaining the accuracy and currency of the information in an online library catalog; examines aspects of online catalog maintenance that can be accomplished cooperatively, through networks, or automatically, by computer programs; and describes procedures followed at Washington State University that utilize the Western…

Discusses the romanization of Chinese characters in U.S. library bibliographic records; considers the advantages and disadvantages of changing from Wade-Giles romanization to pinyin; describes word division problems; proposes an alternative that uses a computer program; and considers the future possibilities of a multiscript, general purpose…

Examines the issue of standardization in the application of computerized automation to rare book and art collections in libraries and describes recent examples of applications in North America and in Western Europe. Topics addressed include bibliographic control, the development of national and international databases, and the use of videodisks.…

Describes a technique for accessing a library system with limited interconnectivity by connecting the system to a gateway machine that is a host in the local area network and evaluates the performance of an existing prototype that has been implemented at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. (Author/CLB)

Discusses the technological changes that will necessitate the prospective conversion of library data over the next decade and addresses the problems of converting data from obsolete personal computers to newer models that feature radically different operating systems. Three case studies are used to illustrate possible scenarios. (11 references)…

Description of the way in which some essential features of pathfinders have been incorporated in the online library catalog at Lehigh University discusses factors involved in record design, provides examples of records used with a GEAC Integrated Library System, and suggests several ways of implementing pathfinder records online. (CDD)

Discusses the effect of online library catalogs on when, how, and by whom authority control work is done, focusing on experiences at Ohio State University Libraries. Shifts include removal of authority work from automated cataloging procedures, separation of mechanical and intellectual tasks, unique headings and references, and original…