Despite recent research and development in the field of library automation, libraries have been unable to reap the benefits promised by technology due to the high cost of building and maintaining their own computer-based systems. Time-sharing and disc mass storage devices will bring automation costs, if spread over a number of users, within the…

Describes features of the acquisitions subsystem of the online computer system introduced by the Washington Library Network and offered to all participants who use the subsystem and all interested vendors, noting equipment and programs used, and online ordering procedures available. (EJS)

In a new era of austerity in academic libraries, more realistic concepts of collection building will have to be adopted and new patterns of service will have to be devised. (Author/PF)

A detailed description of the operating practices of a computerized book-ordering and processing center for the State University of New York (SUNY) and a plan for implementing such a center are presented. The center is designed to receive orders for purchasing books that are prepared by the member libraries, transmitted to the center over…

This report describes the system design of a regional computer center for the libraries of New England State Universities. The function of this center is to provide library technical processing service to the participating libraries. These services will include: (1) catalog data file creation and maintenance, (2) catalog data file search and…

Describes the development of the state of Washington's computer-assisted bibliographic system, along with its present batch-mode cataloging support subsystem and efforts toward on-line integrated acquisitions and cataloging support. (LS)

Described in this report are the results of a survey of 27 libraries which had in operation 40 mechanized systems for acquisition, cataloging and circulation control. The libraries were selected on the basis of advanced performance in the state of the art of library automation. The overall trends show libraries increasing their use of on-line…

An investigation was made of the Nashville Union Catalog to explore the possibility of its expansion into a regional catalog and making it the nucleus of a bibliographic center serving the state of Tennessee. The primary objectives were investigation of: the catalog and its format possibilities; the structural organization, and required funding,…

This narrative report relates the activities of the Bibliographic Automation of Large Library Operations using a Time-sharing System (BALLOTS) program at Stanford University for the original contract period and extensions, during which time the original single-user system was transformed into an automated network of libraries across the country.…

A six-month study was conducted to determine the library automation system requirements of the North Bay Cooperative Library System in Northern California. Six areas of possible automation were identified: (1) circulation; (2) interlibrary loan; (3) acquisitions; (4) physical processing and cataloging; (5) union catalog; and (6) film booking. Six…

Online database searching experiences of nine Illinois public libraries--Arlington Heights, Deerfield, Elk Grove Village, Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, Schaumburg Township, Waukegan, Wilmette--are discussed, noting search costs, user charges, popular databases, library acquisition, interaction with users, and staff training. Three sources are…

THIS SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE--(1) THE OPTIMUM NUMBER OF PROCESSING CENTERS FOR THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY SYSTEMS AND (2) THE BEST METHOD FOR DEVELOPING CATALOGS FOR THE LIBRARIES. MAJOR FINDINGS WERE--THAT CATALOGING DIFFERENCES AMONG THE SYSTEMS WERE NOT GREAT, THERE WAS A CURVILINEAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF ITEMS PROCESSED…

A summary of statistical information and user service programs provided by the Library of Congress (LC) during the 1977 fiscal year is presented. The Library's Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides immediate response to research queries from members of Congress, as well as undertaking special studies and research projects and holding…

Describes the various ways in which publishers and libraries work together in the Soviet Union to ensure the Universal Availability of Publications (UAP). The general library and publishing situation in the USSR, the distribution of materials to libraries, library acquisitions, cataloging and standardization, and specialized publishing are…

Results from a 1978 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) survey on planning for, and conversion to automated acquisitions systems, and the effects of such systems on library operations and use, organization and staffing, and management information, indicate that 38 of 77 responding libraries had instituted some kind of automated acquisitions.…