A model to calculate the costs of automated cataloging systems based on cataloging copy in a system's data base is developed. The costs derived by the model for two systems, OCLC and BALLOTS, are compared to the costs of an existing manual system. (Author/KP)

This paper describes an automated card catalog system, developed for the Dartmouth Regional Library in Nova Scotia, which uses records of selected fixed-length fields; it is proposed as a prototype for a system meeting the needs of a public library system with a collection size of about 100,000 items. The costs of operating a catalog system based…

Discusses the benefits and disadvantages for library uses of stand-alone and integrated computer systems, multi-user and single-user systems, local area networks versus shared logic systems, and the Macintosh Library System which combines features of both. (EM)

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.…

Examines six steps inherent to development of in-house automated library system: (1) problem definition, (2) requirement specifications, (3) analysis of alternatives and solutions, (4, 5) design and implementation of hardware and software, and (6) evaluation. Practical method for comparing and weighting options is illustrated and explained. A…

Comparisons and advantages of using a printer versus on line cataloging are presented, with statistics of title percentage from search procedures. (Author/KP)

This description of the automated acquisitions system used by Knox College Library provides a history of its development and compares the system to the OCLC Acquisitions Subsystem. The system's chief management tool--a dealer report and several permutations (sorts by publisher and fund)--is discussed. Six references are cited. (EJS)

Microcomputer programing languages BASIC, Pascal, and PL/1 are characterized and contrasted in terms of suitability for library and textual processing needs. Issues pertaining to choice of programing languages for library microcomputing are discussed. Fifty-one references and tables rating languages on basis of number of string functions and…

Comparison of the use in libraries of open systems--a configuration of software and hardware components from separate vendors linked by interfaces--and integrated systems considers selection of services; reliability; relationships with vendors; time needed to implement systems; and overall effectiveness of both approaches. (CLB)

Retrievability of titles of 152 periodicals were compared in a fixed-length algorithmic search (Library Computer System) and a keyword search (Washington Library Network) to determine which type of search algorithm is more successful with titles of varying lengths. Three references and a list of English language stopwords are appended. (EJS)

Looks at the social and psychological effects on users of the introduction of online catalogs in libraries, examines several major changes in public and professional use of the catalog that result from online systems, and examines some of the unintended social effects of each of these changes. Three references are listed. (EJS)

This report presents results from Phase 1 of the British Columbia Library Network (BCLN) Project, which included the installation and evaluation of a comprehensive library cataloging system using the University of Victoria Computing Center IBM 4341 computer. Evaluation included actual use of the system, performance and cost studies, feature and…

Compares the operating costs of the CL Systems, Inc. Libs 100 automated circulation system with those of the manual system it replaced. The systems are described, costs defined, methods of data collection explained, and unit costs given. (Author)

Conducted to gather information on the practical impact of implementing either the Washington Library Network (WLN) system or one of two versions of the DOBIS system in British Columbia Union Catalogue (BCUC) member libraries, this study addressed four questions: (1) the effect the introduction of the new system would have on workflows; (2)…

When DIALOG introduced DIALMAIL, its electronic mail service, online searchers were encouraged to use it as an alternative delivery method for offline prints. The new method of retrieval was considered to be fast and described in documentation and reviews as being much less expensive than online types. Performed in June 1987, this study compares…