Describes the challenge to libraries involved in the development of online catalogs, discusses the revolutionary importance to librarianship of the online catalog, outlines the role of effective planning in implementing online catalogs, and projects some changes that will occur in libraries because of them. (JL)

Visits were conducted to 20 libraries, networks, or services in the United States, Great Britain, and Scandinavia to study the facilities and management techniques involved in the automation of cataloging and/or acquisitions departments. Of the total number of visits, 3 were made to public library situations, 3 to commercial services, and 16 to…

Suggests that if librarians and libraries are to continue to fulfill their true tasks, they need to adapt to changes resulting from new technology and overcome the professional paralysis that has made most major libraries largely unusable. Problems of size, arrangement, and catalogs are identified as contributors to unusable library. (EJS)

Through an evaluative review of literature in management science and social psychology, this study analyzes causes of difficulties experienced when introducing technological change to library and its employees. Nature of problems (technological, organizational, behavioral), alternative solutions, selection of course of action, and assessment of…

Describes reorganization of monographic processing at Iowa State University Library Technical Services for effective use of online cataloging system (OCLC). Combination of pre-order bibliographic searching with later copy cataloging, post-receipt examination of materials, hit rates and type of records used, productivity and processing speed, and…

This study examined the problem of planned organizational and technological change in a university library catalog department implementing the shared cataloging system of OCLC, Inc. Information on the implementation experiences and problems of OCLC member libraries was gathered from published reports and on-site visits to three university…

These four papers presented at the Polytechnic of Central London School of Management focus on the management of technical innovation in libraries as it affects decision making, library organization, non-systems staff, and interlibrary cooperation. Procedures for implementing automation in a library are outlined: a system analysis and costing of…

This staffing survey of 34 Geac minicomputer-based circulation system installations (public, academic, state, and special libraries, library consortia) was designed to identify the variables which affect staffing needs. Discussion covers differences in responses, types of staff positions, core and ancillary job duties, application training,…

Based on telephone interviews with 12 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries, this report presents the underlying reasons for the libraries' decisions relating to the design and implementation of automated library systems. The survey results are summarized, a list of respondents is provided, and profiles of present and planned…