As with all new programs, the costs associated with library automation must be carefully considered before implementation. This document suggests guidelines to be followed and areas to be considered in the costing of library procedures. An existing system model has been suggested as a standard (Appendix A) and a classification of library tasks…

The two major topics of the program portion of the meeting are automation and management. Allen B. Veaner's "Major Decision Points in Library Automation" is followed by notes from a brief discussion. Stanley E. Seashore presented main themes from "Staff Participation in Management," which is also followed by discussion remarks…

The following areas were of particular concern in this report: (1) Bibliographical control, which is considered to be the overriding purpose of librarianship; (2) the library's organizational structure, which must undergo some essential changes if the library is to meet the new challenge; (3) professionalism, which must become common and…

Once a computer system has been established, and the capabilities exist for the kind of data manipulation which could produce either a book catalog, with as many access points as seem desirable, or catalog cards if desired, the next question to be resolved is whether a book catalog is an economically feasible substitute for catalog cards. The…

The outstanding accomplishment reported in the fifth annual report of the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) was the implementation, operation, and enhancement of the on-line union catalog and shared cataloging system. Another important development in the history of the Center was the decision by the Members to extend membership to include…

As research libraries have grown, a trend has developed to recruit specialists to support the administrative and technical functions of the library. Business, planning, automation, personnel, and facilities specialists are among those currently employed. Libraries which utilize such specialists experience significant gains in flexibility to…

The focus of the January 1975 meeting of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) was the future of bibliographic records of library holdings. Speakers from the Library of Congress (LC) reported on historical problems associated with card catalogs and on plans for conversion to other forms. Speakers from large research libraries indicated a…

Describes the advantages of the development of open systems, i.e., a configuration which combines software and hardware from separate vendors into a single system, as a means of increasing the possible applications of library automation. (CLB)

Discusses the reasons and methods for retrospective conversion of library catalog data into machine-readable form. The need for standards is emphasized and suggestions are given for documenting local standards. Ideas are included for completing the conversion of a project done by a vendor, where some parts may have been overlooked. (Author/EM)

InfoQUEST is a microcomputer-based online public access catalog, designed for the small library handling file sizes up to 25,000 records. Based on the IBM-PC, or compatible machines, the system will accept downloading, in batch mode, of records from the library's file on the UTLAS Catalog Support System. (Author/EJS)

Gurnsey's article characterizes the United Kingdom's code for consultants as a guide to good practice but lacking enforcement measures; the text of the code is appended. Drabenstott has edited a forum of consultants' views on ethics in the library automation process. (EM)

Reviews some of the materials in the LEXIS and WESTLAW databases and the findings of a survey on the impact of technology on information publication, and discusses the possibility of using online databases as substitutes for the acquisition of new law library materials. (CLB)

Outlines factors used by online vendors to decide whether to bid on RFPs (requests for proposals) for library automation systems, including specifications for software, hardware or performance requirements not met by the vendor; specifications based on competitors' systems; the size and complexity of the request itself; and vendors' time…

Reviews a wide range of retrieval problems that arose with the implementation of an online catalog in an academic library, especially the problem of retrieving uniform titles coded as authors. The need for changes in the underlying format of coding uniform titles as a universal solution is discussed. (Author/CLB)

Reports information gathered from eight vendors on the preparation of bibliographic data for CD-ROM public access catalogs: (1) sources of bibliographic records; (2) duplicate record handling; (3) holdings and location information; (4) maintaining the database; (5) authority control; (7) record corrections; (7) extraction of subsets; (8)…