BIBLIOFIL and the World Wide Web: IT in public libraries in Norway
| Pages | 32-34 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040558 |
| Published date | 01 January 1995 |
| Date | 01 January 1995 |
| Author | Lill Bjørvik,Ola Thori Kogstad |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
BIBLIOFIL and the
World Wide Web:
IT in public libraries
in Norway
by Lill Bjørvik and Ola Thori Kogstad,
Bibliotek-Systemer as
The BIBLIOFIL library management system
is widely used by public libraries throughout
Norway.
The
supplier,
Bibliotek-Systemer,
recognised the importance of making
public library catalogues available on the
Internet. After considering the alternative of
Z39.50/SR, it was decided to implement http,
the World Wide Web protocol to enable
catalogue access. In the first month, three
BIBLIOFIL libraries have already made their
collections available and many more look set
to
follow.
Introduction
BIBLIOFIL, the library automation system from
Bibliotek-Systemer, is a fully developed 12 year
old library system. It handles all aspects of library
management, except periodicals control.
BIBLIOFIL is currently used in over 80 public
libraries all over Norway, including 15 out of 21
county libraries; this does not include a number of
mobile libraries, branch libraries and associated
school libraries. Furthermore, nine special/aca-
demic libraries have also chosen to use
BIBLIOFIL. There is a user potential of 1.6
million people (1993) in the vicinities served
by BIBLIOFIL libraries, involving more than
1,000 library employees (1992). BIBLIOFIL
administers about 10 million loan transactions per
year.
BIBLIOFIL uses a machine-independent multi-
user operating system, UNIX System V, and is
based on a distributed architecture.
Each library has its own computer running
BIBLIOFIL. This solution has several advantages
compared with a central architecture serving all
libraries from one database. The short distance
ensures fast connections and the considerably
smaller size of the database makes searching the
catalogue faster. An interruption in a distributed
database only affects local users, whereas an
interruption in a centralised system effectively
brings it all to a halt. However the major drawback
of a distributed library system has been the lack of
a concurrent searching function. This was the case
until we started utilising the Internet as a part of
BIBLIOFIL.
Why the Internet?
At the end of 1993 the management of UNINETT
— the national academic network linking together
universities and training colleges — extended its
terms of reference to cover libraries and other
institutions directly involved in research and
education. This now includes public libraries, due
to the changes described below. The costs for
county libraries will be covered by the Directorate
for Public and School Libraries.
How will the public libraries evolve in the elec-
tronic networked environment? Do we need public
libraries when networks can deliver library materi-
als directly to the user?
Bibliotek-Systemer feels strongly that now is the
time for public libraries to get moving. We fear
that otherwise they will slide into the backwater
and the information gap between those who have
access to technology and those who have not, will
increase. Another factor to consider is the change
in user composition of public libraries during the
past decade. Postgraduate colleges have been
founded in many parts of the country; there are
always a number of people doing postgraduate
courses and the college libraries as a general rule
are not nearly good enough. This in turn has led to
increased demand on the local public libraries. The
difference between public libraries and special
libraries (ie technical, medical etc) is not therefore
as distinct as some years ago.
The stand-alone architecture of BIBLIOFIL makes
the use of Internet technology desirable.
BIBLIOFIL libraries have always been able to
search external library databases, but only one at a
time.
The new technology makes it possible to
search a number of collections in one go. However
32
—
VINE 98 (March
1995)
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