BRITISH LIBRARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY AUTOMATION PROGRAMME
| Pages | 36-42 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040339 |
| Date | 01 April 1985 |
| Published date | 01 April 1985 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
36
BRITISH LIBRARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
LIBRARY AUTOMATION PROGRAMME
[This paper was presented to
ACORDD,
the
Advisory Committee of the Research
and Development Department in May 1985, and to the Working Group on
Information Technology in Libraries and Information Services (a Sub-
committee of ITAC the Information Technology Applications Committee) in
September 1985. It is published here at the suggestion of WGITLIS. There
are some minor amendments, mostly updating the information, which are
indicated by square brackets]
The Library automation programme supports research which is aimed at
improving the efficiency of library operations through the use of
computer systems and other forms of automation. It includes: the
evaluation of applications of Information Technology in libraries and
information
units;
investigating various methods of storing, retrieving
and processing library records; and improvement of library systems
to make them more effective and simpler to use. It also provides
support for various information and demonstration services to provide
librarians with data about library automation to aid their decision
making.
The programme is closely allied to the Information Technology
applications programme as a high priority area. The following are
particularly active at present: evaluation of microcomputer hardware
and software for library applications; assessment of local area
networks and multi-user systems in a library context; On-line Public
Access Catalogues
(OPACs);
development of co-ordinated information
services on the application of Information Technology in libraries.
It is hoped that new work will be initiated in the following areas:
further work on OPACs; evaluation of office automation systems in a
library context; the implications for libraries of new communications
media such as local area and wide area networks, including viewdata.
Of these areas OPACs are probably the most important as they will
have a major impact on both libraries and their users. They also bring
together researchers from a wide range of disciplines and an integrated
appproach will be important. These developments mean that the library
automation programme will be closely allied to the Basic Research
programme as well as the Information Technology programmes.
Work has already started on the development of an integrated programme
of research on OPACs ,through the Working Group on Information
Technology in Libraries and Information Services, which is a sub-
committee of the Information Technology Applications Committee.
Library Automation Research
The Department has been involved in most of the major
developments in library automation in the United Kingdom, and in some
cases has led the world. The concept of library automation in its
original form is no longer viable, as it is no longer possible to
separate the automation of library housekeeping routines from other
To continue reading
Request your trial