CINDEX Online: Geac CIS in Camden
| Published date | 01 January 1992 |
| Date | 01 January 1992 |
| Pages | 10-17 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040467 |
| Author | David Hayes |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
CINDEX Online:
Geac CIS in Camden
by David Hayes, Systems Controller (Library
Systems), London Borough of Camden
Camden rejected a viewdata solution to
user
infor-
mation needs as being too highly structured in
its
approach and instead opted
for a
customised
ver-
sion of
Geac's new Community Information System
(CIS) based on that company's existing Local
Infor-
mation System
software.
Data from the authority's
DataEase Adult Education database were
incorpor-
ated into CINDEX (Camden Community Information
Network Directory and Exchange)
by
uploading
files from the former to the
latter.
A
variety
of
on-
line and
offline methods
of
access and reporting
are
described.
Introduction
In June 1991 the London Borough of Cam-
den introduced an online version of its exist-
ing CINDEX database. The acronym
stands for Camden Community Information
Network Directory and Exchange. The data-
base provides up-to-date details of some
5,000
local organisations and services, ac-
cessible by name and subject. Included are
council departments, clubs, groups and asso-
ciations offering a whole range of advice, in-
formation, leisure and other facilities.
Although Camden is the focus of the data-
base,
organisations in neighbouring bo-
roughs and further afield are included if
they are the best (or only) ones able to help.
Editorial control rests entirely with the CIN-
DEX Librarian, one of a team of four in the
Libraries' Community Information Services
section. Subject heading vocabulary
is
tight-
ly controlled using a CINDEX thesaurus (1)
of about 750 subjects.
The CINDEX database began in 1979 as a
card index, but
was
transferred in 1984 to a
Wordplex word processor, enabling produc-
tion of an annual printed Directory. This
was made available in libraries and to 56
local major advice- and information-giving
agencies such as Citizens' Advice Bureaux
and the Town Hall Information Desk. In
addition, about 100 specialist printouts
(mini-directories) were produced annually
for client groups on request.
A corporate decision to abandon Wordplex
facilities in
1990
placed us in urgent need of
a replacement system, while offering the op-
portunity to add an online dimension.
Choice of system
A viewdata approach was considered, but
rejected. Its 'tree' structure would mean
slow access to specific information, and de-
mand foreknowledge on the user's part as
to how the database was organised; eg
whether tennis for disabled people would
be found under 'Disability' or 'Sport'.
Direct access to specific subjects was
deemed essential, as was an ability to index
a given record under several subject head-
ings.
These requirements were met by the
Geac CIS package. Camden Libraries had
been a user of Geac's GLIS Circulation sys-
tem since
1983,
and there was some spare
capacity on the dual 8000 machines. Geac
CIS could be thus implemented quickly and
at moderate cost, providing immediate pub-
lic access through the existing enquiry termi-
nals in each of the
13
libraries.
Other local requirements were an ability to
continue printing the Directory in its exist-
ing form (since online access would be
unaf-
fordable to many voluntary agencies), as
well as continued production of the subject-
specific mini-directories.
10 -
VINE
86 (March 1992)
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