A Regional Bibliographic Database on Videodisc
| Date | 01 February 1985 |
| Pages | 7-9 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047590 |
| Published date | 01 February 1985 |
| Author | Alfred L. Freund |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
A Regional Bibliographic
Database on Videodisc
Alfred
L.
Freund
The initial creation of
a
union
catalog containing 600,000 unique
titles and 1.8 million physical
items; the conversion of this database
to interactive laserdisc; and the
resultant
advantages,
are
described. The application of
laserdisc technology (discussed
in this article) is thought to be the
first of its kind. It will become
widely emulated by
other library systems.
A videodisc version of a 600,000-record regional
bibliographic database has been developed for and
installed at the headquarters of the Ramapo Catskill
Library System (RCLS). The developers of the sys-
tem believe it to be the first of its kind. The video-
disc was the result of many years of planning and
several important grant programs.
The RCLS, a cooperative system located in
Middletown, New York, began creating its own
machine-readable public library database in 1979.
At that time, an automated processing center was
established for its 46 members, and the conversion
of its union catalog was initiated. The conversion
program was based on MINI MARC, now marketed
by Library Systems and Services, Inc. (LSSI), of
Rockville, Maryland.
MINI MARC, until this year, has provided the
Library of Congress (LC) MARC database on floppy
disks.
Updates were issued twice a month. A micro-
film index provided access by Library of Congress
card number (LCCN), author, and title. Current
and retrospective records were added regularly.
Local cataloging and location information were
stored on floppy disks. (The former floppy disk-
based MINI MARC system and the new laserdisc-
based system are described in Library Hi Tech, No.
9.) An attached, high-speed printer was used to
produce card sets. Periodically, floppy disks con-
taining holdings information were sent to the ven-
dor (LSSI) to be combined with previous records.
The resultant database was stored on tape and used
to produce union catalogs in hard copy, COM, and
(now) on videodiscs. By 1983, all 358,000 items in
the existing union catalog were converted to machine-
Freund is Director, Ramapo Catskill Library
System, Middletown, NY.
ISSUE 10 7
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