SERIALS ON URICA AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES
| Date | 01 January 1987 |
| Pages | 17-31 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040368 |
| Published date | 01 January 1987 |
| Author | Avril Thomas |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
SERIALS ON URICA AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES
by Avril Thomas*
Abstract
This paper describes past and present methods of serials control
employed at the National Library of Wales, and notes the problems
encountered in the transition from a completely manual system to an
automated one in the space of twelve months. In order to appreciate
the advantages and disadvantages of introducing an automated system
some background knowledge of the way the Library works and of the
system is included. The development and implementation of the
automated system at the National Library is the subject of a paper by
Dr D R Jeremiah published in Program, Vol. 21, no. 2, April 1987.
Introduction and Background
The Institution
The National Library of Wales is organised into three main departments
- Printed Books, Manuscripts and Records and Pictures and Maps - but
all have common objectives. These objectives include the collection,
preservation and maintenance of books, manuscripts, pictures and many
other types of material on Welsh and Celtic peoples. It is therefore
the chief centre for research into materials on the history,
literature and life of Wales and has substantial collections relating
to other Celtic countries.
The Department of Printed Books concerns itself with printed material
of all kinds and at present houses over three million printed works.
The Library is also one of the six Copyright deposit libraries in
Great Britain and Ireland which are entitled by legal right to receive
from publishers one copy of each book, periodical and newspaper
published therein. Most of its holdings are available for reference
only but from early days duplicate copies of Welsh publications have
been acquired and made available for loan to other libraries.
Reasons for automating
During the 1970's investigations began into the possibilities of
automating the procedures of the Department of Printed Books for the
reasons listed:
1. The Department was unable because of shortage of staff to fulfil
its obligations to collect all published material due under the
terms of the Copyright Act, to manage its purchasing grant
efficiently, increase and extend its collections and to catalogue
and index its holdings in such a way as to make its resources
fully known and available to its users.
* Avril Thomas is Assistant Automation Librarian at the National
Library of Wales
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