The Czech Automated Library System
| Published date | 01 January 1994 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040527 |
| Pages | 48-49 |
| Date | 01 January 1994 |
| Author | Barbora Ramajzlová |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
The Czech Automated
Library System
by Dr Barbora Ramajzlová, Computing
Centre of the Czech Technical Univer-
sity, Prague
As a
result
of
the lack
of
commercially available
library
packages
in
the Czech
Republic,
the
Czech Technical University in Prague decided
to develop their own
system.
This short article
describes
its
functions and exemplifies
the
application
at
the
CTU.
Introduction
The Czech Technical University (CTU) has been
engaged in the automation of libraries for some
years.
Until 1988 there were no Czech library
automation systems apart from a modification of
CDS-ISIS (The Modular Automated Library Sys-
tem),
which was developed by the National Library
in Prague. Czech libraries had no access to foreign
library systems for reasons well known.
In the last few years CTU — as a technical univer-
sity — has had better conditions for the develop-
ment of
its
own automated library system than other
universities or library institutions in the Czech
Republic. Development of our library system started
in
1988.
The first version of the Automated Library
(hereafter referred to as AL) ran under the MS-DOS
operating system only. It was written using
DATAFLEX 2.3b. Now a multi-user version
running under UNIX is also supported.
AL provides all the basic library functions including
acquisitions, input processing, cataloguing, circula-
tion, stock protection and update, and serials con-
trol. It is designed to be user-friendly, simple but
comprehensive.
The system has been developed within the Comput-
ing Centre of
the
CTU in Prague. At the present
time it is used in the following libraries: faculty and
institute libraries of the CTU, West Bohemian
University Central Library at Plzen, the Technical
University for Engineering and Textiles Central
Library at Liberec, the the Higher School of Infor-
mation Services in Prague and the Trade Unions
library also in Prague. AL is distributed free of
charge or for a nominal sum.
The hardware and software required for AL are
dependent on the size and type of individual librar-
ies.
As mentioned above, AL can function as a
single-user system under MS-DOS as well as multi-
user under Novell or UNIX.
CTU does not have a central library. Each faculty
has their own central library, plus a number of
department libraries. The AL system is used in the
central libraries.
A program to manage retrospective conversion was
developed within AL. This enables data created
within other automated systems in the past to be
converted into AL format. Each of
the
central
libraries has input its own stock acquired since
1976.
This comprises about half the total stock and
mainly consists of monographs.
At CTU the Automated Library operates under
UNIX. Copies of
all
the libraries' databases are held
on the central server which supports the online
catalogue (address: anezka.cvut.cz; or IP address:
147.32.240.22; login 'anonym' or 'library'). Servers
in individual libraries are used only for internal
library operations. This also ensures data security
and protection. The database copies on the central
server also function as backups.
AL functional structure
AL is divided into partial processes (modules)
which are interconnected. The modules cannot be
used on a stand-alone basis, but it is not obligatory
to use all of them.
Online catalogue (OPAC)
At the present time the online catalogue is
not quite complete. It allows the retrieval of
records according to so-called selectors, ie
author, title, keyword, but does not allow
use of Boolean operators. It provides
information on an item's status (ie available,
on loan) and its location. Further
development of AL is focusing on
improving the OPAC to provide such
features as Boolean searching.
Acquisitions
This module manages the ordering of
materials. It allows the requirements of
individual departments in the library to be
48—VINE 94
(March
1994)
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