Related Experiment Videos
A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR A UNION CATALOG: THEME AND VARIATIONS
Bulletin of the Medical Library Association
|April 1, 1965
Summary
This article presents a versatile computer system for creating and managing union catalogs of periodicals. The system, adaptable for various catalog types, offers flexible file maintenance and output options for library records.
Area of Science:
- Library and Information Science
- Computer Science Applications
Background:
- Developing efficient systems for managing large bibliographic collections is crucial for libraries.
- Existing methods for cataloging periodicals can be labor-intensive and prone to errors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a computer system designed for the generation and maintenance of a union catalog of periodicals.
- To demonstrate the system's flexibility beyond its initial application for the Union Catalog of Medical Periodicals.
Main Methods:
- The system utilizes a basic file maintenance program, supplemented by optional subsidiary programs.
- Input preparation, including keypunching library records, is detailed.
- The system allows for printouts of the entire catalog file or selected portions.
Main Results:
- The computer system successfully automates the creation and upkeep of a union catalog.
- The system's modular design allows for adaptation to different cataloging needs.
- Input determines the scope and content, offering user-defined flexibility.
Conclusions:
- The described computer system provides an efficient and adaptable solution for managing periodical union catalogs.
- The system's core components are essential, while additional features can be implemented as required.
- The methodology can be applied to the creation of other types of catalogs.