Editorial
Who Will Steer the Ship? (p.71-72)
SUSAN K. MARTIN
Feature Articles
A Simulation Model for Purchasing Duplicate
Copies in a Library (p.73-82)
W. Y. ARMS AND T. P. WALTER
Provision of duplicate copies in a library requires knowledge of the demand for each title. Since direct measurement of demand is difficult a simulation model has been developed to estimate the demand for a book from the number of times it has been loaned and hence to determine the number of copies required. Special attention has been given to accurate calibration of the model.
Automated Periodicals System at a Community
College Library (p.83-96)
VIVIAN HARP AND GERTRUDE HEARD
Automated systems need not be extensive to save time and improve efficiency. Moraine Valley's off-line operation, based on a file of 715 periodical titles, generates renewal orders, sends claims, and records subscription histories.
A Hybrid Access Method for Bibliographic
Records (p.97-104)
ABRAHAM BOOKSTEIN
This paper defines an access method for bibliographic records that combines features of the search key approach and the inverted file approach. It is a refinement of the search key technique that permits its extension to large files. A method by which this approach can be efficiently implemented is suggested.
Application of the Variety-Generator Approach
to Searches of Personal Names in Bibliographic Data Bases - Part 1. Microstructure
of Personal Authors' Names (p.105-118)
DIRK W. FOKKER AND MICHAEL F. LYNCH
Conventional approaches to processing records of linguistic origin for storage and retrieval tend to regard the data as immutable. The data generally exhibit great variety and disparate frequency distributions, which are largely ignored and which entail either the storage or extensive lists of items or the use of complex numerical algorithms such as hash coding. The results in each case are far from ideal. The variety-generator approach seeks to reflect the microstructure of data elements in their description for storage and search, and takes advantage of the consistency of statistical characteristics of data elements in homogenous data bases. In this paper, the application of the variety-generator approach to the description of personal author names from the INSPEC data base by means of small sets of keys is detailed. It is shown that high degrees of partitioning of names can be obtained by key-sets generated from the initial character of surnames, from the terminal characters of surnames, and from the initials.The implications of the findings for computer-based bibliographical information systems are discussed.
The Library of Congress View on Its Relation
to the ALA MARC Advisory Committee (p.119-125)
HENRIETTE D. AVRAM
This paper is a statement of the Library of Congress' recommendation that a MARC advisory committee be appointed within the present structure of the RTSD/ISAD/RASD Committee on Representation in Machine-Readable Form of Bibliographic Information (MARBI) and describes the Library's proposed relation to such a committee. The proposals and recommendation suggested were adopted by the MARBI Committee during its deliberations at ALA Midwinter, January 1974, and are now in effect.
Standards for Library Automation and ISAD's Committee on Technical Standards for Library Automation (TESLA) (p.126-138)
The role of ISAD's Committee on Technical Standards for Library Automation is examined and discussed. A procedure for the reaction to and initiation of standards is described, with reference to relevant standards organizations.
Technical Communications
The Caltech Science Library Catalog Supplement
(p.145-147)
DANA L. ROTH
(no abstract available)