Editorial
Turning the Key (p.195)
WILLIAM D. MATHEWS
Feature Articles
General Trends in Implementation of Automated
Circulation Systems (p.198-202)
RICHARD W. BOSS
Building automated circulation systems has become a sizable business activity. Overall trends in the turnkey system market are described. These include tendencies toward greater functional integration, improved user interfaces, and shared facilities linking many libraries together in a single system. The role of bibliographic utilities is also briefly explored.
Staff Training Aspects of Circulation System
Implementation (p.203-208)
BONNIE JUERGENS
Developing an adequate staff training program is a critical implementation concern. Advice is given on ways to structure the training sessions. Particular attention is paid to personnel considerations and the important qualities of the training coordinator. The problem of developing reasonably comprehensive documentation is also discussed.
Conversion of Files for Circulation Control
(p.209-213)
PAT BARKALOW
Bibliographic file conversion is a labor-intensive task often costing more than all other aspects of system implementation combined. Suggestions for reducing labor costs, improving accuracy, and maximizing computer use are presented. At the same time, libraries should be aware of regional, state, and national plans for resource sharing prior to engaging in conversion projects in the first place.
The Public Relations Component of Circulation
System Implementation (p.214-218)
J. MICHAEL BRUER
Apart from having a system that it literally promotes itself, a well-designed public relations program plays a pivotal role. Public relations should be no mystery; it is basically a form of communications directed toward staff and patron alike. The circulation librarian is the key person in this communications effort.
Implementation of On-Line Circulation at
New York University (p.219-232)
BONNIE R. NELSON
Front line experience with the implementation of a turnkey circulation system is described. Involvement of the staff in a careful planning process is vital to success. File conversion of both patron and bibliographic data is covered in some detail. Weaknesses and strengths of the automated system are also summarized.
A Guide to Video Resources (p.233-241)
ARLENE FARBER SIRKIN
Four years ago, the LITA Video and Cable Communications Section published a guideline document. One of the chapters in that document gave several source lists for material related to the use of video. Because of the enormous growth of video and the dramatic increase in video utilization by libraries, much of that material is now out of date. This article provides an update on those lists with a brief review of the status of video resources generally.
Information and Communications: A Chautauqua
for Congress (p.242-259)
JANE BORTNICK
The technologies supporting information and communications have become a major driving force in our country's economy. A sophisticated understanding of these technologies by our nation's lawmakers is a matter of great importance to all of us. In March 1979, the Congressional Clearinghouse on the Future, an agency of the Congress, conducted a series of meetings focusing specifically on the consequences of this rapid growth in information and communications technologies. Two of these meetings are summarized here. The first part of the text that follows is an edited transcript of a panel discussion during which four experts were each asked two questions bearing on these technologies. General comments from the audience were also encouraged once the panelists had an opportunity to respond. The second part of the text is a digest from a set of workshop discussions on critical policy issues surrounding the probable future of these technologies. Some seventy participants from industry and government worked in small discussion groups on these issues, each group addressing a single issue. In doing this, each group envisioned some likely future events that would affect the topic under consideration, and their reports recommended specific congressional actions that would be responsive in light of these future events.
Communications
Personnel Training Techniques for Automated
Library Circulation Systems (p.276-279)
TAKA F. NIMURA
(no abstract available)
Data Processing in the ETH-Bibliothek (p.279-281)
RUDOLPH NOTHIGER
(no abstract available)
Retrospective Conversion Project at Old
Dominion University (p.281-282)
TERENCE WALTON
(no abstract available)
On-Line Interactive Serials Management
at Marathon Oil Company (p.283-287)
TOM W. HARRISON AND A. PATRICIA MILLER
(no abstract available)
Development of a Title Searching Capability
at the Defense Documentation Center (p.287-289)
CARLYNN J. THOMPSON
(no abstract available)