[WORLD 1]

WORLD 1 CONNECTIONS
all the news about WORLD 1, ABN and Ozline

Issue no. 3
May/June 1996
ISSN 1325-958X


In this issue...

WORLD 1 Connections is edited and designed by Leora Kirwan using desktop publishing software. The publication is issued bimonthly by the Services to Libraries Division of the National Library of Australia. Single subscriptions will be available gratis on application to:

Editor, WORLD 1 Connections
Network Services Marketing
National Library of Australia
Canberra ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA

Unless otherwise specified, for further information contact the Help Desk on 1800 026 155 or the Editor on (02) 6262 1580


The business of WORLD 1

LEFT: David Toll, Acting Executive Director of the WORLD 1 business unit and Bryony De La Motte, Implementation Manager

The Director-General of the National Library of Australia, Warren Horton, is pleased to announce that the National Library's Assistant Director-General (Corporate Services Division), David Toll, will assume responsibility for the WORLD 1 business unit from 1 July 1996.

The appointment of Mr Toll is the first step in implementing the strategy to manage WORLD 1 that the Director-General outlined to audiences during the WORLD 1 roadshows earlier this year. The strategy included the appointment of an executive director and the separation of WORLD 1 from the National Library's Services to Libraries Division. While recruitment for the position of executive director has been deferred to a later stage, the appointment of Mr Toll will assist in the transition to a new business model.


In addition to his new role, Mr Toll will continue to manage the National Library's Corporate Services Division, including the National Library's information technology area which has been very involved in the development of WORLD 1.

Bryony De La Motte will also move to the WORLD 1 business unit as its implementation manager. The business unit will initially include marketing, training and financial management support staff.

The Director-General emphasised that these administrative changes were designed to ensure that WORLD 1 remained responsive to customers' needs through both the development and implementation stages.

The development project will continue to be led by Jan Rosi, NDIS Joint Project Director.

The Services to Libraries Division will manage the existing ABN and Ozline services and take on the additional responsibility of digital library projects. Digital library projects play an important leadership role in the application of technology within the library industry.

It has also been decided to delay the establishment of the WORLD 1 Board. Accordingly, all ABN Network Committee members have agreed to continue as the Network's chief source of advice. This strong consultation with stakeholders will continue to be reflected in the service to our customers.

[Cheryn McCann]

Cheryn McCann
Cheryn McCann, one of ABN's best-known and most experienced staff members, was tragically killed in a cycling accident on Sunday 9 June.

Cheryn, quite genuinely, was the perfect colleague. The qualities of serenity, gentle humour, intelligence and responsiveness, as well as the strength she brought to her work, greatly enhanced every activity with which she was associated and endeared her to all of those who were priviledged to work with her. We all relied heavily on her wide knowledge and skills.

Cheryn joined ABN in August 1988 as a member of the Help Desk, an area where she always excelled, making light of the pressures and demands of staffing a public contact point.


In the following years she contributed significantly to the work of all other areas of ABN, particularly to the NBD and Standards. During her time in the Training and Documentation Section, she prepared the widely-used Supersearch Manual, as well as conducting training courses. While on rotation to the NBD and the Standards Section, she was responsible for adding numerous file loads of records to the database. Cheryn also worked in the Marketing area and was a familiar presence at trade shows, demonstrating ABN online services and products.

In 1995 Cheryn was seconded to the NDIS team for seven months, where she worked on the migration of databases to WORLD 1. After her return to the Help Desk late last year she continued her involvement with WORLD 1 as part of her work schedule. It was Cheryn who prepared the demonstrations of WORLD 1 searching which so many visitors to the roadshows saw earlier this year.

Cheryn was passionate about Australia. She was an enthusiatic bushwalker and birdwatcher and travelled to many remote and beautiful parts of the country.

Her death is a severe and painful loss for her colleagues and for the National Library. We offer our deeply-felt condolences to Cheryn's family and to her close friend Julie Sheppard, with whom she shared so many of her interests.

Making the connection

[Warren Horton]

When I was in New York in late April attending the New York Public Library's 100th Anniversary celebrations and the Summit of World Library Leaders, I was impressed by the interest my colleagues showed in the WORLD 1 development. It brought home to me once again what a significant adventure we have embarked upon in the Antipodes in the creation of WORLD 1.

The National Library, in cooperation with the Australian library community, is creating a unique one-stop service to support the entire document supply cycle, from the creation of data to the location and delivery of information. Importantly, we have also recognised the need to open up access to the collections of Australian libraries. We are therefore providing different levels of access for information professionals and novice researchers, whether in Australia or overseas. In order to achieve this, we are taking advantage of the latest technology products for the creation and storage of databases, and for providing simultaneous access for huge numbers of people.

There is no other project like WORLD 1 anywhere in the world. For this reason, it is the object of much interest internationally. Representatives from the National Library have been invited to present WORLD 1 to overseas national and university libraries. Particular interest has been shown from a number of Asia / Pacific countries recently in acquiring WORLD 1 as the basis for their own library network redevelopments.

The various technical, marketing and management teams working on WORLD 1 deserve to be congratulated for having already established this enviable reputation, not only in Australia but around the world.

It is for these reasons that, although I am disappointed that we have had to delay the implement-ation of Phase 1, I and my colleagues in the National Library are not disheartened. In a project that is as state-of-the-art as WORLD 1, the greatest enemy is always time. For the moment, time has caught up with us. However, as a colleague said to me recently: 'I suppose we can comfort ourselves that if WORLD 1 had not been delayed, it would have been one of the first IT projects in history to be released on time'.

To ensure the most effective implementation of WORLD I, with maximum benefits to customers, a separate WORLD 1 business unit has been created. This unit will initially be led by David Toll, who is the National Library's Assistant Director-General, Corporate Services Division. Warwick Cathro, Assistant Director-General, Services to Libraries Division, will continue to lead the ABN and Ozline services with new responsibilities for National Library digital projects.

I want to record the Library's very deep appreciation for the work Warwick and his staff have done in recent years in formulating the WORLD 1 redevelopment proposals and working with the NDIS team and the National Library of New Zealand.

Although this restructure means change for quite a number of National Library staff, their focus will remain where it has always been- on the customer.

We are looking forward to a very busy time over the next few months as these changes are put in place and we prepare for the Annual Users' Meeting in September.

- Warren Horton, Director-General

FAQ from the WORLD 1 roadshows

With more than 3,000 people attending the WORLD 1 roadshows earlier this year, the list of questions asked is long. This is the second and final instalment of frequently asked questions from the roadshows.

The Search Service and on-line document requesting

Managing use

Copyright

Availability

Equipment

The Collection Management Service

The Document Delivery Service

The existing service

The NDIS report

Implementation

Over the last 18 months, the National Libraries of Australia and New Zealand and CSC Australia have been working on the NDIS Project to bring a world class online document discovery and access service to the Australian and New Zealand library and research communities.

Earlier this year, a working snapshot of the software was demonstrated to library audiences in both countries. The development of this software, to support the Phase 1 search and online document requesting services, has essentially been completed. The modules which make up Phase 1 have been integrated, and testing of the integrated modules is well advanced.

The project is widely recognised as being a highly innovative and leading-edge development which aims to support large numbers of users and database sizes. While the project has presented significant challenges, these have been overcome and the solution of the remaining issues is the top priority of the project.

During testing it has become clear that further work needs to be done on some critical searching functions, which are part of the licensed software. At the moment, this is preventing the system going live. While every effort is being made by the licensed software supplier to deal with the situation, the National Libraries have been advised that the new search service may not be available during 1996 as originally planned.

Further investigation is required before the National Libraries are able to confirm a revised release date. While the National Libraries regret the delayed implementation, they are confident that the resulting service will meet their customers' demanding requirements for search access and performance.

[NDIS Strategic Planning Group]

ABOVE: The NDIS Strategic Planning Group, from left: Neil McLean (Macquarie University), Warwick Cathro (NLA), Geoff Payen (CAVAL Ltd.), Debra Wake (NLNZ), Vic Elliott (Victoria University of Wellington), Debbie Campbell (NLA), Ann Deane (NLNZ), Stella Neal (NLNZ), Jan Fullerton (NLA), David Harlen (NLNZ), Sue Sutherland (Canterbury Public Library, Christchurch), Jan Rosi (NLA), Judith Pearce (NLA), Owen Jones (CSC Australia), Chris Curtis (CSC Australia), Bryony de la Motte (NLA).




Phase 2 planning

All other areas of the project are moving ahead strongly and detailed planning for the development of Phase 2 is underway.

The NDIS Project Strategic Planning Group meets throughout the year to set priorities for the development project and to discuss the impact of changes in the technological environment. They met in Canberra last month to discuss priorities for the second phase of the development project which will produce the cataloguing and collection management service, as well as produce enhancements to the search service.

For further information please call 1800 026 155 (Help Desk), or email bdelamot@nla.gov.au

Testing, testing...1, 2, 3

by Ingrid Italiano, NDIS Project Administrator

When building a complex computer system, a great deal of testing must be done to ensure that every part of the system runs smoothly and fits together properly. As the NDIS Project nears the end of Phase 1, testing what has been built so far is the priority of the development team. The key types of testing being undertaken are:-

Performance Testing

Put simply, performance testing involves testing the system's performance against a set of predetermined tasks by a number of simultaneous users. The performance testing being done now will iron out any 'bugs' and will ensure smooth, rapid progress when testing the final product.

Integration Testing

The best way to approach a project as large as NDIS is to break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Integration testing is the process then used to check that each of those pieces can be joined to make a complete, working system.

Phase 1 involves a number of different modules of functionality, including search and browse, systems support, user support, document and item delivery, stakeholder service and copyright and billing. Each of these modules has been developed by a separate team made up of developers and librarians. If each module was a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, then integration testing simply involves putting all the pieces together in the right places. It ensures that the different modules are fully compatible and, as a whole, achieve the required results in terms of functionality and performance.

The systems integrator, CSC Australia, will undertake the integration testing using test scripts that have been written to simulate users' workflows and business processes.

Functionality Testing

This is where the functions within each module are tested to ensure they meet specifications. For example, the icons on the screen will be checked to see that they do what they are supposed to do (eg. when the 'search history' icon is selected, it will show all the search statements that have been created in the current session).

Acceptance Testing

The final stage of testing involves the two national libraries' acceptance of a working system. The system must meet all functional requirements and perform to an acceptable level. Dedicated teams from the national libraries will undertake rigorous testing of the system against key performance indicators and acceptance criteria. Acceptance testing is the final chapter in each phase of the development project.

Your Help Desk

The Help Desk has five staff members who answer up to 100 queries each day from ABN, Ozline, UnCover and Medline users. These queries range from the simple, which can be answered immediately, to the more complex, which may require research or referral and therefore take longer to answer.

ABN offers a wide range of services and products to users. To ensure that expert advice is available, each Help Desk staffer is given responsibility for the support of a portfolio of services and products. From time to time, responsibilities are reassigned within the Help Desk team to meet particular operational or staffing requirements.

Below is a short description of some of the areas of responsibility for Help Desk staff. All Help Desk members are committed to providing a high quality service. Regardless of who responds to your query, you can be assured of friendly and helpful service.

Help Desk staff provide support for ABN registrations (including the Memorandum of Agreement and setting up user profiles on ABN); the interlibrary loans module, including providing input to the World 1 Project team for the development of document delivery for the WORLD 1 Service; leased lines, including arranging the movement of leased lines upon request; the Authority MARC Output service (including providing test tapes to allow users to test load to their systems), the MARC Output from Supersearch service (records supplied from the NBD as a result of a Supersearch inquiry); and New titles lists.

The Help Desk staff are also responsible for the downline loading or DLL service, (the downline loading of MARC records to the user's system via the ABN telecommuni-cations network) and the new MARC*LINK service; ftp (the delivery of products via file transfer protocol); MARC records on tape and diskette; the Batch Selection service (the provision of records from the NBD in response to specific requests from Products Only service users); the MARC Format Conversion service; microfiche products, such as library catalogues; catalogue cards and spine labels, and the off screen use of records for cataloguing.

Help Desk staff members also provide support to users of services such as RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network-a United States-based database of bibliographic records which can be requested for loading onto ABN by Full service users); the National Library of Medicine (NLM) database services (approximately 40 databases, including Medline); Supersearch and Ozline; UnCover (including the registration of new users and the allocation of passwords); the ABN gateway (which provides Internet access to leased line and dial-up users); and the Australasian Medical Index (AMI).

As well, Help Desk staff provide valuable input into the transition of ABN/Ozline to WORLD 1 and are involved in the development of new products e.g. catalogues on CD-ROM, as a possible alternative to microfiche.

[ABN Help Desk staff]

The Help Desk is open from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Monday, and from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

If you have any queries or need any assistance, don't hesitate to call the Help Desk on (02) 6262 1541, or toll free 1800 026 155, fax (02) 6273 1180, or email networks@nla.gov.au.

LEFT: A photograph of the Help Desk staff taken in late May. Ruth Wilson (second from left), Rosa O'Keefe, Ros McDonald (currently on six months secondment to the Marketing Section), Mary Gorman and Jenny Giopoulous. Cheryn McCann is shown on the extreme left.



ILRS Directory on Ozline

The Australian Interlibrary Resource Sharing Directory has been added to the suite of databases on OZLINE and will be available from 13 May 1996.

The ILRS Directory is primarily a directory of Australian libraries, although it also contains entries for some other types of institutions. There are over 1700 entries. Each entry includes name, address and contact information. For those libraries who have supplied the information, the Directory also lists membership of reciprocal interlibrary lending networks, interlibrary loans policy and charges, and fast track membership with charges.

This valuable tool for interlibrary loan officers and other library staff is now even more useful because of the enhanced accessibility provided by the STAIRS information retrieval software already familiar to Ozline users. Access will not be made available via SOFI, the menu driven search interface to the National Library's online services, because of the planned transfer of the Ozline databases to WORLD 1.

La and Nelson]

The Directory is searchable at the same cost as the other Ozline databases ($A1.00 per minute). However, until the end of June, searching is available free of charge-to give interested customers the opportunity to test the new database.

The Directory is current to March 1996. A survey was conducted in March of all institutions listed, to check the details for each entry. The hardcopy version of the Directory will be updated and published as soon as possible using the information obtained from the survey. The on-line Directory will be updated soon after.

LEFT: The team which brought you the ILRS Directory on-line. David La, NLA Systems, wrote a special program and Lea Nelson marked up the Directory for addition to Ozline



Standards Committee

The ABN Standards Committee met at the National Library on 27-28 March, and standards for WORLD 1 featured significantly on the agenda.

Australian subject headings in WORLD 1

The Standards Committee reviewed priorities for improving subject access. As WORLD 1 will provide better support for Australian headings than ABN, it was agreed to give higher priority to Australian subject headings. Specifically, over the next two years, there will be a systematic review of Australian headings in the ALIA publication List of Australian subject headings (LASH). As many LASH headings as possible will be incorporated into the Australian extension to the Library of Congress subject headings. In addition, all the headings which have been rejected over the years for implementation in ABN, will be reassessed for implementation in WORLD 1. A future task will be to assess the Aboriginal thesaurus when it is published, as a source for improvements to LCSH in WORLD 1.

Meanwhile, cataloguers are encouraged to continue proposing new subject headings according to need, whether they are for Australian or other topics. Newly proposed headings may be used straight away in ABN. The Subject Headings Review Panel will subsequently review them, and the National Library will submit them to the Library of Congress as appropriate.

Cataloguing standards in WORLD 1

The Standards Committee wants to minimise barriers to contributing holdings data to the NBD, while maximising the effectiveness of information retrieval on WORLD 1. To achieve this, a very basic minimum record standard has been defined, comprising AACR2 level 1 description, and a few selected MARC codes (type of record, bibliographic level and encoding level). By requiring only the minimum data to uniquely identify an item, it is hoped to attract a wider range of holdings data to the NBD. This will improve the NBD's support for the national interlibrary loan and document supply system.

However, higher quality records will improve access to information, and the Standards Committee wants to encourage cataloguers to contribute higher quality records to WORLD 1. One way to achieve this would be by identifying preferred records based on the quality of the record's content rather than its source alone. This could be reinforced through a well-targeted system of financial credits, based on the quality of contributed cataloguing. The Standards Committee made some progress in identifying which fields are of relatively higher value, but of course this will have to be progressively refined in the light of experience in WORLD 1.

Relation between local systems and WORLD 1

The Standards Committee considered a draft Cataloguing Protocol which could be used to communicate cataloguing transactions between local systems and WORLD 1. The attraction of such a protocol is that the cataloguer could work entirely within one system, with a two way traffic in data between the local system and the central system. The Committee supported the principles behind a cataloguing protocol, and urged the NDIS Development Project and Standards Australia Committee IT/19 to explore this idea further in cataloguing in NDIS.

Integrated formats

The Standards Committee considered some issues relating to cataloguing works which combine the characteristics of various formats. Examples are cartographic works in computer file format, or works which are published serially in non-print, non-textual formats, such as serial soundrecordings and CD ROMs issued in successive versions. The rules appear to be inadequate for cataloguing these materials, and the Australian Committee on Cataloguing has been asked to take up the matter with the Joint Steering Committee for the Revision of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules.

The Standards Committee also considered the implementation of the integrated USMARC format when cataloguing nonbook materials which are published serially. It was decided not to develop any formal guidelines for Australian cataloguers at this stage. However, the National Library was asked to provide Australian libraries with information which will improve their understanding of the opportunities and the implications of the integrated USMARC format. In particular, libraries need to understand how the integrated format will impact on the sharing of cataloguing, the functioning of the union catalogue, and the use of the records in local systems.

More information

The minutes, resolutions and selected papers of the meeting are available on the National Library's information server at the following URL: http://www.nla.gov.au/2/abn/committees/abnsc39.html

Expert help for NDIS

Expert library computer system trainers from Australia and New Zealand have been brought together to advise the NDIS Project on the development of the WORLD 1 'help' services.

This group, known as the Online Help and User Reference Expert Advisory Group, or EAG, was formed to provide advice and review prototypes for the 'help' services. Each member of the group has experience training library professionals and end users in the use of library computer systems, including the Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN), Ozline, the New Zealand Bibliographic Network (NZBN) and Kiwinet.

Although WORLD 1 has been designed to be user friendly and leave customers in no doubt what to do next, sophisticated help features are still an important feature. The on-line help and on-line tutorials will be complemented by an easy to follow hard copy user reference manual.

The EAG is currently reviewing draft copies of the user reference manual. They have been asked to ensure that the manual is easy to follow and structured logically and that it adheres to the principles of training documentation. Later, the group may be involved in finalising the text for the on-line help and on-line tutorials.

The work of the EAG will be most evident when WORLD 1 is in use. For example, while searching, a user might want to know how to use truncation. WORLD 1 will provide information on a pop-up 'help' screen about what truncation is and how it works. If the user requires more guidance, they can request an online tutorial which will take them step-by-step through the use of the function. Or, they can refer to the printed manual.

There are currently eight different expert advisory groups covering topics from strategic planning (see WORLD 1 Connections no. 1, Jan/Feb 1996) to document requesting (see WORLD 1 Connections no. 2, March/April 1996). Each EAG comprises invited participants from the Australian and New Zealand library communities. This is the third in a series of updates on the activities of the EAGs.

Membership List

[Papiya Chakravarti]

New NBD manager Ms Papiya Chakravarti has been appointed as the Acting Manager, National Bibliographic Database & Standards. Papiya will act in the position until February 1997, while Bemal Rajapatirana is seconded to the NDIS Development Project.

Papiya joined the National Library of Australia in 1988. She has worked in a number of areas, including Cataloguing (ANB, CIP, Retrospective Australiana), Australian Selection, Australian Collection Development, Australian Acquisitions, the Collection Maintenance and Retrieval Service, and the Document Supply Service.

Papiya can be contacted about NBD or Standards matters on (06) 262 1215 or email: pchakrav@nla.gov.au


CD-ROM customer catalogues proposed

CD-ROM technology is now widely available and production costs are dropping. Most ABN customers now have CD-ROM drives in their libraries, so we are investigating the demand for you to receive your library catalogues on CD-ROM, or on a diskette with all the functions of the CD-ROM product.

It would also be possible to receive your annual cumulation on CD-ROM, with regular (say monthly) supplements on diskette. You might use it as a backup for your on-line system, to replace your microfiche catalogue, or to supply copies of your catalogue to remote users or branch libraries.

ABN CD-ROM catalogues would be based on your ABN holdings in the same way as microfiche catalogues are, and they would offer the powerful, user-friendly searching facilities common to CD-ROMs. There would be no more filing and maintaining of fiche, and loss of parts of your catalogue would be a thing of the past.

Charges for the ABN CD-ROM catalogue would be set on a similar basis to charges for our current microfiche products: a job submission charge, a charge for the number of records included and a CD-ROM processing charge. Preliminary investigation shows that it will be possible to produce a library's CD-ROM for a price very close to that currently paid for microfiche catalogues.

If the response to this proposal is positive, we will seek quotes for production of CD-ROM catalogues, with a view to introducing the service in the new financial year.

If you are interested in receiving your catalogue on CD-ROM or diskette, please contact the Help Desk on 1800 026 155 or email networks@nla.gov.au.

[O'Donell & Sood] Supply assured

SUPPLY 1, the new document supply service from the National Library, has been in operation for two months. It is clearly meeting a need, as requests have been arriving steadily from libraries around Australia. The requests are being filled from a wide variety of overseas document suppliers, as well as libraries.

RIGHT: Sharyn O'Donnell (seated) who was first to punch the buttons for the ABN Interlibrary Loan System in 1989, now meets the challenge of SUPPLY 1. She is pictured with Charu Sood, the National Library's Director of Interlending Services.


New members for National CJK System

On Monday 3rd June, the National CJK System went live. Four weeks of almost continuous data loading has resulted in a database of 520 000 bibliographic and 220 000 holdings records, a revision upwards of the original estimates.

[Demonstation]

Two CJK member libraries-the National Library of Australia and the Australian National University-have started added holdings data already. Other member libraries are using the database for searching now and are expected to start adding data in the second half of June, or in July when the parallel Pinyin database will be ready.

A recent highlight has been the receipt of new aplications for full service membership from Macquarie University and Hurstville City Library.

LEFT: Professor Hugh Clarke, Mrs Magdalen Lee, Professor Sang-Oak Lee and Associate Professor Mabel Lee at an early demonstration of the CJK System at the University Of Sydney . Photo: Jill Brown.

Macquarie staff have already been trained to use the system, and plan to commence adding data as soon as the necessary software for display and input of CJK characters (XVision and MASS) have been installed.

Hurstville City Library has received a grant from the New South Wales State Government, through the State Library of New South Wales, to cover the coast of joining the CJK System.

[CJK Screen]

According to Laurie Urane, the manager of Library and Information Systems at Hurstville, membership of the CJK System will help his library cope with the phenomenal growth in use by Chinese-speaking residents in the area over the last three years.

Hurstville's loans for Chinese titles reached 66 000 last year, and in May this year, for the first time, the library loaned more Chinese-language items than it did English fiction.

LEFT: A CJK screen developed with MASS software


Annual Users Meeting rescheduled

[Livingston]- A letter from Helen Livingston and Neil McLean

Dear Colleague

The WORLD 1 / ABN Annual Users Meeting, originally scheduled for 16 & 17 July 1996, has been postponed to 19 & 20 September 1996. The venue remains the same at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.

We sincerely apologise for this late decision. The decision to postpone the meeting was made because, after consultation with the National Library, we felt that there was too much uncertainty with some items on the proposed agenda. By delaying the meeting to September, we believe that we will be able to ensure a more solid content in the program particularly with regard to the development of WORLD 1 and the Commonwealth budget.

The Director-General would like to be able to speak about the new implementation date for Phase I of WORLD 1. Further investigation is required before the new implementation date can be set and there is no guarantee today that these investigations will be finalised by 16-17 July.

Speculation on the Commonwealth budget, due 20 August, is something facing all libraries at this time. Most of these issues will still be unresolved in July, whereas by September the Director-General will be able to respond to questions about budgetary implications for the National Library and its services.

A new registration form (please RSVP by 16 August) for the meeting on 19 & 20 September 1996 has been sent to all ABN and Ozline customers. The National Library has also written to those people who have already registered for 16 & 17 July 1996 to discuss arrangements and to confirm their availability for 19 & 20 September 1996.

An agenda will be available shortly. If you have any questions about the AUM, please contact the ABN and Ozline Help Desk on 1800 026 155.

We look forward to your attendance at the meeting in Canberra on 19 & 20 September 1996 and regret any inconvenience the postponement may have caused.

Helen Livingston
Chairperson, WORLD 1
ABN Annual Users' Meeting

Neil McLean
Chairperson, ABN Network Committee

Program

Thursday, 19 September 1996

Friday, 20 September 1996

Cost

Daily News highlights

Library of Congress records for newly catalogued atlases to be distributed with maps file.

Beginning on 17 June 1996, Library of Congress will change its practice regarding the cataloguing of atlases. Newly catalogued atlases will be processed as cartographic material, not language (book) material, and will be disseminated as part of the monthly distribution of maps. This means that, rather than appearing on ABN as books they will appear as nonbook (map) material.

Atlases catalogued as carto-graphic material will contain an AMC (Additional Material Characteristics) field for books as appropriate.

LC also has a related project underway to reissue approximately 17 000 atlas records coded as cartographic material instead of language material (ie. as maps, rather than books). Internally at LC this entails migrating the records from LC Books file to its Maps file. In the interim, changes to existing records catalogued as language material will continue to be distributed in that form until the migration has taken place.

Specifics about the reissued retrospective atlas records will be announced when data decisions and the target date are finalised at LC.

Queries should be directed to Ian Dunn via the Help Desk on 1800 026 155 or via email to idunn@nla.gov.au

Tuesday 21 May 1996

Rehabilitation and handicapped literature, 1980, 1981, 1982-85 microform collection

This file, consisting of 887 titles, will be loaded to the National Bibliographic Database shortly.

The following libraries have indicated they hold this microform collection: ANL, NCHL and VLIN.

If you would like us to add your holdings to the NBD, please let us know as soon as possible your library's holding statements for this collection. The text of the holdings statement is a matter of your choice, but there is a limit of 123 characters. You would also need to advise the ABN Office which customer number should be used to add the holdings to the NBD.

The person in charge of this project is Jacob Young, who may be contacted by phone on 1800 026 155 or (02) 6262 1119, fax (06) 273 1180 or email: jyoung@nla.gov.au

Wednesday, 12 June 1996

National bibliographic database size May 1996

Bibliographic File     11 779 308                                          
Holdings statements    23 823 389                                          
Authority file1         442 694                                            
Orig. cat. records     1 807 318                                           

Categories of bib records on 1 June 1996

Total bib records      11 778 274                                          
Interims               534  579                                            
Full bib records       11 243 695                                          
Books (incl.           9  635 165                                          
interims)                                                                  
Serials                1 086 196                                           
Nonbooks               1 056 913                                           
Dup. record removal    94 191                                              

Marc record tape loads, May 1996

LC books               1968-1/4/96                                         
LC serials             1973-20/3/96                                        
LC films               1972-20/3/96                                        
LC music               1984-20/3/96                                        
LC maps                1973-20/3/96                                        
LC CJK books           1988-20/3/96                                        
LCCJK serials          1991-20/3/96                                        
TOC                    1994-6/5/96                                         
USGPO                  1976-31/3/96                                        
US NLM books           1984-30/4/96                                        
US NLM serials         1984-31/9/95                                        
BNB                    1971-1/4/96                                         
Canadiana              1974-14/6/95                                        
NZNB                   1982-26/3/96                                        
NZBN orig. cat.        1982-16/4/96                                        
Singapore NB           1967-31/3/96                                        

Nonbook categories on 1 June 1996

Cartographic           240  809                                            
materials                                                                  
Sound  recordings      275  484                                            
Motion pictures &      176  978                                            
videos                                                                     
Music scores           181 628                                             
Filmstrips             25 539                                              
Pictorial materials    37 005                                              
Slides                 17 048                                              
Manuscripts            25 853                                              
Kits                   6 854                                               
Transparencies         2 834                                               
Charts                 1 777                                               
Games                  1 604                                               
Other                  7 441                                               

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