Abstracts – 3-4/1990

Automation in the National Széchényi Library.

HEGEDŰS Péter – JESZENSZKY Edit – SZŰCS Erzsébet

The National Széchényi Library has been making efforts to computerise its basic functions from the 1970′s. Thus, for example, in 1976 it started to set up the database of the Hungarian National Bibliography and in 1981 the National Serials Database, both in an external computer centre. In the mid-80′s the Library joined the R&D Information Infrastructure Development Programme which aims at establishing an information infrastructure to support research in science and technology, based on a network of computers. The establishment of the Library’s own computer centre (with IBM 9377 computer and DOBIS/LIBIS software) was sponsored by the above-mentioned programme, the Ministry of Culture and the Soros Foundation. The Library’s information system, named NEKTAR (which is the abbrevation of the Hungarian name of the National Library’s Comprehensive Information System) will start operation un three phases. In the first phase (till 1992) the basic modules of DOBIS/LIBIS will start to be used, in the fields of technical processing, OPAC, circulation, serials management. In the second phase the coverage of the database will be extended (by sheet music and audiovisual materials), and in the third one shared cataloguing activities will start. (pp. 185-192)

TEXTAR. A database management system developed in Hungary.

GERŐ Péter

When computerising library work processes the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library (MESZL) had the aim to set up a system which will start operation and will be further developed on a gradual basis. As first the TEXT’AR database management system was developed for the processing and retrieval of bibliographic records. In the Central Library of MESZL there is a central, main database. It holds records of books which were published in Hungary in the period 1964-1989 and fall within the scope of public libraries” collections. Member libraries of the network may select from this database the set of entries required, may add their own data etc. It is expected that the services from the database will start from 1991. The author presents the database, its generation, the editing of default parameters, the options of entering, modifying and retrieving data. Besides mentioning advantages, he reviews the system critically and stresses areas waiting to be further developed. (pp. 194-222)

A new model of funding for public libraries.

FEKETE Gábor

Public libraries have been funded from private and state sources till now. The positive elements of these solutions are kept in the new model. Its essential feature is that public library services are mediated on market terms and with a new mechanism of public financing. Instead of direct funding to institutions the state and the local self-government respectively would subsidize the use of library services. Users would be given so-called library cheques issued each year for use as means of payment in libraries. The library would then receive the Forint value of cheques received from library users from the self-government. The introduction of this new model serves both social welfare and the market approach and helps to develop a system of interest which will increase performance and effectiveness at the same time. (pp. 223-231)

Information services to Members of Parliament.

JURCSIK Erzsébet

The article reviews in short the role and special duties of parliamentary information systems and those of libraries too. The development trends of the relations of the Library of the Hungarian Parliament with the MP’s in the period 1945-1990 are described. The Library’s preparedness to serve MP’s and its related experience is analysed with regard to the information needs of MP’s and the ways of library use. It is stressed that there is a need for building library collections on a continuous basis, so that the Library may become a source of political and legal information and decision-making. (pp. 232-237)

About the Information Infrastructure Development Programme (IIDP) – from the point of users.

BARANYAI György

In Hungary the up-to-date information supply to R&D will be realized by the IIDP supervised by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Hungarian Committee on Technological Development. This programme aims at concentrating research, academic and information centres, their bibliographic databases and users into a unified public packet network apt for international communication. A wide circle of institutions in the country will be able to join the network only if public libraries have a phone connection to the system. In addition to online services offline information supply should be provided from the very start from legal databases and databases of standards and newspaper clippings. There is a need for considerable financial assistance by the state to provide the entire hardware and software corresponding to the unified concept, as well as – for some years – to cover the costs of training and operation. County libraries must be prepared for the task of being the basis institutions of the programme’s realization and management. (pp. 238-241)

The document and information supply to science in Hungary.

SZ. NAGY Lajos

State of the art and proposals. – The author reports, relying on a nationwide survey carried out by the National Széchényi Library Centre for Library Science and Methodology, on the present state of document and information supply to science in Hungary and makes recommendations on development objectives. The organizations playing a central role in the information supply to this field belong into the following categories: 1. universities and the Hungarian Academy of Science (HAS), 2. academic institutions of the field 3. libraries of organizations. In spite of existing internal and external problems (financial restrictions, the scattered ness of libraries in terms of their location, modest salaries, unqualified workforce in jobs requiring professional librarians) notable development has started in the mid-80′s. The libraries of some universities, of academic institutions of the field and of institutes of HAS (the Lajos Kossuth University of Debrecen , the Budapest Institute of Technology) built out online access to international databases (e.g. Dialog, INIS). Complementary offline services are provided by the libraries of the Veszprém Institute of Chemical Industry and the HAS. The letter possesses a rich collection of databases on CD-ROM. To increase the rentability and effectiveness of document and information supply, the large libraries concerned submitted proposals in June 1990 on new areas and ways of cooperation. The National Széchényi Library Centre for Library Science and Methodology is playing a role of coordination in developing the cooperation among them. (pp. 242-250)

Popular fields of book collection from the start of book printing to our days.

HORVÁTH Dezső

The essay reviews in short how book collection started, its early stage and the popular fields of collection in certain periods. It deals with the major acquisition sources of collectors (bookshops, antiquarian booksellers and auctions) and lists by subject those rare books of the fields in question which are most difficult to acquire. It discusses in detail the branches of collection that have evolved in the last 50 years, stating the reasons for giving up the collection of books in certain subjects. (pp. 251-260)
Popular fields of book collection from the start of book printing to our days.

HORVÁTH Dezső

The essay reviews in short how book collection started, its early stage and the popular fields of collection in certain periods. It deals with the major acquisition sources of collectors (bookshops, antiquarian booksellers and auctions) and lists by subject those rare books of the fields in question which are most difficult to acquire. It discusses in detail the branches of collection that have evolved in the last 50 years, stating the reasons for giving up the collection of books in certain subjects. (pp. 251-260)

Some aspects of librarianship in Sub-Carpathia.

FUTAKY László

The author presents, with a library-historical approach, the past and present of Sub-Carpathia. At present the number of libraries in the region exceeds 800, the size of their stock is over 10 million units, materials in Hungarian are to be found in 118 libraries. According to a questionnaire survey among the population the reasons for dissatisfaction with library supply are the following. 1. miserable interior design and equipment of libraries, 2. the information-poor bookstock, 3. the small share of the literature for the nationalities. The trends of increasing openness in today’s social policy give better chances to restructuring in the library profession as well, and one can already meet some examples for this. (pp. 261-272)
The models of abstracting.

KOLTAY Tibor

The issues related to abstracting can be analysed with the help of models. The descriptive model of the phases of abstracting is complemented by that of information condensation and includes the basics of an instructive model which formulates rules. The model of abstracting rests on metainformation denoting essential information. With the correlated models the model of synthesis can be considered as specific for the profession only if we take the primary text for determinant, because this text carries the elements specific for the profession. (pp. 273-280)

The activities of the National Széchényi Library Centre for Library Science and Methodology in 1989.

LUKÁTSNÉ TAKÁCS Zsuzsa

The year 1989 required from the Centre the organic continuation of its activities as regards their contents, but with a new approach and working methods. The Centre took part in a number of tasks related to the preparation of decision-making and compiled professional aids. The acquisition guide Új Könyvek (New Books) was published 26 times. A new periodicals bibliography Új Periodikumok (New Serials) started publication which follows up quickly the changes in the market of journals. To assist the collections of Hungarian cultural institutions abroad in their development continued to be the duty of the Centre. The Centre organized the distribution of book gifts from the US (SABRE, Brother’s Brother). Its advisory service assisting computerisation undertook the preparation of 6 software packages for libraries. Training activities included the organization and administration of courses, the compilation of professional aids and software packages. The field of reading research was successful. The Centre’s Library Science Library provides, among others, regular SDI services from its own database. The Centre started the publication of a new professional Journal with the title Könyvtári Levelezolap (Library Postcard). (pp. 281-286)

 

Report on the latest period of the Committee of Directors of University Libraries

HILLER István

In the past two years the objectives of the Committee were the following: to develop joint research workshops of member libraries, to compile recommendations on higher education for librarianship, to discuss salary-related problems and to formulate the concept of a national computerised system of university libraries. The draft statute of the Committee was modified to make interlibrary cooperation more effective. At the 21st Annual Conference of the Association of Hungarian Librarians university libraries had an opportunity to get acquainted with the firm Swets and Zeitlinger GmbH and to negotiate potential areas of cooperation. As political changes have speeded up, the meeting with the then Minister of Culture, Ferenc Glatz who had been invited to the forthcoming meeting of the Committee had to be cancelled. The further agenda of the Committee includes the problem of sponsoring library journals which are in need of financial support ( Könyvtáros, Tudományos és Muszaki Tájékoztatás, Könyvtári Figyelo ). (pp. 287-292)

 

 

Kategória: 1990. 3-4. szám | A közvetlen link.

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