The retrospective database of the Hungarian Natioal Bibliography. Thoughts on the planning and accoplishment of retroconvrersion
BERKE Barnabásné
In the age of on-line catalogues an urgent need emered for the searchability of the complete collections gedfor the bility of libraries. These needs were reinforced by retrospective conversions. Since retroconversion is a time consuming and labour intensive task, outside support is required to its performance. Having considered Hungarian needs, the National Széchényi Library (NSZL) prepared two proposals, upon ministerial request, regarding this issue in 1993 and 1994 respectively: Organisational problems of the complitation of the retrospective national bibliography were emphasised. Estimated costs were unacceptable, and no steps were made for the attainment of the goals. The NSZL has two tasks ahead: publications belonging to the system of the national bibliography have to be converted, and it must be decided whether a computerised retrospective national bibliography or a computerised retrospective on-line catalogue is to be prepared. The optimal solution would be the extension of the retrospective on- line catalogue of the NSZL, that also made the generation of an on-line bibliography possible. Meanwhile the NSZL plans a transition from DOBIS/LIBIS to AMICUS, that required the conversion of the existing databases of the NSZL. The author makes detailed proposals for the achievement of complete retroconversion. She made plans for books, however; other types of material should also be included. The tasks would be managed by a temporary retroconversion unit, while the staff of the NSZL. would be responsible for intellectual duties. Continuous financial support of the Ministry is indispensable.
On the bibliograpic theory and methodology of János Szentmihályi
SZABÓ Sándor
János Szentmihályi became a librarian upon a forced decision. He learnt the profession as an adult, and was interested mostly in the theoretical and methodological aspects of bibliograhy and information services. He was also a lecturer in these subjects at the university. His main fields of research were: the concept of bibliographies, the evaluation of bibliographies, problems of the national bibliography and that of Hungarica bibliographies. He was the first in Hungarian literature to survey and classify social science bibliographies, and Hungarika Külföldi Folyóiratszemle, started in 1971, and from 1976 on Hungarika irodalmi Szemle were compiled according to his conception.
In the footsteps of János Szentmihályi. The programme of the bibliographic database of Hungarian books printed abroad between 1919 and 1944
KÉGLI Ferenc
The retrospective bibliography department of the NSZL. paid a tribute to the memory of János Szentmihályi by planning the bibliographic database of Hungarian books printed abroad as a continuation of the retrospective bibliography of the period 1921-1944. Making the concept of “national” bibliography in relation to “Hungarica” bibliography clearer was a theoretical issue also frequently dealt with by János Szentmihályi. The prospective on-line database would cover books and similar materials printed abroad in Hungarian between 1919 and 1944. The scope of documents to be included was determined as it was in the national bibliography. Hungarian documents published in Rumania would be the first to be converted into the database. These will be followed by the input of documents printed in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslaia and Austria. A printed volume or CD-ROM publication on this period is also possiby.