Library Automation
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a) Overview

     Library computing was initially conceived as primarily an internal
automation project with little wider relevance. The aims were the automation of
circulation, acquisition and serial control together with the transfer of the
catalogue from a manual to an electronic format. The latter is a prodigious
project taking seven years and requiring the aid of staff supplied by the
Manpower service Agency.

     A specialized supplier of library equipment, GEAC, was chosen for the first
contract and their offering, a GEAC 8000, was installed. By the later half of
the 1980s the machine was overloaded and a new machine was required. A difficult
choice presented itself; the claims of compatibility pointed to a further GEAC
machine whilst the wider aspects of the Library's role in information technology
suggested a machine with secure and powerful communications. In fact a further
GEAC, the 9000, has been installed and the transfer of work has begun.

     The long term aims of the LIbrary for its involvement in information
technology is excellent; however the drastic nature of the transformation from a
parochial internal service to an open server dealing with thousands of staff and
students does not yet seem to be fully realized.

b) GEAC Machines

     GEAC Computers are a specialized manufacturer of hardware and software for
library and banking operations. They are the foremost library supplier in the UK
and of substantial importance in USA and Europe. Their equipment is used in
several UK Universities although the majority have adopted non specialized
solutions. GEAC's specialized nature, and particularly the use of their own
operating system has cut GEAC off from other University developments and in
particular from "Coloured Books" range of communication software. The GEAC 8000
has in general given satisfactory and user friendly service via its directly
connected terminals but it came without any X25 communications software which
was still under development. The communication throughput, once the X25 software
was ready, has been disappointing and user access to the catalogue was not
possible. To remedy this shortfall the Cambridge CATS software was obtained and
mounted on EMAS which has excellent communications but no other special
attributes that might make it suitable for library work. The resulting service
has been widely used from all areas of the University.

     As the GEAC 8000 became overloaded the Library negotiated for a more
powerful 9000 machine. However GEAC were now in financial difficulties; as
library computing evolved from a specialized corner to a form of information
processing GEAC had to write more and more software to support their customers.
Competition from special packages running on general purpose systems, which had
a much better software and communication infrastructure was eroding GEAc's
market. However GEAC's problems were resolved, temporarily at least, and the
University purchased a 9000 at a heavily discounted price but once again the
communication software was promised rather than demonstrable. The contract
specifies functionality and performance for communications which, if met, would
be adequate. Nevertheless GEAC's record in this area is not good and the Library
has accepted a risk that most commercial firms would have eschewed.

c) Distributed Libraries

     The University Library has more than a dozen satellite libraries around the
campus. The GEAC serves these as well as the Main LIbrary; the normal means of
access is via a GEAC terminal directly connected over a dedicated BT line. Some
libraries also have an EDNET X25 terminal for electronic mail, access to the
CATs software on EMAS and other central services. The Library thus maintains its
own network parallel to, though much less extensive than EDNET.

     Special mention is required of the Erskine Medical Library whose
specialized facilities are relevant to Lothian Health Board and its staff. MRC
funded staff and University research staff. The problems of providing service to
these dispersed and disparate departments is discussed further under Medical
Faculty.

d) Collaboration

     Apart from the continuing collaboration with GEAC to improve and validate
the 9000 software, the library is involved in several other co-operative
projects. It is a member of CURL(Consortium of University REsearch Libraries)
which is mounting a database in Manchester using the CATs software. It is also
involved in projects for inter library loans and the linking of the British
Library and the National LIbrary of Scotland via the JANET Network. A
particularly promising project from the users point of view is SALBIN which aims
to provide access via JANET to all the Scottish Academic Library catalogues.

     It should be noted that all these projects demand reliable communications.

e) General Observations

     The library is involved in providing information to staff and students from
its own resources and from libraries world wide. It also provides information to
researchers far beyond the confines of the campus. The first requirement for a
library system is a base of first class communications backed by a supplier with
a proven record in managing transitions as protocols and standards evolve.
Library requirements are important too, but clearly secondary to good
communications, and with the purchase of the GEAC 9000 this point seems to have
been overlooked. It is surprising that the CPC did not give the Library
proposals more careful scrutiny but perhaps they were fully occupied reviewing
the ERCC.

     All EUL and EUCS staff fervently hope that the GEAC's communications will
prove satisfactory and evolve smoothly towards OSI. Even the best scenario
leaves the linking of the GEAC to the proposed high speed spine a very grey area
whilst the worst outcome would be a disaster that could not be remedied for the
sums the University would be entitled to withhold from the machines purchase
price.

     The planners believe that a small group should be set up under the CPC to
produce a contingency plan in case GEAC's communications are not satisfactory.
This group should also evaluate the available library software that runs on the
principal systems which EUCS maintains viz:- Unix and VMS. This knowledge would
be available in case any offloading of function proved necessary to lower the
demands on the communication software.

     The aim of the library should first be to evolve from its private network
to X25 working over EDNET for all operations except retro cataloguing. This
would provide a more standard base point for future evolution. In the long term
the aim should be to run specialist software on a standard system. If the system
chosen was one in common use around the University real savings in staff and
maintenance would be possible