Automation at the library of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

Abstract

After describing the background and staffing of the library, details are given of the hardware and software used for the automated housekeeping and retrieval systems. These are based on a CDC 6400/6500 and a Cyber 174 having a core of 5 MB. The systems software is written in SCALLOP (similar to Algol) and COMPASS (assembly language). The circulation system, called ELAS, offers online status checking and reservation by users. The badge reader and the SELEX online terminal were specially developed. ELAS can handle 20 online functions and its advantages, which include provision of management information, are described. Other systems described include — periodicals control called PEKOS; cataloguing called M1KAS, which includes fiche output: the catalogue contains 175,000 records and fills 121 fiche (40,000 records are added annually) and there are similar outputs for the UDC, keyword, authority file and index sequences and information retrieval called EDIS. The library is now considering whether to acquire a dedicated computer for a new integrated system with all parts interactively online.

Citation

Nöthiger, R. (1981), "Automation at the library of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb046818