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Björkbom, c. Bokanskaffning och sambibliotek. (Acquisitions and library co‐operation.)Biblioteksbladet, vol. 41, no. 1, 1956, pp. 8–12. [In Swedish with English summary.] [Participation in a union catalogue has important implications which are not always realized. For it means that the stocks of all other participating libraries are available to the library's readers, either by interlibrary loan or by means of photocopies. This fact must be taken into account in drawing up the acquisition policies of individual libraries. The author discusses various ways in which such a rationalization of acquisitions could be effected and also different methods of bringing new acquisitions to the attention of other libraries.]

The author writes from experience, originally as a member of the Aslib Consultancy Service and subsequently as an independent consultant. She explores the expectations of the client and the consultant, qualities desirable in consultants and job satisfactions, and goes on to analyse in detail the consulting process, the pathology of information systems and the role of library consultants as change agents.

The paper describes the transfer from an early, batch‐process, custom‐designed, automated library loans system using teletypewriters and paper tape input; to a modern loans system based on the STATUS package. HAL is also a batch‐process system but has some on‐line facilities. It uses a microprocessor, two VDUs and a Decwriter. Reasons for the change; system design and implementation; the difficulties encountered; an outline of the cost; and the advantages are described. The paper concludes with a brief, technical description of HAL software (Appendix A); and examples of screen prompts and print‐out (Appendix B).

Reprints of the following papers are available on loan from Aslib library pending receipt of the published proceedings.

The Circulation Working Party (CWP) of the Aslib Computer Applications Group met for the first time in November 1968 and formulated its objectives. One of these was the preparation of a list of headings under which computer‐aided circulation or lending systems could sensibly be compared. Subsequently a list was drawn up and agreed by the CWP. The four UK libraries having operational or part‐operational computer‐based loans systems (AWRE Alder‐maston; West Sussex County Library; Southampton University; and AERE Harwell) were invited to contribute, which they readily did. The results were tabulated for presentation as a CWP paper, and the Circulation Working Party considered that they merited publication as a record of the current position in the United Kingdom and as an aid to other libraries which may be contemplating the introduction of similar computer‐assisted lending systems. With a few omissions and a minimum of editing, the returns from the four libraries form the main part of this paper.

The Friden Flexowriter was acquired by AERE Library primarily as a better method of producing a greater number of catalogue cards and lists with less clerical and typing effort, and to provide basic records of documents which might be used at any time in the future with little additional labour.

Harwell Library exists chiefly to provide a service to about 1, 200 professional scientists and engineers. The number of active borrowers at the beginning of October 1970 was 643. In addition, there are three other independent laboratories on the Harwell site; universities, firms, foreign agencies, etc. also make frequent application to the AERE library for loan or retention of documents. By special library standards, the library is large with the collection numbering over half a million items. Issues of documents for loan or retention number about 76, 000 per annum, with little variation over the past few years.

The Aslib Aeronautical Group met, under the chairmanship of Mr. A. H. Holloway, on 5th April for its sixth annual Week‐end Conference at the College of Aeronautics. The timing was most fortunate, as the AGARD Documentation Committee, which had been meeting in London during the week, continued its deliberations at Cranfield during the week‐end.

The off‐line computer based loans system developed in AERE Library between 1968–70 has been operational since 1 December 1970. The system covers loans, discharges, reservations, borrower searches, etc. (ten types of transaction in all), for four kinds of document—reports, periodicals, books and pamphlets. The system uses two teletypewriters in the Library to produce 8‐track punched paper tape which is input to the Harwell IBM 360/75 computer. The principal output consists of printed loans lists, reissue and recall notices, diagnostics, error messages and statistical information. In addition to an improved control of loans, the system has already led to a saving in clerical effort; full benefits should be realised in 1971/72.