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Automating the library of UONBI. stefaan.renard@vub.ac.be. Contents. Background The first phase: from manual to automated The second phase: the hybrid library Conclusion. Background.
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Automating the library of UONBI stefaan.renard@vub.ac.be
Contents • Background • The first phase: from manual to automated • The second phase: the hybrid library • Conclusion
Background • Spring 1999: our former rector professor Witte meets the UONBI librarian Ms Mathangani in Nairobi and promises to help automate the library • On her return she talks to professor Georges Eisendrath and Marc Verpoorten (then librarian of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and one of the originators of VUBIS) • They decide to use VUBIS for the library automation as part of the VLIR ICT project
VUBIS • An integrated library automation system • Initially developed by the library of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel: 1974-1983 • Second version jointly developed since 1984 by the libraries of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Technische Universiteit Eindhoven in the Netherlands • The two universities own the system, Geac the commercial partner does the world-wide commercialization of VUBIS • Together we develop new releases
From manual to automated • VUBIS was installed on a new server at UONBI (2001) • The library staff got a cataloguing training and started the conversion of the manual catalogue • To speed up the cataloguing a WWW interface was created the next year: RetroCat
RetroCat • Queries: done by ad interim staff • 5 persons – approx. 1000 queries per day • Searches in 3 databases: • Vrije Universiteit Brussel • Royal Library of Belgium • Library of Congress (US) • Approx. 250.000 records were created via this interface
The hybrid library • Giving access to the printed and electronic collection of the UONBI libraries: • VubisSmart was installed together with other modules and training was given • WWW tools: • website software: the library gateway • online catalogue for printed and electronic material • V-link: link generator • ADB: toc database • New library staff functions
The way forward • There is still a lot of work but the UONBI libraries have now tools to tackle the challenges of the hybrid library • These tools need maintenance and upgrading • New modules will be installed • Expand the automation to the branches • Strengthening the infrastructure and the human resources • More details about the accomplishments will be shown by the library staff