Library Technology Guides

The June meetings of the Special Libraries Association and the American Library Association were the venues for the announcement/demonstration of several new integrated library automated systems options.

At SLA, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem demonstrated its ALEPH software, designed to support acquisitions, cataloging, authority file maintenance, circulation and an online patron access catalog. Operating on a DEC VAX 700 series machine, ALEPH is now being used in six libraries and information centers. The software for a system capable of supporting 50,000 bibliographic records and 8 terminals is priced at $75,000, that for a 20-terminal system is $125,000, and a package that will support up to 40 terminals costs $150,000. The annual software maintenance fee is 5 percent of the purchase price. The system offers multi-branch capabilities, reserve bookroom support, and bilingual facilities. It has limited serials control capabilities.

The theft of hardware on the first day of SLA prevented Swets from demonstrating its SAILS (Swets Automated Independent Library System). Designed to operate on IBM mainframes or DEC VAX micros, the system supports the full range of library operations. It appears to have a fully developed serials control subsystem, probably based on the prototype serials control system demonstrated by the company in North America several years ago. In addition, SAILS offers cataloging, authority control, acquisitions and fund accounting, circulation, interlibrary loan, and patron access catalog capabilities. Although marketing plans for North America have not yet been finalized, a company spokesman indicated that the system might become available late in 1985. The system is expected to be offered as both a turnkey system and a supported software package. The next opportunity to see the system will be at the Conference on Integrated Online Library Systems, to be held in Atlanta on September 13 and 14.

Science Press unveiled its Automated Library System (ALS) software at ALA. Designed for use on IBM hardware-the 370 series or higher--with Cullinet data base management software, ALS offers online and batch capabilities to support acquisitions, serials control, online searching, circulation control and management reporting. The software is priced at $60,000, a cost that includes installation and training. Libraries that do not have the Cullinet data base management system can purchase it as part of the package for a further $75,000. After the first year, software maintenance for ALS is 10 percent of the purchase price.

Also introduced at ALA was the United States Computer Corporation's Centralized Library Information Processor (CLIP), software designed to support library automation on Prime or IBM hardware. The multifunction software is available for between $100,000 and $150,000, plus a software maintenance charge of one percent per month. The system currently is being used by the Learning Resources Center of the Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida.

Sperry-Univac chose ALA as the venue at which to announce its adoption of the Mankato State University PALS software. The editors are under the impression that Sperry will offer libraries a choice of either software or a fully supported turnkey library automated system. The software is regarded as having particularly powerful patron access catalog capabilities.

Distribution & Marketing Strategies, Inc., demonstrated the Tarrant County Junior College District's Online Integrated Learning Resource System software, which it is marketing to support acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, serials control, and patron access catalogs. The software runs on IBM 4300 Series hardware under DOS/VSE using CICS/VS.

Information/Documentation, Inc., demonstrated the Computer Assisted Information Retrieval System (CAIRS) software for library automation. The software is a text management and retrieval system with thesaurus capabilities. The software has been adopted for library applications in Europe. Versions of the software are available for a range of hardware configurations, from 16-bit micros through Prime and VAX processors.

Municipal Software Consultants, Inc., introduced its Library Management System, software developed to support circulation and acquisitions functions on IBM System 34 or 36 hardware. Currently available for $6,500, the software is expected to increase in price within the next six months.

Innovation-Plus, a system designed specifically for school libraries, also debuted in Dallas. It supports library automation and circulation activities. The software is available from Scribe Software, Inc.

Also sighted at a recent conference--the Florida Library Association Conference in Orlando--was the Library Acquisitions/Circulation/Inventory/catalog System (LACICS), marketed by SDA Computer Services of Lane Park, Florida. The system is based on an Alpha micro.

The new systems and features unveiled by the established library automation vendors will be detailed in future issues of LSN.

[Contact: ALEPH, Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Data Processing Dept., Jerusalem, Israel; Distribution & Marketing Strategies, Inc., P.O. Box 42809, Dept. 399, Houston, TX 77242—2802, (713) 852—2928 or (512) 469— 6310; Information/Documentation, Inc., Box 17109, Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC 20041, (800) 336—0800; Municipal Software Consultants, Inc., 212 E. Franklin St., Grapevine, TX 76051, (817) 488—6571; Science Press, P.O. Box 378, Sterling, VA 22170, (703) 450—4477 or 450—4480; Scribe Software, Inc., 4435 N. Saddlebag Trail, Suite 1, Saddlebag Trail Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, (602) 990—3384; SDA Computer Services, 1338 S. Killian Dr., Suite 7, Lane Park, FL 33403, (305) 848—1200; Sperry—Univac, P.O. Box 500, M/S B334M, Blue Bell, PA 19424, (215) 542—4312; Swets North America, Inc., P.O. Box 517, Berwyn, PA 19312, (215) 644—4944; United States Computer Corporation, 9000 S. Orange Ave., Suite 110-112, Orlando, FL 32809, (305) 851—4784.]