Ref: 030302
After choice of development tools the first modules of library system were designed. Library system was designed as integrated from the very beginning, but only two modules (acquisitions and cataloguing) were created. It was sufficient to have only these modules to start accumulate data about new incoming publications into database. Input of bibliographic records into the database started in the beginning of 1993. Modern software development tools allowed to build application programs rather quickly, so the new modules were added to the library system in a short time. In 1994 on-line catalogue module was added and as the library system computer was connected to the Vilnius University computer network that had connection to the Internet at that time already, at the same time library system became accessible from the Internet. Later, periodicals, information services, reports, and import/export modules were added to library system. It is planned to add circulation module when more records will be stored in the database.
Library system was designed to run on the central computer with the terminals in working places. At the beginning only central building of the library was equipped with terminals, but after development of Vilnius University computer network the working places were equipped in several branch libraries in the University.
Cataloguing module include applied programs for bibliographic description of acquired publications, keeping and accumulating that information in database. It allows to describe monographs, periodicals, and create analytical bibliographic records. System uses UNIMARC format as internal for this purpose (UNIMARC is recommended by IFLA and adopted by Lithuanian National Library).
Information services module supports periodical retrieval of lists of bibliographic records and representation in printed or file form for publication purposes. Alphabetical order or grouping by a UDC is supported.
Import/export module supports bibliographic data exchange from and to library system. All data exchanges support UNIMARC bibliographic standard. Two Unimarc formats - ISO-2709 - IFLA recommended magnetic tape format - and our own designed textual human readable UNIMARC file format are used. Also this module includes converting software for handling of different character coding tables in UNIMARC files.
There are several user interfaces to OPAC, and they show how library system was growing. The first OPAC interface was built for Tandberg terminals, operation with OPAC was based on function keys (user must press special key to perform a search, to move with arrows within the screen, to press another special key to show search results, etc.).
When library system was connected to the Internet, it was realized that there are a lot of different types of terminals all over the world and that the only one way to make it possible to all of them to use remote OPAC in terminal mode is to create user interface which would operate not with keys but with commands. Standard command language (CCL, Common Command Language for information search and retrieval, ISO 8777) was chosen for this purpose, and now all OPAC users, which connect to the library system with telnet, access database through this interface.
The last interface is WWW interface, and it became possible to develop this interface only this summer after successful completion of porting of library system database to Unix computer and to Oracle server (this process will be overviewd later). Oracle Web server supports this interface. The current version of OPAC WWW interface allows to search database by author, title, ISBN/ISSN number, UDC code, subject headings, series. The filters for language and year of publication can be used. Search results are represented in catalogue card format. Several search fields can be filled, and logical AND operation is performed with terms in the fields. Only 50 records satisfying the search request are retrieved from database in order to reduce system and network overload.
The grant for this project called “Integration of Lithuanian Academic Libraries” was received in 1995. The main goal of the project was to port Vilnius University Library system to modern hardware and database platform and to give opportunity for libraries participating in the project to acquire appropriate hardware in order to install BIBLIO library system in their libraries. Before porting process and installation was complete, libraries-participants would prepare their own bibliographic records with other tools and import them into Vilnius University Library system database. Testing and improvement of import/export module of BIBLIO were also a part of the project.
The main and the most complex task of the project was porting of the library system. Library system was initially designed with the future intention to port it to another hardware and database platform. Application software was built with Unique 4GL programming tools, and the first hardware platform was Norsk Data (Norway) minicomputers with not-Unix-compatible operating system SINTRAN. Unique software development tools consist of Unique 4GL -- high level programming language, tools for quick software development and database porting tool. At the project start time Unique Concept supported several the most popular operating systems and environments (SINTRAN, Unix, Windows 3.11/95/NT, etc.), several the most popular databases (Sibas, Oracle, Informix, Sybase etc.). It supported terminal mode in Unix, but in Windows environment it supported Windows GUI as well.
The Sun Ultra server and Oracle database management system were chosen as the next platform for VU library system.
The porting of library system was planned in two phases. As the existing computer system was working in terminal mode, the first phase of porting was considered to port database to Oracle server and to port library system applications to Unix for operation in terminal mode. This phase was planned to finish in autumn 1996 but because of delay in delivery of computers and reduce of staff in programming working group, this phase was completed only in the beginning of 1997. The work considering platform change was bigger and required more reprogramming than it was expected but in spite of all it required less human resources than to create new system or purchase and adapt other library system.
As the new Unique Concept version supports Windows environment and client/server technology, the second phase was to port library system applications to Windows environment to operate in client/server mode. After completion of this phase BIBLIO library system would be able to operate in terminal mode, client/server mode and on individual PC computer. It would be possible to change working places from terminals to PC's gradually. The second phase is completed successfully in current time as well, and the first 20 computers are installed in Vilnius University library. The new software is being tested in working places. So today system is functioning in mixed terminal and client mode. In the nearest future it will be working in such a way, until all the terminals will be replaced with PC's.
The BIBLIO library system has gotten a new life after porting it to another platform. It can be used in other libraries and the final phase of Joint catalogue project foresees installation of BIBLIO in other academic libraries. The current technical requirements for computer system are Oracle server and PC's in working places in order to work in client/server mode. Possibility to use cheaper database systems (Informix, MS SQL server, etc.) exists as well, but such a project needs some investigation and testing. BIBLIO also could be used in a stand alone computer in the smaller libraries for the initial phase of library system development.
The first: integration of library system with modern Internet technology. WWW interface to OPAC is the first step in this direction, and another step could be usage of WWW tools to exchange bibliographic records with other library systems or other bibliographic databases. Integrated Windows working environment makes this work easier: for instance you can use Netscape in one window to find information and to paste or import information into library system in another window.
The second: to use Oracle server as the basis for integration of library system with other information systems in the University. After acquisition of Oracle server the library system was the first information system in the University being ported to Oracle server. But it became possible to plan reconstruction and porting to Oracle server of other information systems in the University. The same database platform would make it easier to exchange data among these information systems. Information systems under the closest interest for library system are Student database and database of scientific publications of University workers.
And the third: increasing of system modularity. Client/server technology and open database architecture enable not only easily build new modules but also add modules of other producers to existing library system. For instance, circulation module may be purchased from well-known library system vendor and integrated with BIBLIO. Of course closer investigations in this field are necessary.
Copyright EUNIS 1997 Y.E.