Library and Information Science

This paper describes in detail the present situation of library automation activities for housekeeping functions in Japan.

First of all, such functions as ‘acquisitions’, ‘production of book-form or card-form catalogs’, ‘circulation’, and ‘serials control’ are summarized from the point of computer utilization.

Secondly, the characteristics and brief history of library automation activities are mentioned respectively in various types of libraries such as national university libraries, private university libraries, public libraries, the National Diet Library. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has been occupying very important place at library automation activities, since computers for national university libraries are purchased by the budget under the Ministry and the catalog cards dissemination service by use of MARC tapes has been undertaken by it. The National Diet Library is also important since it has been developing Japan MARC which is not an easy project because of complicated Chinese characters processing.

Thirdly typical mechanized systems which are operational now are summarized in terms of national university libraries, private,university libraries, and public libraries.

Fourthly, the problems which hinder further developments of the automation are described. There are lack of the national plan for library automation, lack of a central body or organization and cooperative atmosphere among institutions to establish networks, to which is added the intricacy and high cost of Chinese characters processing, and others.

Finally, the paper concludes with the proposition to make library automation much more effective in the near future.