These services will provide a sound beginning for a state-wide cooperative program. Union Catalog of Serials: The Indiana Union List of Serials* needs reassessment. A serials conversion project, supported by the Library of Congress and other major libraries, will add serials to the OCLC data base. The feasibility of using OCLC for updating and converting the List to conform to national standards should be considered. Alternative host sites for the project should be studied to determine whether the present host library, another Indiana agency, or a contract with an outside group, e.g. the Minnesota Union List of Serials Project, is most suitable. This initial foundation for state-wide bibliographic control should be continued. MARC Cataloging: MARC must be promoted in Indiana. Unless cataloging can be captured in machine-readable form in a standard format, the longrange goals of efficient user services and integrated information and interlibrary loan systems cannot be achieved. The majority of Indiana libraries cannot afford use of an on-line network at current OCLC or commercial rates. Economy in cataloging and use of MARC for these libraries must rely on use of OCLC via processing centers or by the development of an INCOLSA MARC service tailored expressly for small libraries. Both alternatives should be * It is recommended that the term "catalog" replace "list" to make a parallel between a Union Catalog of books, Union Catalog of Serials, Union Catalog of Films, etc. This terminology might make it easier for non-librarians to grasp what is being done. In fact, "cooperative catalog" might even be better than "union list" in this regard. 66-133 - 76 - 15 -46 carefully studied. Some suggested specifications for a small-library catalog service are: 1. Total cost of $1.00 or less per item processed. 2. 3. 4. 5. Overall capacity to handle 250,000 titles Complete MARC compatability. High-quality standardized output. A maximum systems cost of $300,000 for It is recommended that INCOLSA make no changes to MARC data and that a state-wide catalog card format be adopted. This will ensure standardization and minimize costs and programming efforts. There are large libraries and processing centers in Indiana that can profitably use a network such as OCLC. INCOLSA cannot afford to develop an OCLC system of its own in the near future. It will be more economic if a service contract with OCLC can be negotiated. INCOLSA should identify those libraries that can effectively use OCLC (the current U.S.O.E. network study, underway as a separate Indiana State Library project, in which factors of network use are being studied should be of great value here). These libraries should be partially subsidized to allow transition to a network operation. The contract with OCLC should require delivery to INCOLSA, at specified intervals, of records input by INCOLSA members, to form the beginnings of an INCOLSA data base. During the course of this Study, the feasibility of an OCLC contract was discussed with OCLC's Director. Although both sides Although both sides expressed interest, no commitments were made. Readers should understand that OCLC is not obligated to serve INCOLSA. It seems reasonable to expect that, if at all possible, services would be extended to Indiana. -47 The major initial thrusts toward building data bases for book titles are: Pilot Union Catalog: When data have accumulated as a result of OCLC input and INCOLSA catalog service input, experiments can be conducted to determine efficient methods for producing state-wide book catalogs. A variety of formats and media, e.g. hardprint, microfilm, microfiche, etc., should be explored. The register and index catalogs used by the Washington State Library Network are recommended for consideration. MARC Workshops: The concepts of cooperative bibliographic control, library data processing techniques, and machine-readable bibliographic formats need to be promulgated in Indiana. The MARC format, in particular, will be basic to many subsequent INCOLSA projects. It is recommended that MARC workshops be held both for the libraries that will be using the OCLC system and for other libraries as well. These workshops might be appropriate joint ventures between INCOLSA and ALSAS. Possibilities for workshops and seminars in other topics of interest should also be pursued. Other Activities: In addition to the specific As these Committees come up with specific proposals, these should be reviewed and, as appropriate, funds should be allocated or sought to initiate recommended projects. INCOLSA should also be receptive to unsolicited proposals. -48 INCOLSA should begin a Newsletter to keep members informed of State and national network developments. INCOLSA should also seek representation on appropriate state, regional, and national network planning groups. INCOLSA Initial Three-Year Budget: The initial activities described above can be funded for the first three years at an estimated total cost of $750,000. Accordingly, this amount was requested from LSCA funds and, by the end of the COBICIL Study, funding was approved. POSTSCRIPT "Well," you may say, "it sounds good, but will it happen?" I will answer, "it will happen, but not exactly as reported and recommended here." A plan on paper and a real organization implementing that plan are two different things. There are people. Machines that don't work like they are supposed to. Deadlines that are not met.* Budgets that will not stretch. The At any rate, the first step has been taken. Some recommendations will take years to implement. important thing, however, is to begin. POSTCRIPT 2 Since the formal ending of the COBICIL Study, the recommendations have begun to be put into action. INCOLSA has been founded (see pages 49-56 for the enabling Act and initial contracts). The first INCOLSA Board is listed on the inside back cover. For further information about INCOLSA, contact the organization at 1100 West 42nd St., Indianapolis, Indiana, 46208. * This happens to Feasibility Studies, too. |