The University of California Libraries: A Plan for Development (1977)

66 The University of California Libraries
8. Several entries can be displayed on the screen at one time,
so that the system facilitates browsing.
9. The filing rule problems are eliminated, both for librarians
and users, since the computer accomplishes both the "filing" and retrieving
automatically.
10. The system is more flexible than a card catalog, allowing
for a variety of display formats.
11. The system "can easily produce printed or microform bibliographies,
serials lists, lists of recent acquisitions, etc., for all
library users." 16
12. The same terminals may also be used to provide access to
other data bases, including specialized ones devoted to particular
disciplines.
13. The system can provide benefits in other library operations;
for example, Ohio State finds that it helps reference librarians and
collection development officers to check standard bibliographies
against the university's holdings to assure that important works are
not overlooked for purchase, and conversely to assure that items already
owned by the system are not needlessly duplicated. 17
14. The catalog is more "portable," i.e., terminals can be installed
at various locations on campus, even in dormitories and
offices.
15. The terminals occupy less space than card catalogs, and
there is greater flexibility in providing space for them because they
can be distributed to various locations.
16. The interactive nature of on-line systems makes it easier to
provide guidance to the user in finding and locating the material he
needs.
16 Corin, p. 2.
17 Hugh C. Atkinson, "the Ohio State On-Line Circulation System,"
Proceedings of the 1972 Clinic on Library Applications of Data
Processing, University of Illinois, 1972, p. 27.