computerisation of library operations in singapore: an overwiew

ht. Libr. Rev. (1990) 22, 163-179

Computerisation of Library Operations in Singapore: An Overview

LA1 YEEN PONG

ABSTRACT

This paper traces the development of computerisation of library operations in Singapore from 1970-1989. Two levels of computerisation are examined, namely:

(i) institutional level, and (ii) network or national level.

At the institutional levels, the National Library, National University of Singapore Library, Nanyang Technological Institute Library, Singapore Polytechnic Library, Ngee Ann Polytechnic Library, the Law Libraries Consortium, the Education Libraries Consortium and the ECOMNET Libraries Consortium are among the major libraries examined. At the network level, the development and progress, functions and organisation of the Singapore Inte- grated Library Automation Service (SILAS) are outlined. The author concludes that computers and related technologies are becoming increasingly important in the library scene of Singapore and that there is no perfect library computer system and upgrading is a necessary continuous process.

BACKGROUND

The initial reactions and interest of Singapore libraries in the appli- cation of computers can be traced back to the 1960s when the major libraries in US and UK successfully implemented various computerised systems. However, serious considerations to computerise the library operations were only taken in the 197Os, but with each library going its own way, carrying out investigations, feasibility studies, experiments and trials. The first significant attempt at computerisation was the trial project carried out by the Nanyang University Library in 1972 to computerise its serials checklist. In April 1973, the National Library called a meeting of the major libraries in Singapore to exchange information on proposals for computerisation and to explore the possibilites of sharing computerised systems. However, libraries continued to go independently in their investigations and efforts to computerise.

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164 LA1 YEEN PONG

In July 1981 the situation took a turn for the better with the formation of the Sub-Committee on Library Automation (SCOLA) which offered libraries an official platform for the exchange of ideas and information on computerisation and for the promotion of cooperative efforts. SCOLA is a subcommittee of the Committee on Bibliographical and Library Cooperation (BILCO), which is a joint standing committee of the Library Association of Singapore and Persatuan Perpustakaan Malaysia (Library Association of Malaysia). SCOLA has two sections: the Singapore Section and the Malaysia Section. One of the bibliographic projects identified by SCOLA (Singapore) was the National Bibliographic Database Project. In January 1983, the Library Associ- ation of Singapore convened a special meeting to discuss the proposal of SCOLA (Singapore) for a National Bibliographic Database. The meeting agreed that a feasibility study should be undertaken by an independent committee or a consultant.

It was the timely development of events that brought the Ministry of Finance to the forefront of the library scene. In the last quarter of 1982, the Ministry of Finance received several independent requests from the various institutions for financial approval for computer and manpower resources for the computerisation of library operations. It expressed concern over the uncoordinated nature of the various computerisation projects among libraries and the problem of incom- patibility of various automated library systems. In December 1982, the Ministry of Finance directed the Computer Services Department to study the computerisation plans of 4 major institutions. Following the study, a report, A conceptual study of library automation, was submitted to the Ministry of Finance in February 1983. Based on the recommendations in the report, the Ministry of Finance initiated the SILAS project in August 1983.

In order to provide a more detailed understanding of the development of computerisation of library operations in Singapore, this paper proceeds to examine separately the development of computerisation at the institutional level and the network level.

COMPUTERISATION AT INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL

National Library (NL) Computerisation at the National Library can be traced back to as far as 1973 when the Mechanisation Committee was formed. In the same year, the National Library requested the Management Services Dept (MSD) to undertake a total organisational and functional review of the National Library, including recommending areas for mechanization.

COMPUTERISATION OF LIBRARIES IN SINGAPORE 165

A feasibility study of an online circulation control system using the computer facilities of the Port of Singapore Authority was undertaken. The estimated recurrent costs of $300 000 was then considered to be prohibitive. Nevertheless, when MSD submitted its reports in August 1974, it recommended the use of computers, preferably with online access, for circulation control. As for cataloguing, it recommended that a separate study be undertaken to determine the feasibility of computerisation. Following the MSD recommendations, the National Library submitted a proposal on computerisation to the Ministry of Finance for approval. The proposal, however, was not approved.

In 1977, a full-time Mechanisation Project Officer was appointed. By March 1978, a feasibility study of all library functions was completed. A new proposal for a fully integrated computerised library system was submitted to the Ministry of Finance. In February 1979, the Ministry approved the implementation of the computerisation project of the National Library over a 5-year period beginning from Financial Year 1979.

The first phase of the project was devoted to computerising the cataloguing function. A batch system was developed by the Computer Services Dept (CSD) for the input of bibliographic and authority records. The input format used was SINGMARC, which was based very much on UKMARC. Wherever possible, bibliographic records were purchased from the British Library through its Select Record Service. The Authority Control System which helped to standardize the usage of name headings, uniform titles and series titles, was available for online inquiry. Comfiche catalogues and accession lists were produced.

As an in-house integrated system was too time-consuming to evolve, a decision was taken to look for a suitable turnkey system. In October 1986, the tender was awarded to Sime Darby Systems for its URICA Library System, which would be enhanced to include the Printers’ and Publishers’ Act and Singapore National Bibliography Modules. In June 1987, the computer system was installed. Four months later, the cataloguing, circulation and Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) modules were implemented at the first branch library. By January 1989, all 9 branch libraries including the Central Lending have been computerised. It is expected that by June 1990 all the remaining modules, i.e. acquisitions, serials control, Printers’ and Publishers’ Act and the Singapore National Bibliography modules, will be implemented.

Besides SILAS, the National Library also participates in regional computerisation projects, in particular, the Southeast Asian Imprints (SEAPRINT) project, and the International Serials Data System for Southeast Asia (ISDS-SEA).

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National University of Singapore (NUS) The first computerisation project undertaken by NUS was an in-house Computer-based Periodicals Control System (COMSER) developed in 1978. COMSER was used for the batch production of alphabetical and classified lists of serial titles.

In 1981, a major effort was taken to develop the Library Automated Circulation System (LACS) on a Hewlett-Packard System 3000 computer. The LACS system was implemented in stages beginning with the Law Library in 1983. Besides online circulation control, LACS also supports online enquiry on books, borrowers and loans.

Also in 1981, NUS received a MINISIS software package for computerising its acquisitions, cataloguing and documentation functions. A IO-month MINISIS Test Programme was conducted, commencing <June 1981, to test its suitability for developing an online integrated system and its capability to accept MARC records. After a successful and satisfactory trial period, the MINISIS system was implemented in April 1982, beginning with the cataloguing function at the Central Library. The bibliographic data from the cataloguing database is auto- matically retrieved and input onto the circulation database of LACS. Acquisitions and documentation were also implemented over the next 2 years. For documentation, a separate database known as PERIND was created for indexing periodical articles relating to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and ASEAN. Besides the online information retrieval system supported by MINISIS, NUS also has access to external database services. The use of DIALOG began in 1982. Other external database services added later include SDC/ORBIT, INFOLINE, WILSONLINE and MEDLINE Australia.

The MINISIS system served NUS satisfactorily for 7 years before reaching its maximum capacity. In February 1989, a tender for an integrated system was called. The decision to install the URICA Library System was approved in Dec. 1989. It is hoped that when the new academic term begins in July 1990, the OPAC Module will be available for use.

Nanyang Technological Insbute ( N TI) NT1 was established in 1981 when computerisation in library automation in Singapore was gathering momentum. Starting the library from scratch, the Librarian took a bold decision to computerise its library operations instead of falling back on manual systems. The initial plan of the Library was to use the MINISIS software package. However, the plan was abandoned because the Institute purchased a Perkin-Elmer 3250 computer instead of the Hewlett-Packard System 3000 computer. Pressurised by the need to provide services, the Library


found different solutions to computerise different library functions. For cataloguing the Library participated in the MALMARC shared cataloguing service provided by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and obtained its comfiche catalogues from USM on a regular basis. For circulation the Technocrat software was acquired to run on a microcomputer. Serials control was also handled by a microcomputer using in-house developed software. While managing the disparate systems, the Library continued to look for a turnkey system with integrated functions.

In July 1987, NT1 installed the Sydney Library System on a VAX 8200 super minicomputer. However, the Library’s association with the vendor of Sydney Library System was severed 4 months later when the vendor failed to meet the performance criteria set by the Library. In early 1988 NT1 installed the ATLAS Library System which went ‘live’ in March 1988. The software runs on a VAX 8800 super minicomputer. Today, the ATLAS Library System supports online integrated functions for acquisitions, cataloguing, circulation, serials control and OPAC. With the link of the Library to the campus-wide local area network, the OPAC facility is available to some 1200 personal computers.

Singapore Polytechnic (SP) SP’s early attempt at computerisation was confined to the production of its List of Periodicals and Serials. In October 1984, it installed the Virginia Tech Library System (VTLS) which runs on the Hewlett- Packard 3000 series 48 minicomputer. Within 3 months the Cata- loguing, Authority Control and Circulation modules were tested and released to production run. By 1986, the remaining modules, i.e. Reserve Book Room, Serials Control, Management Reporting, Fund Accounting and Acquisitions, were implemented.

Since June 1986 the Library is linked to the local area network of the campus.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) NP began to consider automation seriously in 1982. The initial plan to acquire a turnkey system was shelved because the Library was directed to implement an online circulation control system within 3 months. As time was too short for tendering, evaluation and installation of a turnkey system, an in-house On-line Circulation Control System (OCCS) was designed and implemented on 31 October 1983 using a Prime super minicomputer.

After the implementation of OCCS, the plan to acquire a turnkey system was re-activated. In 1985, NP installed the URICA Library

168 LA1 YEEN PONG

System on a 32-bit Microdata Sequel 9000 super minicomputer. Within a year, cataloguing, circulation control, OPAC, serials control and acquisitions were implemented.

In 1987 the Library acquired the BRSjSEARCH text retrieval software for the maintenance of an in-house online information retrieval system. It also has access to external database services such as DIALOG, SDC/ORBIT, PERGAMON Financial Data Services and NEWS- NET.

The Library is also linked to the local area network of the campus.

Education libraries consortium The Institute ofEducation (IE), the Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore (CDIS) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) were the first to form a consortium to computerise their library operations in order to achieve better cost-effectiveness and higher efficiency. Tender for a turnkey system began in 1987. By June 1988, the ATLAS Library System was selected and the VAX 8250 super minicomputer was installed at IE. Live run of the system began in July 1988 for the Cataloguing and Inquiry modules. Circulation Control was implemented in Oct. 1988. By April 1989, OPAC, Acquisitions and Serials Control were also implemented.

MOE and the Computer Science Resource Centre of CDIS have leased line access to the computer at IE.

Law libraries consortium The Attorney General’s Chambers (AC), the Supreme Court (SC) and the Subordinate Courts (SUC) are the second group of libraries to share a computer system for cataloguing, acquisitions, circulation control, serials control and inquiry. The tender for an integrated system was called in March 1988 and was eventually awarded to the ATLAS Library System. The VAX 6320 super minicomputer was delivered in June 1989 and the ATLAS software Version 2.OC was installed in September 1989. The Circulation Module went ‘live’ on 1 Dec. By 5 Jan. 1990, the rest of the library modules were in operation.

The computerisation plan of the law libraries consortium also incor- porates a full-text information retrieval system using the STATUS software. A database with the full-text of the laws of Singapore will be created. The AG Library also subscribes to LEXIS/NEXIS online service.

ECOMNE T Libraries Consortium The ECOMNET Libraries Consortium comprises the Economic Devel- opment Board, Jurong Town Corporation, Trade Development


Board and National Computer Board Libraries. The aim of the Con- sortium is to facilitate the 4 organisations to share information resources.

In August 1989 the Consortium awarded a contract to Computer Processing Services to supply and install the ATLAS Library Software Package. The Catalogue and OPAC Modules have been installed and tested and are expected to go live first at the National Computer Board in April/May 1990. The other modules purchased by the Consortium include Acquisitions, Serials, Circulation, Information and Referral and Report Generator Modules.

Other libraries Since 1984, more than 15 smaller libraries have computerised their library operations. Hwa Chong Junior College commissioned a commercial software house, Comsertrac Computer Centre, to develop an integrated system for cataloguing, acquisitions, circulation, serials control and OPAC on a Wang VS minicomputer. The project took 2 years to develop and was completed in 1986.

Between 1987 and 1988 four libraries installed the Sydney Micro Library System. These are the Port of Singapore Authority, the National Productivity Board, the Institute of Systems Science and the Trinity Theological College. The Sydney Micro Library System is one of the few microcomputer-based integrated library systems. It runs on IBM PC AT and XT as well as on their compatibles. Unfortunately the software is currently without support in Singapore.

Another software package which is popular among the smaller libraries in Singapore is the Library Database Management Software (LIBMAN) h h w ic runs on Wang VS-5000 computers. The LIBMAN system was installed at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Vocational and Industrial Training Board within a 4-month period from April to Juiy 1989. Singa- pore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research Library installed the ATLAS Library System in April 1989.

Other libraries that have partially computerised using smaller systems developed in-house or obtained through commercial sources include: (i) the British Council; (ii) Chartered Electronics Industries Resource Centre; (iii) DBS Bank Resource Centre; (iv) Defence Materials Organisation; (v) Government of Singapore Investment Corp; (vi) Postgraduate Medical Library; (vii) Singapore Airlines; (viii) Singapore Command & Staff College; (ix) Singapore Insurance Training Centre; and (x) Singapore International Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, a host of other libraries are in the process of computerisation, each at different stages of planning, investigation and evalu-

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ation. These include libraries of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Singapore Police Force (SPF), Public Works Dept (PWD), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Parliament (PARL), Marine Fisheries Research Dept (MFRD) and junior colleges. The Ministry of Defencc and junior college libraries are expected to form consortia of their own, each with more than 10 member libraries.

Online information retrieval With reliable telecommunications, improved computer technology and lower telecommunication cost, more and more libraries are dialling in to external online information databases and services (see Appendix I). The most popular of these services are DIALOG and SDC/ORBTT. ‘4 few institutions, in particular NUS and the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR) also offer to do searches free or for a fee on behalf of other libraries that do not have access to external information databases. The quality of online information retrieval services of Singapore libraries is expected to improve further with more databases available on CD-ROM.

A number of local information databases, including periodicals indexes, are also available for use either in-house or by other libraries. The Singapore Airlines, the Straits Times, the Marine Fisheries Research Dept and SISIR Libraries provide online information retrieval services to their staff and members only. Locally developed databases which are available for use by other libraries include:

(i) Lot Base System, which is maintained by the Ministry of Law, provides information on land;

(ii) MAST (MAS Textual I f n ormation System), of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, provides information on finance, econ- omics and investments;

(iii) MEDISTAT, which is maintained by the Dept of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, NUS, provides information on health and medical statistics;

(iv) PATS (Public Access Time Series), maintained by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, provides statistical information on a wide range of subjects relating to Singapore;

(v) PERINDISC, a diskette version of PERIND, is an index to periodical articles relating to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and ASEAN. The database is maintained by NUS Library. Online access to PERIND will be provided to other libraries in the near future:


(vi) PINS (Productivity Information Service), maintained by the National Productivity Board, provides abstracts of periodical articles on management and productivity related subjects;

(vii) RCB El ec t ronic Services, maintained by the Registry of Com- panies and Businesses, provides information of companies that are registered in Singapore;

(viii) TRADELINK, maintained by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, provides trade information and data.

The Attorney General’s Chambers and the Asian Mass Communi- cation Research and Information Centre are also expected to provide online access to their information databases in the near future.

COMPUTERISATION AT NETWORK LEVEL (SILAS)

Origin SILAS was initiated by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in August 1983. A SILAS Project Team was formed to plan and prepare for the implementation of SILAS. Members on the Project Team included not only representatives of the various libraries but also officers from the Computer Services Dept, Management Services Dept, National Com- puter Board and the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance. One of the main tasks of the Project Team was to identify a suitable consultant for the SILAS prqject.

Mr Chris Hannan, the former Executive Officer of the Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN), was appointed as the consultant for a 3-month period commencing January 1984. His report, which later formed the blue-print of the implementation of the SILAS project was accepted by MOF. Two of the main recommendations were:

(i) that the Western Library Network (WLN) software be acquired to support the SILAS services;

(ii) that a Central Agency be established within the National Library.

After a long drawn process of negotiation with the Western Library Network, formerly known as Washington Library Network, a license agreement for the WLN Bibliographic Subsystem software was signed in August 1985. From then on, a series of activities was carried out to implement the system. These activities included training of computer staff and librarians, installation and testing of software, acquisition and installation of terminal equipment and telecommunication lines, conversion and loading of bibliographic records and preparation of users’ manuals. The Director of SILAS was also appointed. Two years

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after the signing of the WLN licence agreement, the SILAS system was officially launched on 10 April 1987, with the National Library as its first participant. To date, there are 30 institutions (see Appendix II) with online access to the SILAS database via 116 terminals.

Functions The main function of SILAS is to provide online shared cataloguing facilities to participating libraries. SILAS maintains a large central database of potentially useful records so that participants can cut down drastically the costly and time-consuming process of creating bibliographic records from scratch. Current and back files of national agency records (see Appendix III) are added to the SILAS database through ad hoc purchases, subscriptions or exchanges. For those records that are not found in the SILAS database, participating libraries input original cataloguing into it so that these records are available to sub- sequent users. Thus duplication of effort in cataloguing is avoided. For the network as a whole, the estimated average cataloguing hit rate is over 600/,. For libraries with general science and technology collection, the hit rates go beyond 8Oy,;,.

Besides promoting shared cataloguing, SILAS also maintains a national union catalogue with participants’ holdings information available online. For most libraries the retrospective input process ofholdings information is still continuing (see Appendix IV). The availability of holdings information facilitates inter-library loans and helps libraries in rationalising their acquisitions.

Governance and standardization In a network environment with participating libraries of different sizes, serving different clientele, conflict ofinterest and difherences in practices exist. In July 1985, a SILAS Advisory Committee (SAC) was formed. The Committee is repsonsible for the development of policies and forward planning of the network. It also determines the implementation priorities for libraries and the functional enhancements of the software. The SAC, which in efJ‘ect replaced the SILAS Project Team, is also represented by members from outside the library profession (see Appen- dix V). ‘I’he other main committee is the SILAS Standards Committee (SSC) which p corn rises mainly the chief cataloguers of participating libraries (see Appendix VI). The SSC is responsible for the development and quality of the SILAS database. It formulates guidelines and standards for bibliographic description, name headings and subject headings. The work of SSC is evident in its publication SILAS’ bibliographic standard.r and guidelines. SSC is assisted by two sub-committees, the


SILAS Subject Headings Review Sub-Committee and the Singapore Name Headings Sub-Committee.

The future The future plan of SILAS is to expand the network further so as to ex- ploit the investments of SILAS and fully utilise the potential capacities and capabilities of the SILAS system for the benefit of other libraries.

CONCLUSION

Libraries in Singapore have more than 15 years of association with computers. A comparison of the scenarios of the 70s and today reveals some fundamental differences. The 70s were marked by experiments and trials, individualistic approach and uncoordinated efforts. The computer equipment was inevitably the expensive mainframes. The scene was dominated by the big libraries. Software houses and computer companies were not too keen on doing business with libraries. In contrast, success stories seem to prevail today in all libraries, big and small. Better coordination and greater cooperation exist among the libraries, though there is still room for improvement. Microcomputers and minicomputers, many ofwhich more powerful than the mainframes of yester-year, take the lion’s share of the library market.

Besides the basic differences some general facts or trends can be discerned. Firstly, there is no perfect library computer system. Some enhancements or modifications to the software are inevitable. Secondly, computer systems are out-dated quickly. The best system of today is likely to be overshadowed by another system in a matter of months. After 5 years or so an upgrade is expected. Lastly, with government’s emphasis on computerisation, computers and related technologies are becoming increasingly important and are likely to dominate the library scene in Singapore in future.

REFERENCES

1 Chan, Thye Seng. Computerisation of library operations in Singapore: an overview. Paper presented at the Seminar of the Intra-ASEAN Cultural Pro- gramme: Exchange of Librarians, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1987. 11 p.

2 Foo, Kok Pheow and Lim, Hong Too. Directory of libraries in Singapore. 4th ed. Singapore: Library Association of Singapore, 1989.

3 Foo, Kok Pheow. The Nanyang University Computerised Serials Checklist: a trial project. Singapore libraries. 4: 15-19, 1974.

4 Ho, Sze Ying. The evaluation and implementation of a library system for the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Library. Paper presented at the Congress on the Use of

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5

6

7

8

9

10

11 12

13

14

New Information Technologies in Developing Countries, organised by FIDjCAO General assembly and Congress in Beijing, China. 15 p. Hochstadt, Peggy Wai Chee. Why automate? The impact ofautomation in library function, administration and staffing in the NUS Library. Sin~&ore libraries. 16: 15 -28, 1986. Lai, Yeen Pong. Networking for national resource sharing in Singapore. Paper presented at the PPM/LAS Joint Congress 1988, Kuala Lumpur. 20 p. Lim, Hong Too. Library automation: the Singapore experience. In: Pacific Con- ference on New Information Technology (2nd: 1989: Singapore). Proceedings. Edited by Ching-chih Chcn, David I. Raitt. LYest Newton, Mass: MicroUsc Information: 1989. pp. 231-237. Rishpal Singh. Planning for computerisation in major Singapore libraries. Smgu- ,borp 1ibrarie.r. 4: 24 -26, 1974. Royan, Bruce. Building bibliographic network for Singapore. Electronic libray. 5 no. 6: 3488352, 1987. Sabaratnam, Selvarani and Phua, Caroline Choon Kheng. On-line Circulation Control System at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Library. Singapore libraries. 13: 19-24, 1983. SILAS news. Vol. 1 no. 1 ~Jan, 1986--Singapore: National Library, 1986.-. Singapore. Management Services Dept. Review of the National Library, Ministry of Culture. Singapore: MSD. 1974. 8 ~01s. Mimeographed. ‘Ian, Chee Kiow and Quah, Jill. Library automation at the National University of Singapore. Paper presented at the 6th Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians, 30 May-3 June 1983, Singapore. In: The library in the information revolution. Singa- pore: Maruzen Asia, 1983. pp. 78883. Tan, Mary. Automation of special libraries in Singapore. 23 p. Mimeographed.


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APPENDIX II

Participating libraries of SILAS

Full participants 1 Attorney-General’s Chambers (AG)

2 Civil Service Institute (CSI) 3 Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore (CDIS)

Computer Science Resource Centre (CSRC) Instructional Materials Library (IML)

4 Institute of Education (IE) 5 Institute of SEA Studies (ISEAS) 6 Ministry of Community Development (MCD) 7 Ministry of Education (MOE) 8 Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI) 9 Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

10 Nanyang ‘I’echnological Institute (N’I’I) 11 National Library (NL)

+ Singapore National Bibliography (SNB) 12 National University of Singapore (NUS)

Central Library (NUSCL) Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library (NUSHML) Law Library (NUSLW) Medical Library (NUSMD) Science Library (NUSSC)

13 Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) 14 Parliament (PARL) 15 Public Works Dept (PWD) 16 SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC) 17 Singapore Police Force (SPF) 18 Singapore Polytechnic (SP) 19 Subordinate Courts (SUC) 20 Supreme Court (SC)

Dual-up Libraries 2 1 Housing & Development Board (HDB) 22 Institute of Systems Science (ISS) 23 National Computer Board (NCB) 24 National Productivity Board (NPB) 25 Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) 26 Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) 27 Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR) 28 Telecommunications Authority of Singapore (TAS) 29 Trade Development Board (TDB) 30 Vocational & Industrial Training Board (VITB)


APPENDIX III

Composition of SILAS Database

LC Books LC Serials LC Films LC Music LC Maps UKMARC SNB (Roman Script) ANB BISA MALMARC

NZNB PICA (SEA imprints) WLN participants SILAS participants

1968% 1973-- 1972% 1984- 1986p 1980- 1967- Sept. 1988- till 2 Jan. 1990 till Feb. 1986 (30 117 records of Malaysian and Indonesian imprints) Sept. 1982% till Feb. 1987 (5909 records) till Oct. 1986

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APPENDIX IV

Holdings on SILAS as at 30 March 1990

Holdings on SILAS

Institutions

NUS NUSCL NUSSC NUSMD NUSLW NUSHML

NL SP NP IE NT1 ISEAS RELC MOE IML SNB VITBt PSAT SPF PARL MAS SISIRf HDBt TASt CSI NPBt MCD PWD MT1 TDBt rsst

&St CSRC NCBt SC SUC

Date Collection joined SILAS size (titles)

Jun a7 Jun a7 Jun a7 ,Jun a7 Jun a7 Jun a7 Apr a7 May a7 May a7 Jun a7 Jun a7 Mar 88 May a8 May a7 Jun a7 Apr a7 Sep aa Feb aa

g:: i:: May a7 Mar 88 May aa Feb 88 Jun 88 Mar a8 Jun 88 Jun 88 Jun a7 Aug 88 Fcb 88 Mar 88 Mar 88 Nov a7 Feb 88

May 88 Jun 88

475411 322 465 68 33 1670 213 570 64

50 075 41718 a3 38 657 28 446 74 28201 17658 63 26 a08 21073 79

292 936* 292 936 100 a7 a50 a7 a50 100 a3 047 ai 972 99 72 577 63 705 aa 70 975* 70 975 100 50 554 27 344 54 46817 9 560 20 36 700* 19411 53 29 702 17 192 58 22 355 20.209 90 20210 8 402 42 18000 3 963 22 17312 4097 24 15 120 2 a39 19 14927 14927 100 14 795* 7 358 50 14513* 2 143 15 13259 13 168 99 12550 5 088 41 11650 1924 17 11628 6017 52 10656 1 197 11 10 304 6318 61 10000 202 2 9 340 1 746 19 7 794 7 794 100 7 150 746 10 5 090 1682 33 3 295 1 965 60 2 a08 2 808 100 2 753 2 753 100

As at 30 Mar

1990 ‘:, on

SILAS

* Material excluded: NL: Interim records NTI: Standards MOE: Resource files

SISIR: Standards/Patents HDB: AV materials

t Dial-up users.

COMPUTERISATION OF LIBRARIES IN SINGAPORE I 79

APPENDIX V

SILAS Advisory Committee

Director, National Library- Chairman Assistant Director, SILAS---Secretary One representative each,from:

National Library Tertiary Institution Libraries (Degree-awarding) Tertiary Institution Libraries (Diploma-awarding) Government Department Libraries Statutory Board Libraries Library Association of Singapore Ministry of Community Development Ministry of Finance National Computer Board

APPENDIX VI

SILAS Standards Committee 1988-1990

Chairman Ms Jill Quah (NUS)

Hon Secretary Mr Poh Guan Huat (SP)

Members Mrs Chang Soh Choo (NL) Mrs Puah Boon Nia (NTI) Mrs Lilian Foo (NP) MS Zaleha Tamby (ISEAS) MS Liu Wei Ho (CDIS) Mrs Frances Cheo (LAS)

Ex-o@cio Mrs Lim Ah Eng (SILAS)

computerisation of library operations in singapore: an overwiew

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