How did we end up here?

Gary L. StrawnNorthwestern University Library

mrsmith@northwestern.edu

Same thing, from a different direction

Not: How do we go about this?Rather: How did this happen?Unfortunate biographical orientation

1970s: Programming as it once was

Library school class: PL/I on punch cards, on mainframe

First job: PL/I (on my own)Basics of programming (variables,

structure)

1980s: Technological advances

IBM PC with 2 5-1/4" floppy drives (MS-DOS; program/data)

Built-in BASIC (start computer with no DOS)

IBM dual-floppy PC

Courtesy Ruben de Rijcke

Next library

Mentioned programming in interview"We need to do something about

acquisitions"Purchased a stand-alone PC, backup

system (VHS tape!)New programming language: dBase IIIA year later: acquisitions system

IBM PC as OCLC terminal: opportunity

Save screen image as a file on floppy, then process

First: transfer bib data into acquisitions system

Second: convert authority records into authority and cross-reference cards

Third: create new MARC authority records, print more cards

Skills acquired

Several programming languagesRelational database structure Intimate understanding of MARC

formatsProcessing of authority data

Authority cards lead to next job

Authorities librarianCollaborate with ISDO (NOTIS)Pulled into ISDOEventually 1/2 and 1/2 (ISDO and

authorities)

ISDO: Sink or swim

Learn IBM 360 assemblerFirst program: Batch corrections Indexing improvements, etc.

Post-ISDO

Interact with NOTIS via terminal emulator; programming interface

Windows programmingLearn another language (VB)Authority record creationCataloger's toolkit

Post-NOTIS

VoyagerLearn: Oracle, SQL, PL/SQL Interact with Voyager via ODBC and

(later) programming interfaceSpine labels, cataloger’s toolkit,

loaders (including authority loader), etc., etc.

Recent things

Numerous XML flavorsMore languages: .NET family; Java

Looking ahead

Next system: new ground rulesProbably web clients, not local clients Interfaces rather than direct access

[?]New environments and languagesRuby, Hydra, etc.

What are the themes?

Change is constant, and acceleratingProgramming best done by people

who know the materialGrow in-house expertise

What are the themes?

Details can be learnedTrade production for other valuable

thingsSupport staff in learning new stuffFormal training, self-instruction,

consultants; etc.

What are the themes?

Best project: something that you’re interested in doing anyway

Questions?