First applications of computers

If one consults the third edition of the Encyclopaedia of librarianship, published in 1966, entries under ‘Automation’ or ‘Computers’ are conspicuous by their absence. Despite this omission, although no British university library had any application of automatic data processing fully operational at that time, at least four public libraries were already producing printed catalogues by computer. The reorganisation of the London boroughs meant that librarians were faced with the considerable problem of amalgamating their catalogues, and the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Greenwich and Southwark decided to use a computer system to help achieve this. These first cataloguing systems were based on 80-column punched cards, with the resulting catalogue being produced by a line printer. Once started, however, progress in implementing automated systems gathered pace. By 1970, at least thirty public library systems had automated some part of their routine work; many others were in process of implementing plans and some thirteen university libraries were using computers in systems claimed to be operational.

Public libraries made use of the mainframe computers operated by their local authorities but suffered from the disadvantage that priority would very probably be given to non-library operations. None the less, surveys carried out during the 1970s provide clear evidence of the growing acceptance of automation in the public library field. In 1979, the types of application with the number of operating authorities included: selection (1); ordering (16); cataloguing (55); subject or other printed indexes (30); accession and shelf lists (24); circulation (47); and accounting (34).