Problems and issues of library automation

Abstract

Roll: Librarians have a vocation as the custodians of information; they have the expertise to manage it well and make things easy to find. The computer center has viewed itself as the proper custodian of machine readable information and its delivery mechanisms, but it has not assumed some of the kinds of responsibilities that libraries have. In some cases, there can be tensions between the library and the computer center, and the factor that relieves the tension is that along with this responsibility goes some fairly substantial costs. Usually neither the library nor the computer center has the budget to manage those costs, so they keep backing away from the responsibility issue until someone comes up with the money that permits them to discharge that responsibility. People in positions like mine need to develop the justification for funding that responsibility and placing whatever the information is in a situation where people can get at it and use it.