Narodni knihovna Ceske republiky

• Narodni knihovna Ceske republiky (The National Library of the Czech Republic)
• Klementinum 190, 110 01 Praha 1, Czech Republic

• Adolf Knoll, deputy director
• tel +42.2.266160; fax +42.2.24227796
• e-mail adolf.knoll@nkp.cz

• Iva Pribramska, system librarian
• tel +42.2.266171; fax +42.2.24216432
• e-mail iva.pribramska@nkp.cz
  
• Pavel Kotrba, system manager
• tel +42.2.21663247; fax +42.2.24216432
• e-mail pavel.kotrba@nkp.cz

• Aleph version: 324.11
• Modules used: OPAC, Cataloging, Maintenance, Acquisition (WWW server)
• Operating system: OSF/1, v.2.0
• Server type: DEC 3000/500S, 256 MB RAM, 4 GB HDD
• Network configuration: Ethernet (Thin coax, UTP)
• Workstations: PC 286/386/486 - MS DOS, DEC Pathworks (v.4.0), Kermit 3.11, NCSA Telnet 2.3

Major developments since last ICAU meeting

• localization for Czech language and UNIMARC (books) finished
• conversion of more then 91 K bibliographic records created in Czech MARC format under CDS/ISIS into UNIMARC
• The OPAC (and other information files) can be accessed via:
  • telnet: alpha.nkp.cz, username: visitor, no password, you are requested to enter your e-mail address
  • gopher gopher.nkp.cz
  • WWW server (URL:http://www.nkp.cz)
• implementation of modules Cataloging from 5.1.1995 and Acquisition from 5.6.1995 for a part of foreign books

Major developments planned

• september 1995
  • acquisition and cataloging of all Czech books in Aleph
• fall 1995
  • acquisition and cataloging of the rest of foreign books
  • implementation of Aleph version 3.2_5
• in 1996 processing of other material types, implementation of the CLA database, automated circulation for documents with bibliographic records in Aleph

Open problems

1. in Aleph
   • enormous disc space requirements of uncompressed sequential data structure
   • low level of unification and standardisation of ways for entering commands in Aleph
   • registration of documents for exchange, evidence of documents in exchange stock
   • searching and printing of UNIMARC linking entry fiels
   • lack of dynamic report (printout) generator
   • formatting language without sophisticated IF command and possibilities to implement own formatting procedures
   • integration of own procedures (e.g. for filing, validation checks)
   • implementation of "ULM" for CASLIN Union Catalog (UNIMARC, procedure for creating matching algorithm, handling with duplicate records, statistics)
   • networking in Aleph
   • WWW server in Aleph (FIND only for DEM)
   
   
2. in the Library:
   • lack of system support (only one system manager and one man who is able to write programs in C language) in view of the fact that we (as a national library) have got a lot of special needs that are not fully supported by the Aleph
   • structured network in the Library is still not built in necessary extent

Other projects

• RETROCON
  This project received support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Its aims are
  • to convert to UNIMARC format the available printed catalogue of Czech books since 20's (ca 400 thousands records), and
  • to convert to UNIMARC format the General Catalogue of the National Library of the Czech republic (some 3 million cards).
  
  The technology designed to achieve these tasks is based on scanning the books / card catalogue and storing it in high volume disks. Afterwards the data will be processed (with exception of very poor and handwritten cards) by OCR. The OCR'ed unstructured text will be converted by human qualified operators using the windows based editor providing a substantial help. The technology was designed and programmed by Czech company ComDat Praha.

• Memory of the World
  After producing the first, rather signal/promotional CD-ROM in this UNESCO sponsored programme in 1993, the National Library produced two first items of a planned series. The CDs contain each the images of all pages of medieval manuscripts together with its original text and its translation. The first manuscript was first photographed, than the slides drum-scanned while the images of the second manuscript were produced by direct digitization (which is substantially cheaper). The CDs themselves and the presentation software were produced by Czech company Albertina icome Praha.