INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN LIBRARIES IN THAILAND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN LIBRARIES IN THAILAND

Nonglak Minaikit

Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok 10330

Information technology, which represents the ever-increasing array of tools by which information is stored, retrieved, processed, and disseminated, was introduced to library operations in Thailand two full decades ago. The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), an international post-graduate institute specializing in science and technology, pioneered an experimental project in the use of computers in 1968 in such house-keeping library operations as journal listing and control, acquisitions and accounting (Lee,1971).

Since then, computerized library projects have been increasingly developed by many university and special libraries and information centers as well as by the National Library. However, the survey on information technology applications conducted in 1986 indicated that the computer was most used in Thailand for the production of the list/union list of serials. Other computerized library functions such as acquisitions, cataloguing and circulation were mostly undertaken as research and development projects (Minaikit, 1986). The present study was carried out in February 1989 through a questionnaire survey and interviews of 40 libraries and information centers comprising 32 central and faculty libraries and information centers of 16 government universities, 4 special libraries, 1 public library, l regional higher education institute, the National Library, and the Thai National Documentation Center (TNDC). This study disclosed the fact that information technology has been applied to a wider range of library operations. More computerized library projects have been initiated while more types of information technology have been utilized.

The present status of information technology applications can be summarized into the following categories: 1) Library activities/ functions; 2) Hardware; 3) Software; and 4) Standards.

The computerized library functions performed by the forty libraries and information centers can be divided into the following topics: acquisitions, cataloguing, serials, periodical indexing, circulation, reference and information services, administration, and communications.

Seventeen libraries and information centers operate computerized acquisition projects either for monographs or journals, or both. All projects except one are run on microcomputers. Mini-micro CDS/ISIS and dBASE III or dBASE III+ are software packages equally used by seven libraries. One library (the Asian Institute of Technology's Library and Regional Documentation Center or AIT's LRDC) utilizes CDS/ISIS which runs on an IBM 3083. Another library (the American University Alumni Library or AUA Library) utilizes DATATREX on WANG PC 240. One library develops its own computer programs. Besides these software packages, word processing such as WordStar and Offis are also used for report preparation.

Most of the acquisition systems are operated in offline mode except for AIT's LRDC which operates both an online and offline acquisition system. Those systems generally produce purchase orders, claimed titles, list of book on order by subject, list of books received, expenditure reports, and other statistical reports.

The survey indicates that twenty-three libraries are involved in computerized cataloguing projects for monographs or audiovisual materials. However, most of the projects place an emphasis on English language materials, while a few projects deal with Thai language materials. This is due to the limitation of the available software which cannot work properly with Thai script. The software needs to be modified by experienced computer personnel, a very limited resource in libraries.

Regarding hardware, twenty-two libraries utilize microcomputers for their cataloguing systems. Within this group, three libraries, comprising the National Library, Chulalongkorn University's Central Library, and Mahidol University's Library and Information Center, their cataloguing systems on microcomputers for data entry and on mainframe (IBM 3031) and superminicomputer (Perkin-Elmer 3230) for database. AIT's LRDC runs its cataloguing system on an IBM 3083 using CDS/ISIS while the UN/ESCAP Library operates its system on NEC 350 using IRS-4.

Mini-micro CDS/ISIS is the software utilized by fifteen libraries while each of the following three software packages, dBASE II, dBASE III and DATATREX, is found in three libraries. Another three libraries develop their own programs in PASCAL, FORTRAN 77 and COBOL. Chulalongkorn Medical Library has devised a support system to Mini-micro CDS/ISIS called AMIC (Automatic Micro ISIS Card) for printing systems such as catalog cards. AMIC has been adopted by some other libraries as well.

To speed up the cataloguing process, five libraries transfer the MARC records from CD-ROM databases such as BiblioFile and LaserQuest to their cataloguing databases. The size of databases range from 1,000 records to 77,000 records. Some databases are available for online public access catalog (OPAC). However, most cataloguing systems are operated on an offline mode. The products include catalog cards, lists of new books, bibliographies and catalogs in printout format.

The computerized serials projects as reported by twenty-one libraries include lists of journals, periodical holdings lists, and union lists of serials. The latter has been operated at the local, national, and international levels. At the local level, Mahidol University produces a Union List of Serials in Mahidol University Libraries comprising 5,476 records from 16 libraries. The database, which is run on a Perkin-Elmer 3230 using FORTRAN 77, is available for online access via terminals or microcomputers. At the national level, Chulalongkorn University's Central Library is responsible for the third edition of the Union List of Serials in Thailand (the first two editions were operated by AIT's LRDC) which run on an IBM 3031 using CDS/ISIS software. The database consists of 13,900 serials titles with 31,600 holdings from 159 libraries of all types. The database is operated both on online and offline modes.

The master file is widely utilized for creating some new union lists of periodicals in some specific fields or group of libraries, for instance a Union List of Medical Periodicals in Thailand, a Union List of Engineering Periodicals in Thailand, and a Union List of Serials of PULINET (Provincial University Library and Information Network) Members.

The Thai National Documentation Center (TNDC) produces a Union List of Scientific Serials in Thai Libraries comprising 13,000 records. The system is run on HP 3000XE using MINISIS software.

At the international level, the National Library as a regional center for ISDS-SEA (International Serials Data System Regional Center for Southeast Asia) produces the quarterly ISDS-SEA Bulletin and a Union List of International Serials in Southeast Asia. The system is operated on an IBM 3031 at the National Statistical Office, using COBOL in an offline mode.

Most of the serials projects deal with producing lists of journals or holdings lists of periodicals in one specific library. They are operated on microcomputers. Mini-micro CDS/ISIS is utilized in twelve libraries whereas dBASE III or dBASE III+ is used in five libraries. Two libraries each utilizes FoxBase and DATATREX

Fifteen libraries operate microcomputer-based periodical indexing systems for Thai periodical literature in certain specific subjects. The medical libraries of Chulalongkorn, Mahidol and Prince of Songkla universities have built up their databases for Thai Index Medicus to supply the HELLIS (Health Literature, Library and Information Services) network. The Dental, Education and Veterinary libraries of Chulalongkorn University have created Thai periodical index databases in the fields of dentistry, education and veterinary science, respectively. Mahidol University's Science Library produces a Thai periodical index in science.

The National Institute of Development Administration's Library and Information Center operates two indexing databases: one is an index to Thai and English periodicals published in Thailand, the other is an index to English newspapers published in Thailand. the Central Library of Chulalongkorn University has built up a database for a Thai and Foreign periodical index about Thailand and ASEAN countries, and an index to journals published by Chulalongkorn University.

Twelve libraries use Mini-micro CDS/ISIS software whereas three libraries use dBASE III for their computerized periodical indexing systems. The products of those indexing systems come out mostly in hard copy as monthly, annual and cumulative periodical indexes - a few systems can be accessed by online searching mode.

The computerized circulation function is found to be minimal in libraries in Thailand. Only four libraries currently operate a microcomputer-based circulation control system using bar-codes, three of which are medical school libraries, namely, Chulalongkorn Medical Library, Ramathibodi Medical Library and Siriraj Medical Library. The systems of the first two libraries, run by FoxBase program, can handle check-out, check-in as well as renewal activities, production of overdue notices and statistical reports. The Central Library of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, North Bangkok is experimenting with putting its circulation system on five microcomputers and two bar-code readers using Mini-micro CDS/ISIS and an in-house developed software. Two other libraries plan to set up a micro-based circulation system in the near future.

Reference and information service activities for the purpose of this paper can be divided into two aspects; 1) reference and information services through in-house developed databases, and 2) online information services through commercial databases.

The survey reveals that twenty-six libraries and information centers have built up more than sixty specialized databases for information retrieval services. The following are a few examples:

Chiang Mai University's Central Library, which is situated in the Northern part of the country has operated a computerized database on Northern Region Studies. Chulalongkorn University's Thailand Information Center has established a TIC database covering all aspects of behavioral and social sciences related to Thailand to serve researchers and scholars. Thammasat University's Economics Library has initiated a TECON database comprising theses on economics. TNDC operates two notable databases--Medicinal and Aromatic plants and Abstracts of TISTR (Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research) Technical Reports, which are run on IBM PS/2 using Mini-micro CDS/ISIS software.

The UN/ESCAP Library has operated an EBIS (ESCAP Bibliographic Information System) database on NEC 350 using an IRS-4 package while the AIT's LRDC operates about ten databases which are available for online search through a visual display terminal. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Energy's Division of Scientifica and Technological Information has created a Patent database. Kasetsart University's Central Library which is a national center for AGRIS (Agricultural Sciences and Technology Information System) and CARIS (Current Agricultural Research Information System), and a center for IBIC (International Buffalo Information Center) has created an AGRIS database, a CARIS database and an IBIC database to serve local users as well as national and international users.

Using the created databases, some libraries provide current awareness and SDI services to their clientele. However, microcomputers are still the prominent hardware utilized by almost all twenty-six libraries whereas Mini-micro CDS/ISIS is the software used by twenty-one libraries. A few libraries use dBASE III.

Online information services through commercial databases are of two types: online information retrieval services directly through DIALOG Information Services in California, U.S.A.; and online search through CD-ROM databases.

Online information retrieval services through DIALOG databases are currently offered by eight libraries, namely, Chulalongkorn University's Central Library, Kasetsart University's Central Library, Siriraj Medical Library, Sukhothai Thammathirat's Library and Information Center, Mahidol University's Science Library, AIT's LRDC, AUA Library and the Genetic Engineering Information Center.

Online search services through CD-ROM databases are provided by sixteen libraries. Fifteen CD-ROM databases are currently in use.

They are as follows: MEDLINE, DAO, Life Sciences, LaserQuest, BiblioFile, AGRICOLA, ERIC, LISA, NTIS, GPO, CHEM-BANK, SocioFile, BIP+, ULRICH+, , and Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. All of the six medical school libraries in Thailand provide MEDLINE search services. Chulalongkorn Medical Library offers a remote access service to MEDLINE on CD-ROM from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Only five libraries reported the use of microcomputers in administrative work such as personnel record-keeping, budget preparation and preparation of financial reports, printing and publications, and office management. The software being used consists of dBASE III, LOTUS 1-2-3 and word processing.

Communications in this context imply the use of electronic mail, bulletin boards, FAX, and Telex to facilitate information exchange among libraries and/or between libraries and clientele. Four libraries engage in electronic mail/bulletin board systems, two of which are medical libraries. Chulalongkorn Medical Library has operated the LINKS Electronic Mail System since April 1988 to serve as an important link between information professionals and all information end-users with current news and useful tools regarding management and handling of information. Siriraj Medical Library uses the SMBBS system (Siriraj Medical Bulletin Board Service) as part of the information exchange system on the campus. Mahidol University's Library and Information Center uses campus Electronic Mail for administration purposes. The Science Library of Mahidol University communicates with the TISTR-BBS (Thailand Institute Of Scientific and Technological Research--Bulletin Board System) and also connects to Chulalongkorn Medical Library's LINKS System.

Four libraries have FAX machines either for interlibrary loans or administration purposes. The National Library installed a Telex to facilitate the interlibrary loan service among NLDC-SEA Consortium (National Libraries and Documentation Center - Southeast Asia Consortium) members.

All forty libraries participating in the survey own at least one microcomputer. The range of microcomputers in each library is between one and nine. Most microcomputers are IBM PC/XT or IBM PC/AT compatible. Three libraries have IBM PS/2. Four libraries operate their computerized projects on minicomputers (HP 3000/40, HP 3000XE, Perkin-Elmer 3230 and NEC 350) while three libraries use mainframes (IBM 3031 and IBM 3083). LAN (Local Area Network) is utilized by two medical libraries.

About fifteen commercial software packages are in use. Mini-micro CDS/ISIS and CDS/ISIS are utilized by thirty-one libraries while dBASE II, dBASE III or dBASE III+ are used by eighteen libraries. Eight libraries use word processing software. Other software packages include LOTUS 1-2-3, FoxBase, MINISIS, IRS-4, XTALK, RBBS, and DATATREX among others. Some libraries develop their own programs written in FORTRAN 77, COBOL, PL/1, and TURBO PASCAL

As far as the standard of machine-readable cataloguing (MARC) is concerned, the National Library of Thailand devised THAIMARC for use with the Thai National Bibliography project whereas the Ministry of University Affairs devised a complete MARC format called UNIVMARC for the cooperative cataloguing activities among university libraries.

However, other MARC formats are also used by some libraries. For instance, Mahidol University libraries adopted Mahidol MARC which is similar to SEAMARC (Southeast Asia MARC), and Chulalongkorn Medical Library uses OCLC MARC. Recently, Chulalongkorn University (CU) libraries devised CUMARC to conform to the USMARC 1988 for use with the Chulalongkorn University Library and Information Network (CULINET) project.

The state of information technology applications in libraries in Thailand is still in the research and development stage. Each library tends to develop its own systems to serve local needs. Few viable plans on library computerization seem to exist. Though many libraries operate several computerized library functions, no integrated system exists. This due to the fact that no integrated software is available at minimal cost. The lack of proper software to handle Thai script is also a problem. Computer personnel such as systems analysts and programmers are very limited in the library and information field. The lack of money to acquire higher capacity machines and to support larger projects seems to be a problem for libraries in the future.

Lee, Hwa-Wei, "Library mechanization at the Asian Institute of Technology" International Library Review 3: 257-270 (June 1971).

Minaikit, N., "The impact of information technology on libraries in Thailand: Present and future scene," paper presented at the 52nd IFLA General Conference, Tokyo, 1986.