The creation of the Library and Information Science (LIS) Database is a Project initiated by the Department of Library Science, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University under the sponsorship of the University's Office of Academic Affairs.

The objectives of the project are to analyze and design a system for information storage and retrieval of library and information science literature pertinent to Thailand from 1955 to the present, and to utilize the database for the instruction of various courses offered by the Department, such as Information Storage and Retrieval, Computerized Bibliographic Control, and Online Search Ser-vices. The LIS Database comprises bibliographic information and abstracts from books, journal articles, research reports, conference proceedings, theses and dissertations in Thai and foreign languages initially containing 200 records.

In addition to supporting the instruction in library and information science, the database is also aimed to provide information for research activities in the field. It should be noted that the database is in English to make it also available for use internationally.

The Project contains two phases. Phase I of the project concentrates on the compilation of library and information science literature, including all published works in various forms. Other specific objectives of phase I are to:

• Identify data elements for inclusion in the database and design database structure

• Examine and select software package for database management

• Input test records for system evaluation.

Phase II will then focus on the evaluation results and the adjustments of database structure, if necessary. Other activities will include producing manuals for both database operators and users.

At present the LIS Database is still in the first phase and will be developed to fully meet the need of the user in the near the future.

2. SOFTWARE SELECTION

The LIS Database Committee has reviewed candidate software packages for the system and decided to use BRS/Search of BRS Information Technologies (BRS), a division of Maxwell Online, Inc. Reasons for choosing this software package are:

• The package is available at the Technical Information Access Center (TIAC), a unit operated under the National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand. It is a major informa-tion service, operating as a prototype network of local and international databases. TIAC has already implemented online local databases owned by universities and organizations from the public and private sector. Subject coverage ranges from agriculture, business, science and technology. All local databases are now available for use and the operation is very promising. The LIS Database is then added on to the coverage and be available online to facilitate more use among local and inter-national users and potential users.

• From the database management point, the support and maintenance of the database can be done with technical assistance from TIAC, where it is fully equipped with trained personnel and modern technology.

• Since BRS/Search is a full-text retrieval system and allows sophisticated retrieval, the Com-mittee is attracted to this software. The desirable features of the LIS Database match with the features of the software. The search feature allows either keyword search or every significant word search. Furthermore, in BRS, the database structure can be easily defined and output options can be in user-defined and pre-defined format. All these features meet the requirements of the LIS Database system.

3. DATABASE DESIGN

The LIS Database aims to provide full bibliographic information as well as abstracts of the documents. The attempt is made to create a simple, easy to use database, but the database should be flexible enough to make any alterations without massive change to the system. Data elements of the database are selected based upon the overall requirements of bibliographic database. The LIS Database comprises 15 fields ( or also called "paragraphs" in BRS/Search), dividing into two major parts : 1) bibliographic data and 2) keywords and abstracts. A list of fields and brief explanations are as follows:

• BRS Accession Number is used to assign document number in BRS /Search system.

• LIS Accession Number is used to assign a unique accession number ( or document number ) to each document collected at the Department of Library Science. The number will help locate the documents, if users need to read the whole documents.

• Document Type (DT) is assigned to each type of documents since the database contains information from different published sources. The alpha-code is assigned, for example, J for journal article, R for research report.

• Language (LA) is a field to indicate the language of each publication either in Thai, English, German, and French.

• Author (AU) contains personal names as main entry using AACR2 for both Thai and foreign names. The Thai names are transliterated by using LC transliteration guide in LC Cataloging Service Bulletin, if not available in the publications.

• Corporate Name (CN) contains names of organizations or government agencies using AACR2.

• Title (TI) includes titles of books, journal articles, chapters of books, and papers in proceedings of conferences, seminars, and workshops. Titles in Thai are translated into English, which is the language of the database.

• Journal Source (JS) contains publication information of journals. All journal titles in Thai are translated into English. If titles are the same, the names of institutions issued such journals are identified, e.g. Library Science Journal (Chula) , Library Science Journal (Prasarn Mitr).

• Monograph Source (MS) is used to identify title of books and proceedings in case that the documents are chapters of books or papers presented at the conferences, seminars, or workshops.Edition (ED) identifies edition of books.

• Publication Area (PA) is a field used for the entry of publication information. Forms of entries vary by types of documents, e.g., for books, information included will be place (city), the publisher, and the date (year)

• Year (YR) identifies year of publications. The A.D. is used and the B.E. (as used in Thai publications) will be changed to A.D., e.g. B.E. 2535 will be changed to 1992.

• Note (NB) is used for additional information and also used to identify degree level of thesis and dissertations.

• Keyword (KY) contains controlled terms assigned by using LISA Subject Index, preferred terms as well as specific names (of organizations, government agencies, associations, etc.) Up to 10 keywords for each document is desirable.

• Abstract (AB) contains indicative abstracts of the documents. The abstract will help users in selecting needed documents and will help improving the effectiveness of information retrieval.

4. SEARCHING THE DATABASE

The LIS Database has already been loaded at TIAC and is available online. Users can either search via Thaipak -- a packet switching network of Thailand -- or by dial up. The TIAC is planning for end-user search online service 24 hours a day. Furthermore, the increasing number of users both individuals and institutions is expected. As a result, the expansion of the LIS Database use can be anticipated with the growth rate of TIAC users and service hours.

Once logged in TIAC, users can select by viewing a list of available databases. It should be noted that the databases at TIAC are currently operated and managed and the providers of the databases are responsible for updating and maintaining their own databases. TIAC does not won the databases.

The LIS Database search, employing BRS/Search, provides various search options. Users can use free terms or keywords assigned by the system. As mentioned earlier, keywords in the LIS Database are determined by using LISA Subject Index as well as preferred terms and specific names, for example, Public Libraries, Information services, Computerized information work, Chulalongkorn University, TLA (Thai Library Association).

Users can also perform free text searches, using natural language terms such as services, acquisition, purchase, Thai. The system provides boolean operators -- and, or not -- to the limit and combine the search. Such operators are helpful in both keyword and free text searching.

Apart from boolean operators, users can identify positional operators, namely, same (search terms must be in the same field), with (search terms must be within the single sentence), and adj. (search terms must be immediately adjacent and in order of entry).

Truncation can also be used and can also be specified by character restriction, e.g. librar$ and librar$3. Field qualification can be added on for more specific purposes, e.g., librar$ ti.ab. (the search terms have to be in either title or abstract field). Other search strategies can be performed using the BRS command, such as, " @yr>=1984 and @yr<1989" which is used to locate documents that are published from 1984-1989.

The operators and commands provide useful search techniques tailored to the user's requirements. The search features of BRS are quite common to users who are familiar with online searching. If not, they can learn the basic mode of access to information in the LIS Database quite easily.

The output from the system is also designed for the user's convenience and requirements. In BRS/Search users can define the display and print format by identifying fields needed ,for example, ..p JS,KY/all (the system will display journal source and keywords of the searched documents).

There are also 8 pre-defined formats :

Format Field(s) displayed

f1 LIS Accession Number

f3 LIS Accession Number, Author, Corporate Name, Title Monograph Source, Edition, Year, Journal Source, Publication Area, Language

f4 Title, Abstract

f5 LIS Accession Number, Document Type, Author, Corporate Name, Title, Monograph Source, Edition, Year, Journal Source, Publication Area, Language, Keyword, Abstract, and Note

f6 Title

f7 LIS Accession Number, Author, Corporate Name, Title, Monograph Source, Edition, Year, Journal Source, Publication Area, Abstract

f8 Title, Keyword

f9 LIS Accession Number, Author, Corporate Name, Title, Monograph Source, Edition, Year, Journal Source, Publication Area, Keyword

If there is no data available in any field, the system will automatically skip that field. Users can also select from short to full format. So far, the response time of searching is quite satisfactory partly because of the powerful features of the software and the size of the LIS Database.

5. FUTURE PLAN

The system evaluation in Phase I of the project will start the task of Phase II - the review and adjustment of the database. There may be lots to learn from the operations of the database and services to users. Some adjustments may have to be made, but with careful maintenance of the database, quality control of input data, along with the assistance from TIAC's database adminis-trator, there will not be any obstacle to the growth of the LIS Database.

As mentioned earlier, efforts have been given to the design and creation of the easy to use and operate database. In Phase II, user manual as well as system manual will be developed to ensure that the information storage and retrieval be fully facilitated.

Regarding the database coverage, the Committee also plan for the extension from the literature pertinent to Thailand to those of ASEAN countries. For the latter one, The Department of Library Science will act as a referral center. However, it is desirable that we can acquire some documents for quick access and delivery of needed materials. Most of documents pertinent to Thailand in the database have already collected and stored at the Department of Library Science. Document delivery service rely mostly on TIAC service.

It is also anticipated that the use of the LIS Database be increased locally and internationally parallel with the expansion of TIAC services.

The LIS Database is a result of the attempt to make the library and information science literature of Thailand publicly available and known not only among educators and researchers in Thailand but also those of foreign countries. It is hoped that the LIS Database can contribute to the increasing awareness of the development of library and information science in this part of the world.

REFERENCES

BRS Information Technologies. Introductory Training Course. 1988.

Library and Information Science Database: A Computerized System Project. Bangkok: Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, 1987. (in Thai)