Literature on biochemistry recorded on marginal punched cards with punch

Abstract

Research in biochemistry is based to a great extent on the scientific achievements in a great number of adjacent fields of science. It was therefore necessary to establish in the Library of the Institute for Biochemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences an Information system suitable for flexible and complex retrieval. Articles published in about 80 periodicals of major importance have been continuously processed since 5 years.
Double-row marginal punched cards of the standard size A6 are being used as information storage media, storage space, slotting and marginal punching were jointly employed for solving the problem of independent utilization of each of the two rows of holes in two-row marginal punched cards of A6 size. This punching method also pertmits complex data retrieval with the cards in a sole position: the data placed at the four sides of the cards can be selected in a single operation also in relation to each other.
The card plan includes the following data: 75 descriptors are stored by direct coding at 92 sign positions. 17 sign positions constitute a reserve for future development.
The bibliographical data (title of the periodical, year of publication, language) are recorded on the cards by a combination code (1, 2, 4, 7, M). 100 titles of periodicals, 10 languages and 20 years can be indicated.
The names of the first and of the so-called main authors are recorded by a superposed ABC code.
The collection of descriptors was compiled by a scientific team of the inatitute. The articles are coded by the research-workers themselves. About 80 periodicals of major interest were distributed among the instituts's research-workers according to their command of languages and their interest in special fields. The scientists are scanning the recentiy received journals and code the articles of interest. These codes are complemented with the codes of bibliographical data by the librarian who subsequently prepares the punch-cards, marks the position of punches, performs the punching and sorts the cards. Thie information system includes about 6000 cards, the average annual increase is approx. 2000.
The modified punching method permits the use of a new and more simple device for selection. A selecting box was made in the workshop of the Institute for Biochemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
The efficiency of the above system was investigated; as compared to the conventional cataloguing of articles using punched cards is positively less expensive.