Automated library system of the Universitas co-operation in Debrecen, Hungary

Abstract

Based on earlier automation experiences, a major breakthrough in the information technology development of Kossuth Lajos University, Debrecen, has been achieved by the establishment of Universitas, a co-operative association of five universities and academic institutrons of the town Debrecen. It was accompanied by a project to establish an integrated automatic library/information system for Universitas. The preparations for this project are presented, including planning of workflow, gathering information on similar operational systems, clarifying requirements toward library management software and toward hardware, searching for financiai sources. A tender was published, and five software products which applied for the tender were evaluated. The reasons of the decision to introduce the Cariyle Voyager system for Universitas are discussed, and the library and network criteria for its installation are considered.