Software Integration without Integrated Software

Every librarian dreams of a full‐function, integrated library automation system arriving in a neatly packaged, turnkey system from a single vendor who will cordially support all of the local library's unique requirements. It should be no surprise that such a system is not available at any price for any size computer—not on a mainframe, minicomputer, or a microcomputer. However, microcomputer users with a do‐it‐yourself bent may find that they can “integrate” available systems using existing building blocks and techniques to link two or more systems to accomplish a task.