MERLIN: a new computer system for the British Library Available to Purchase

The British Library is developing a new computer system to cope with all the current and future cataloguing and bibliographic requirements of the Library and its users. The system is called MERLIN (MachinE Readable Library INformation) and its facilities are outlined in this paper. The nub of MERLIN is a central database and some of its basic design is described briefly. The types of input to the system and the range of possible output are also covered, as are the expanded character sets which MERLIN will be able to provide. There is an indication of how MERLIN will be able to satisfy a wide range of users without requiring repetitive complex input specifications, by utilising User Profiles, tailored to each particular user. Finally there is an explanation of how MERLIN will be introduced in various phases.