Multi‐site library networking at Liverpool Polytechnic

Libraries wishing to install a network of online terminals to serve a multi‐site library system may be interested in an alternative approach to that described previously by the Polytechnic of Central London (PCL). Like PCL, Liverpool Polytechnic has joined SWALCAP, although for cataloguing not circulation control, and was faced with the problem of providing online terminals in widely‐scattered sites (originally eight at Liverpool but now increased to nine, compared with six at PCL) located in several different telephone exchange areas. The conventional method of leasing British Telecom lines to connect the remote sites to the central processor was considered, but the estimated costs were too high. It was then realised that the Polytechnic's Computer Services Department already had a communications system to serve its multi‐site network of computing facilities and this system could be enhanced to support the library's terminals. Using this method reduced the capital cost by nearly £13,000 and the annual recurrent cost by nearly £5,000. Detailed cost breakdowns are given in Table 1 (a) and (b).