Automation in the Department of Printed Books at the National Library of Wales: Part 1, system configuration and acquisitions Available to Purchase

This article is the first in a series of three describing the automation system used in the Department of Printed Books at the National Library of Wales. An overview of the computer system (a McDonnell Douglas M9000 using a version of the URICA package) and the communications network is given. The procedures for monograph acquisitions are outlined together with the policy for acquiring computer‐readable records relating to potential intake. Subsequent articles will describe cataloguing, the Online Public Access Catalogue, circulation, retrospective record conversion and serials control.