BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD TRANSFER USING ELECTRONIC MAIL: A NEW SERVICE FROM JOHN MEKZIES LIBRARY SERVICES LTD

As the number of libraries implementing acquisitions as part of their turnkey; integrated systems increases; so is there more demand and need for bibliographic data to be available at time of ordering. Many organisations are; in fact; keen to have access to data even at the pre‐order stage to aid selection by providing an online resource which may be accessed throughout a library network. A number of moves has been taken by what may be termed the more traditional sources of bibliogrpahic records: the BL BSD has been conscious of the need to improve currency of UK MARC; witness the enhancement of the CIP programme; BLCMP has mounted the Whitakers BBIP file online as a tool in its shared acquisitions system; and OCLC also runs a CIP programme for UK publishers. A number of libraries has established links with booksellers; whereby their data may be made available. To date; these have taken the form of exchange tapes for mounting on the library system or of online dial‐up access; via PSS; to the bookseller's database. A recent initiative from John Menzies Library Services Ltd marks a new departure; they are using electronic mail to distribute to libraries bibliographic records about new publications. Basically; details of new titles are transmitted weekly to the library's Telecom GOLD mailbox; from where the records may be downloaded for further manipulation locally. Orders may be placed subsequently using electronic mail or directly; via PSS; into the JMLS ordering system.