Problems of library and information system automation in Brazil

Abstract

A study of the major automated libraries and bibliographic information systems in Brazil showed that the most important problems were, in ranked order, lack of experienced personnel, lack of financial resources, lack of official guidelines and government policy, and lack of networks and cooperation. Purely technical problems were ranked much lower. Lack of education and training was also ranked much lower than lack of experience. No distinction was made by respondents be tween the experience of systems analysts with libraries, and the experience of librarians with computers; in other words, what was occurring was a problem of communication between the two professions. Lack of finance was demonstrated by the simplicity of systems, lack of inhouse computer equipment, and the high level of errors in input to automated systems. There was a lack of national planning, in what was often considered a peripheral area, and the central organs of library and informa tion science were weak. Information was transferred between institutions in an almost random manner. Most automation was done in isolation, and there was no exchange of biblio graphic data between libraries. The author proposes a series of small-scale initiatory projects to spread practical experience around the country.