A large scale computerization project was initiated in Iraq to automate library and information work in support of the accelerating research and development work in the country. It was jointly implemented by the Iraqi Scientific Documentation Centre and the Hungarian Computer Applications and Service Company under the auspices of Unesco. Four databases were implemented initially: the local versions of the BIOSIS and INSPEC databases, a union catalogue of monographs from LC/MARC records and a union catalogue of serials from the ISDS tapes. The background and justification of the project are reviewed and an overview given of the design concepts, implementation and the major characteristics of the databases, services and products. The results of the project are evaluated and future developments discussed.
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References
1.
For an up-to-date description of the Computerized Documentation System/Integrated Set of Information Systems (CDS/ISIS) system and news of forthcoming developments, see Information Development, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 15-18 and vol. 1, no. 3, p. 141.
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Francis, S.Development of documentation and academic library services (Iraq) . Technical report PP./1975-76/4.221.4, 1977.
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Jacsó, P.Overall plan; application definition for the computerized library and information system of the Iraqi Scientific Documentation Centre. Working document of the 909/IRQ/84/FIT project, Unesco, 1984 .
