Domsa Károlyné, Fekete Gézáné, Kovács Mária (szerk.): Gondolatok a könyvtárban / Thoughts in the Library (A MTAK közleményei 30. Budapest, 1992)
An academic library as an integrated information centre: the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
The Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Computer-based information services, researches and library automation programme Operations for the automation of the library started in 1980. 1 0 The philosophy behind this was that, in accordance with the academy's interdisciplinary character, computer services should start with an interdisciplinary database. The practical approach required services to start with scientific information, where sufficient demand could be expected to justify them. Unlike basic library services, computerized information services were planned to be charged for. There are two reasons for this. In the first place, the LHAS needs to produce some income to supplement its allocation of money. Secondly, in market economies and in countries working towards them, experience indicates that, apart from public services, free services have no prestige, and their usefulness cannot be measured. This second reason was considered just as important as the first. In view of the interdisciplinary nature of the academy, the Science Citation Index of the Institute for Scientific Information in Philadelphia was chosen for offline processing because of its value for research information and speed. The construction of science profiles is carried out by an expert group. After an experimental period, a subscription system was introduced for ASCA and ASCATOPICS. This was gradually extended to other databases, such as MEDLINE, Dissertation Abstracts and CDROM databases. The concept and label of "information galaxy" were provided by Professor Tibor Braun, Deputy Director-General of the LHAS, who is also responsible for the organization of SCI-based scientometric investigations and researches in Hungary. These investigations and researches are sometimes referred to in professional literature as the "Budapest school"; its main product is the international journal Scientometrics. Scientometric researches are based on information services and not on isolated (and consequently very expensive) researches. CD-ROM databases were introduced in Hungary by the LHAS. The galaxy built on these is illustrated in Figure 1. Most of the computer-based information services are provided on subscription. However, they can still not be regarded as real profit-making undertakings. They supplement the budget allocated to the library, and demonstrate to the competent authorities that, besides its indirect science support function, the LHAS can organize programmes that generate income directly. Such programmes are already carried out by the LHAS, besides the computer-assisted services, through (e.g.) the microfilm laboratory. An extension of the subscription services, to cover the social sciences, is in progress, it is based on SSCI. Besides this interdisciplinary database access is provided to specialized databases, e.g. in the fields of economics and sociology. Gondoiaiok a konyvtarban " 35
