establish the availability of articles and similar items once only ans thus
avoid the subséquent need to record further classification numbers.
The envisaged dialogue procedure will enable each library to maintain
its independent role. The assumption is that about 60-7096 of the literature
recorded in the jointly prepared central catalogue will be available to the ex-
tent of at least one copy in the Bundestag Library. This Library will thus be
responsible for the bulk of the recording of titles or at least be able to get
them front other data sources such as the ‘British National Bibliography’ or
the ‘German Bibliography’.
In addition to the classification of items in accordance with their titles,
there is also to be a simultaneous cataloguing under subject matter not only
of books but also of articles, reports and expertises. This will also cover the
considérable volume of brochures and similar publications sometimes
required in the ministres, but not always adequately catalogued in regard to
subject matter. The decision to base classification on the cataloguing system
of the Bundestag Library was a logical one. After all, the alternative would
have been to forgo their co-operation since the Bundestag Library could not
abandon their classification system without seriously impairing their capaci-
ty in the sphere of documentation.
Nevertheless, one of our most difficult problems is still the stan-
dardisation of subjectmatter cataloguing^ Some of the ministry libraries with
their own efficient subject-matter catalogues are reluctant to surrender
them. Perhaps the best solution would be to combine their classifications
with those of the Bundestag — perhaps in the form of a concordance
and thus also achieve better access for users.
Such a course of action would also enable us to integrate the texts of
Bundestag and Bundesrat deliberations recorded in the subject-matter and
speakers registers as well as the collections of cuttings prepared by the
Press Documentation Section’ of the Bundestag and set out in their own
catch word index. In addition, considération could be given to titles recorded
in the form of catchwords.
The task of assembling information comprising so many different
elements within a reasonable period of time can surely only be fulfilled by
means of electronic data processing. In any case, catalogues consisting of
card-indexes would soon expand and start overflowing because of the large
number of cross references.
In spite of this, the intention is to continue operating card-index
catalogues even after the introduction of the network system both in the
Bundestag and in other libraries. The requisite cards are to be supplied by a
printer connected with the EDP unit. As we know from past experience,
car -indexes are still the swiftest and most reliable device for providing the
answers to a whole series of questions. And in fact they will remain in use if
we proceed on the basis of requests from members of parliament, for exam-
40 / Bibliotheekgids — Jg. 54 — Nr. 1 ^ 1978