The automation of libraries and bibliographic information systems in Brazil

This thesis identifies the major problems involved in the use of computers in library and bibliographic information systems in Brazil, examines motives for and results of automation, and offers an in-depth description of existing automated systems. The researcher personally visited the thirty-one most significant automated systems in five localities in Brazil, and systematically collected numeric and descriptive data that could help characterise automated processes and identify problem areas. Questionnaires were sent out by post to institutions which could not be visited. Attitude tests were also applied to fifty-five senior staff of these institutions, to determine their ranking of problems, motives and results, their views of other relevant factors and their educational background. This same attitude test\was also applied postally to a group of senior librarians in institutions which did not use computers; eighty-six replied. [Continues.]