The clash of interests in computer information services

摘要

The University of London is a federal body consisting of over sixty colleges and institutes. These institutions differ in size, function and the degree of autonomy. Each institution has at least one library, some colleges have departmental libraries of considerable independence from the main library. There are five major computer centres within the University, with large resources in hardware and specialist staff, and with many years of experience in the provision of services to the wide population of the University. A Central Library Resources Co-ordinating Committee was formed in 1972 to coordinate the rich documentary resources of the University and to encourage the transfer and dissemination of information accumulated in its libraries. Under its administration, a Central Information Service headed by a Senior Information Systems Officer was initiated in October 1974. Its first task has been to undertake a large evaluation study of computer information services. Academic staff and postgraduate students have been exposed to a variety of experimental services and the impact of these services on the users has been assessed. Out of this work have come recommendations for continued provision of these services to the University in a cost-effective way. The paper considers the successes and setbacks of the project, and the reactions to it of the various parties involved—users, information officers, librarians and computer staff. The conflicts which arose during implementation of the project are discussed. They were caused by economic stringency at the University, technological changes introduced into libraries, and problems of charging for new computerised services.