Session Number
09
Description
Since 1975 the ETH Library uses an automated periodicals control system called PEKOS (PEriodica-KOntroll-System). Version I, which could not yet handle title updates online, was soon replaced by the enhanced version of PEKOS-2.
A completely revised version, called PEKOS-3 was developed and implemented in the course of 1982. Some main functions of PEKOS are:
- A fast method of identification for incoming copies using a simple mechanism for the abbreviation of titles
- each single incoming issue is recorded
- all recorded information on holdings can be queried and retrieved
- reminders are issued periodically (a list of all claims issued is printed weekly in three languages)
- easy checking of incoming invoices
- statistics
- in view of future development of a new circulation system for periodicals, variant identification on the form of the issue at hand (e.g . the numbering) can be stored.
Three such identifications may be assigned to each issue, and any of these can consist of six hierarchical levels. In addition to numbering, months, years, dates, and a free text string are allowed. In most cases the identification as it appears on the cover of a journal can be entered unaltered. In the previcus version of the system, this possibility of identifying almost any form of an issue's description, existed in a very simple form only.
Our automated circulation system provides for patrons to type in their order directly at one of six printing terminals (the 'ETH-Bibliothek' is a closed access library). We plan to integrate this system with PEKOS, and then, as far as journals are concerned, any recorded issue identification may be used to order a specific copy of a journal.
Issue identifications in PEKOS are used internally in a normalised format as opposed to strings of free text which may be recorded elsewhere in the system. A code for the type of identification is also stored, which enables the system to predict the number of the next journal to be issued. These predictions may of course be changed manually as needed.
PEKOS-3 has been developed by the library staff in about ten 'man' years. It is running on the machines of the main computing center of the ETH in Zurich. We plan to rewrite it for use on our own machine (an IBM 4341) in the course of three years. It will then be an integrated part of the over-all library control system called ETHICS ('ETH Library Information Contral System').
Online Serials Control at the ETH Library
Since 1975 the ETH Library uses an automated periodicals control system called PEKOS (PEriodica-KOntroll-System). Version I, which could not yet handle title updates online, was soon replaced by the enhanced version of PEKOS-2.
A completely revised version, called PEKOS-3 was developed and implemented in the course of 1982. Some main functions of PEKOS are:
- A fast method of identification for incoming copies using a simple mechanism for the abbreviation of titles
- each single incoming issue is recorded
- all recorded information on holdings can be queried and retrieved
- reminders are issued periodically (a list of all claims issued is printed weekly in three languages)
- easy checking of incoming invoices
- statistics
- in view of future development of a new circulation system for periodicals, variant identification on the form of the issue at hand (e.g . the numbering) can be stored.
Three such identifications may be assigned to each issue, and any of these can consist of six hierarchical levels. In addition to numbering, months, years, dates, and a free text string are allowed. In most cases the identification as it appears on the cover of a journal can be entered unaltered. In the previcus version of the system, this possibility of identifying almost any form of an issue's description, existed in a very simple form only.
Our automated circulation system provides for patrons to type in their order directly at one of six printing terminals (the 'ETH-Bibliothek' is a closed access library). We plan to integrate this system with PEKOS, and then, as far as journals are concerned, any recorded issue identification may be used to order a specific copy of a journal.
Issue identifications in PEKOS are used internally in a normalised format as opposed to strings of free text which may be recorded elsewhere in the system. A code for the type of identification is also stored, which enables the system to predict the number of the next journal to be issued. These predictions may of course be changed manually as needed.
PEKOS-3 has been developed by the library staff in about ten 'man' years. It is running on the machines of the main computing center of the ETH in Zurich. We plan to rewrite it for use on our own machine (an IBM 4341) in the course of three years. It will then be an integrated part of the over-all library control system called ETHICS ('ETH Library Information Contral System').