Organizational model of the association of libraries of the western Balkans countries

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to present the experience of foreign countries using the example of corporate cataloging in the organizational model of unifying libraries in the common library and information system COBISS and to analyze the characteristics and trends of the development of the corporate electronic catalog of this region. The methodological base of the research is based on the application of a complex of general scientific methods, including analysis and synthesis, comparative analysis, and generalization. Scientific novelty. The organizational and functional aspects of corporate cataloging in the region of the Western Balkans, which were practically not covered in the Ukrainian librarianship literature, were considered and analyzed. Conclusions.The COBISS library and information system made it possible to unify the libraries of neighboring countries through the management of corporate cataloging, ordering and maintenance of common databases, and the use of a single toolkit in user service. After joining corporate cataloging, 25% of new records are created by library specialists when working with local electronic catalogs of individual libraries, and 75% of records arecopied, which indicates the efficiency of the system, significant saving of time and financial resources. Catalogers and scientists pay considerable attention to quality control of entered bibliographic records. Acquaintance with experience in the field of corporate cataloging of other countries can be useful when developing the concept and implementation of these processes in the network of Ukrainian libraries.

Keywords

• co-operative cataloging, shared cataloguing, izum, cobiss, libraryand information system, library association.