Retrospective Conversion of Card Catalogues to Online Catalogue By Using OCR Technology: A Case of AAAU Libraries
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Date
1997-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Conversion of card catalogues to a computerized catalogue, called retrospective conversion
or RECON, is the primary hurdle of effective library automation. There are several options
for RECON, but recent advances in OCR technology make it a prominent alternative. This
thesis has mainly examined technical feasibility of the OCR technology for RECON with
particular reference to Addis Ababa University libraries' union catalogue The thesis reviews the various options for RECON in the context of Addis Ababa University
Library System. It also reviews technological advancements of optical scanning and OCR
technology stressing on document scanning and OCR with particular reference to their
application in libraries, particularly RECON. An introduction to the Addis Ababa University
Library System gives an overview of the library system with particular reference to its
cataloguing department and cataloguing practices followed therein, and automation plan of
the library system.Two sets of catalogue cards, each consisting 115 added up to 230, were chosen from the
union catalogue for this study. The sets of cards consisted of main entries made under name
of personal author (40 each), under title (40 each), and corporate body (35 each). A
prototype program, called P AEBE, was written in C++ using the first set of cards. The
various steps include: scanning and conversion of the cards to ASCII text files, analyzing of
the files, manual editing of the files, called reprocessing, if necessary, writing and running
the program creating output records consisting of each bibliographic item preceded by an appropriate field identifier.
It was noted that the success of the prototype depends much on the accuracy of OCR software,
consistency of information on card catalogues, and quality of card catalogues. The prototype
was tested with the second set of catalogue cards; and the results are discussed. It was found
out that the performance of the prototype program is encouraging. The thesis also highlights
implementation strategy for the RECON using OCR technology. Finally, some conclusions and
recommendations for further studies are forwarded.
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Information Science