Spanish Museum Libraries Network.

This paper describes the creation of an automated network of museum libraries in Spain. The only way in which the specialized libraries in the world today can continue to be active and to offer valid information is to automate the service they offer, and create network libraries with cooperative plans. The network can be configured with different technical structures, and many strategies may be useful in order to create a cooperative system, but it must include the following requirements: high level of funding; making resources more profitable; time saving; standards for library networks; and easy access to information from geographically disperse museums. This network has the following characteristics: a bus network; access to a single database; specialized libraries; and access to other networks. The system hardware, operating system, database management system, and library management software are discussed. The paper also discusses following ISO/OSI norms; retrospective catalog conversion and database loading; training personnel; linking with the general museum system; and access to the Internet. Creating a network for automating the Spanish museum libraries is the only efficient way of using the materials and resources available there and avoiding their loss. Automating all the museum State libraries simultaneously on a low budget, using funds jointly and rationalizing their use, obtains better performance from the personnel available and gives access to international information networks. (Contains 18 references.) (Author/SWC)