Proceedings of the 1966 Clinic on Library Applications of Data Processing

Abstract

the problem session. It seems clear that data processing has already affected many libraries and is likely to affect many more in the near future. The university and special libraries have been among the first to become involved, and usually at the computer level; school and public libraries are beginning to be involved, and usually at the level of punched cards. But involvement is only a first step along the road to successful operation of effective systems of data processing; to travel this road, librarians need to learn many new things. In this process of successful application to libraries of data processing, the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library Science seeks to make a contribution by way of this annual conference or Clinic. The focus of the meeting is on the reporting of actual experience in case history form. We seek promising and fruitful experience (e.g., PLATO's use of a console -computer hook-up) and not necessarily successful experience alone; for surely we can learn much from mistakes and failures too.