Introduction National Bibliographic Database Services Cooperative Online Shared Cataloguing Services Building a National Union Catalogue A Web-based Online Catalogue Multi-lingual Capabilities Introduction SILAS’s main task is to promote a cooperative online shared cataloguing services among its participants.  The database also provides online enquiry access through which reference searches are done. SILAS maintains a National Union Catalogue, facilitates cooperative acquisition and interlibrary loans among member libraries and expedites the compilation of current and retrospective bibliographies.  Other than its online services, SILAS also provides a wide range of products and bibliographical support services to Singapore libraries. SILAS has provided Singapore libraries with online shared cataloguing services since 1987. SILAS has recently implemented a new computerised system to update SILAS services to consortium members. With the introduction of a new technology base, SILAS is determined to provide members with superior services covering the following core functions: National Bibliographic Database Services The SILAS database consists of a large warehouse of bibliographic and subject authority records built from the loading of MARC records mainly from the Library of Congress. Other sources of bibliographic records include the Australian Bibliographic Network, PMSC, the British Library and the Online Cataloging Library Consortium (OCLC). The Singapore National Bibliography, residing on the SILAS database, provides members with a timely and rich source of bibliographic records of titles pertaining to Singapore. Cooperative Online Shared Cataloguing Services As a consortium existing for the mutual benefit of all members, SILAS’s online cataloguing services eliminate duplicated efforts in original cataloguing. SILAS member libraries can efficiently obtain bibliographic records by simply attaching holdings to copy catalogue records. The cloning of bibliographic records is another means of increasing cataloguer productivity. Libraries can parameterise (at the 59x and 69x tag levels) data that is Institution Dependent Data (IDD) to ensure that no other library can view or update these IDD fields. However, updates to the SILAS database will still update non-IDD fields. Building a National Union Catalogue The adding of holdings to bibliographic records by SILAS members causes the direct creation of Singapore’s National Union Catalogue. This national effort provides librarians and library patrons with a single source of locating holdings of titles held in Singapore libraries. This facilitates the sharing of library resources through the Inter-Library Loan process. A Web-based Online Catalogue A Web-based online National Union Catalogue can be provided to libraries to serve their patrons better. This user-friendly Web catalogue interface is end-user intuitive and can provide researchers with a superior tool to locate library material held by Singapore libraries. Multi-lingual Capabilities The SILAS system is UNICODE compliant. This provides SILAS with the technological basis to input, search and edit multi-lingual bibliographic records. This in turn provides SILAS with the ability to import records from other multi-lingual bibliographic sources. The system provides full support for the 880 tag for storing vernacular script. home | sitemap | contact us | SILASweb © Copyright 2000 SILAS.