Online Reference at the Library of Congress

Abstract

Within the past several years, reference services have been changed by the advent of computer technology for information retrieval, and the sight of a computer terminal in the library reading room is almost commonplace. Today will be giving an overview of how automated systems are an integral part of public reference at the Library of Congress. I will present some of the characteristics of the SCORPIO system, a programming package developed at LC which provides access to an online book catalog and some inhouse data bases. SCORPIO is a part of the Library of Congress Information System (LOCIS) which also includes MUMS (Multiple-Use MARCH System), and several other administrative and information retrieval subsystems.