Unity: Combined Regions Database

Apologies for cross posting

News Release    25 September 1998    For immediate release

Unity looks to the future

Immediate steps are being taken to reshape the future development of 
Unity, the Combined Regions Database, following the news that Libris 
Computing Limited, the supplier of Unity 
systems, ceased trading from 4 September.

At a meeting hosted by the British Library on 15 September, the Unity 
Co-operative Council 
reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Unity concept and project. The 
Council will use the opportunity presented by the new situation to assess 
the potential for Unity to be repositioned within a client-server 
environment, incorporating interlibrary lending management systems and, 
if appropriate, Z39.50 protocols. The meeting was attended by 
representatives of the National Library of Scotland, Cydfenthyca 
Cymru/Interlending Wales, Regional Library Systems, Share the Vision and 
the British Library.

Acknowledging that there would be a temporary standstill for the Unity 
database, it was stressed at the meeting that Unity Council, the 
Management Board and the Technical Board would have much work to 
undertake in the coming months: agreeing new strategic objectives, 
assessing the implications of potential futures, and evaluating any new 
systems.

"With over 200 user libraries in the UK and Ireland, and over 450 
libraries contributing data to the database", comments Unity Chair Alan 
Marchbank, "Unity demonstrates a solid body of achievement. It's a 
working partnership of participating libraries, with a rich resource of 
up-to-date reference, enquiry and research information." 

Alan adds: "Given the debate that's now evolving on resource discovery, 
national information 
policy and the People's Network, we will work hard to position Unity 
clearly within the national agendas". 

Unity is a formal co-operative of five of the seven English Regional 
Library Systems (RLSs) and five national services. It supports 
interlibrary lending, co-operation and access by merging the current 
catalogues of its members' libraries into a single database - creating a 
unique bibliographic tool. Unity contains over 9 million catalogue 
records and more than 30 million locations. It records current holdings 
of books, music, audiovisual materials, newspapers, periodicals and 
special collections.

Enquiries from users of Unity systems and products should be made to 
Deborah Ryan, Unity 
Co-ordinating Office, North Western RLS, Central Library, St. Peter's 
Square, Manchester M2 5PD.  Tel: 0161 234 1947.  Fax: 0161 234 1963.  
E-mail:[log in to unmask]

Enquiries from users of Libris Computing Limited systems and products 
should be made to David Rutherford or David McFarlane, Cowan & Partners, 
60 Constitution Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RR.  Tel: 0131 554 0724.

/ends

Notes to Editors

1.  The members of the Unity co-operative are: North Western Regional 
Library System (RLS), Information North, Association of Yorkshire & 
Humberside Library Services, East Midlands RLS, South Western RLS, The 
British Library, National Library of Scotland, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna 
(The Library Council of Ireland), Cydfenthyca Cymru/Interlending Wales 
and Share the Vision. 

2.  The Unity core files are: British National Bibliography (BNB) 1950 to 
date, BLDSC Monographs, Conferences and Serials files, Askews, National 
Union Catalogue of Alternative Formats (NUCAF), and the British Council 
Catalogue. The following datasets are also available on Unity: BL 
Humanities & Social Sciences, BL Science, Reference and Information 
Service, and The Stationery Office (HMSO) 1976 +. Unity contains full 
MARC citations and a range of EMMA records.   

3.  For further information on Unity contact:
Deborah Ryan, Unity Co-ordinating Office, North Western RLS, Central 
Library, St. Peter's Square, Manchester M2 5PD.  Tel: 0161 234 1947.  
Fax: 0161 234 1963.  
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

4.  News Release issued for Unity by Pat Wressell & Associates
36 Highbury, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3EA
Tel: +44 (0) 191 281 3502  Fax: +44 (0) 191 212 0146  Email: 
[log in to unmask]
 



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