Developing distributed client-server systems for libraries: Lessons from the past and implications for the future

As a librarian who has been involved in the design and development of library automation systems since the late 1970's, when 40-character terminals at 300 baud were the norm, I have come to appreciate the enormous design freedom which today's distributed client server architecture, combined with object-oriented design, offers library automation vendors and their library clients. This paper discusses the history of the development of local systems as well as the specific automation goals and objectives which can be achieved using today's technologies. It compares capabilities possible in today's local systems with those based on the mini/mainframe/terminal emulation systems of the past.