LIBR248
Introduction to Cataloguing
and Classification
Instructor: LIU

How to Use the UNISON System

General Description

The UNISON library automation system is a product of the Follett Software Company. This Windows NT-based library automation system is chosen for illustration purpose and will be used to demonstrate online cataloguing procedures, principles, MARC record field tags, and record structures. Students in this class are required to finish their cataloguing assignments using the UNISON system.

Although we are able to acquire this software for teaching purposes, the school is only granted a site license and we can only install this software in the school's PC lab and classrooms. Student demo version is NOT available, which means, unlike some other programs used for teaching, we will NOT give out any installation disks. Students in this class will NOT be allowed to install this software on their own computers at home using the school's site-licensed copy.

The system is made of four separate modules each of which corresponds to a distinct function of library automation. Namely the modules are: cataloguing, circulation, report generation, and database utilities. Each module can be installed and executed independently. The installations LIBR248 students are going to use for their assignments may only have the cataloguing component.

UNISON is a GUI (Graphic User Interface) system. Functions of the system are activated either by selecting an item from a dropdown menu or by clicking on an action icon on the function bar. Students should find the system quite user friendly and should not have any problem finding their way around.

However, if one does find him or herself having difficulty using this system, he or she may follow the specific step-by-step instructions below. For further assistance, please feel free to contact Dr. Liu by clicking at the highlighted hyperlink.

Run the Cataloguing Module

In Microsoft Windows,

• Close all the other running programs to conserve system resources;
• Locate the UNISON shortcut icon (a drawerful of cards) on your desktop;
• Double click on the UNISON icon, and this will bring you to the top-level screen of UNISON cataloging module.

Enter a Record

Once you enter the system, you will see the top-level screen of UNISON cataloging module. Typically, at the top of the screen, you will see a list of dropdown menus marked with keywords such as "FILE", "EDIT", etc. Immediately underneath that you will see a row of fancy pictures, each in a square of the same size. These squared pictures are called action buttons. Underneath that you will see a big area of empty space. Now don't worry about the other things. Just proceed to the following steps:

• Click on the first action button to the left, marked with the word "TITLE" (for entering authority control records, click the "AUTHORITY" action button instead), and make sure the button appears to be depressed;
• Click on the "FILE" dropdown menu and locate the item "Add Record" on the menu;
• Click on the item "Add Record";
• A smaller window will pop up at the center of screen. Inside the window is a listing of USMARC record templates such as "Book", "Computer file", etc), and the window bears a title "Bibliographic Material Type". Click on the template entry of your choice, and then click on the "SELECT" button below;
• And that brings you to a new screen, what we called "data entry screen". It is basically an empty MARC record. To the left of screen, you will see columns of stuff, first mainfield tags, then subfield tags, then option switches, each corresponding to a single row. Now you are ready to enter a MARC record. You can type, change, edit, move around in the data entry screen by following the regular Windows convention.
• Click on the "orange tag" action button to insert a mainfield at the cursor position;
• Click on the "white sheet" action button to insert a subfield at the cursor position.
• Click on "CLOSE" to erase and start afresh.

Print a Record

Still in the MARC record data entry screen, to print out the record you have just created, go to the "FILE" dropdown menu and select "Print" by clicking on that menu entry. A sheet of MARC record will come out of the printer if there is a printer connected to your computer and if it is turned on and if there is paper in the tray and if the printer is not jammed, etc.

Save and Delete a Record

I strongly encourage you to delete records and I strongly discourage you from saving a record. (HINT! hint!) For a reason, the system is configured to prevent anyone from saving a record either to the floppy drive or to the hard disk or to the network server.

Exit and Quit

Always remember to exit the program after you are done. First click on the "CLOSE" action button; then go to the "FILE" dropdown menu and select "Exit", or simply click on the "x" button in the upper right corner of the screen, and that will do the trick.

Select here to return to the main page of the course.

This page is maintained by Geoffrey Z. Liu, gliu@wahoo.sjsu.edu. It was last revised on May 20, 1998.