Multipurpose Cataloging and Indexing System (CAIN) at the National Agricultural Library

Abstract

A description of the Cataloging and Indexing System (CAIN) which the National Agricultural Library has been using since January 1970 to build a broad data base of agricultural and associated sciences information. With a single keyboarding, bibliographic data is inputed, edited, manipulated, and merged into a permanent base which is used to produce many types of printed or print-ready end-products. Presently consisting of five subsystems, CAIN utilizes the concept of controlled authority files to facilitate both information input and its retrieval. The system was designed to provide maximum computer services with the minimum of effort by users.