The catalogue module is Bibis LMS's central module. Without it it is not possible to work with Bibis LMS. The catalogue module is supplied as standard with the thesaurus sub-module. Many different types of media can be included in the catalogue because Bibis LMS offers you the facility of varying the title descriptions and copy descriptions per type.

This allows you to decide for yourself what arrangement of categories you want to use. Bibis LMS offers you the facility of making references in a title description to, for example, an abstract, multi-media files such as images, audio and video fragments and other references as well such as, for example, to a DTP text file. There are input and change programs available for all possible references.

Subdividing the title and copy descriptions ensures that there is no duplicate storage of information. In addition, tables are used in such a way that they do not cause any duplication of information either. An unlimited number of connections can be made between title descriptions in a hierarchical sense. Bibis LMS is extraordinarily powerful in its ability to vary the title descriptions for individual categories of types of publications. You can decide for yourself which fields are applicable for each category created. For those categories that have been individually named, but that have corresponding copy descriptions, Bibis LMS provides you with the facility of grouping them. In this way Bibis LMS has individual copy descriptions for journals, AVM, loose-leaf publications and books. For the programs used for creating and changing, the HTLM pages are built up dynamically, dependent on the arrangement you have decided on for the title description.

By including data about the date and user in the title records as well, it is possible to provide comprehensive management information with regard to the title descriptions. In the thesaurus management sub-module the basis is laid for providing access right through all the title descriptions. Extensive search programs make the data fully accessible.

As well as the search program for library specialists, there is an extraordinarily powerful Bibis OPAC available to everyone in which the Verity full-text retrieval engine mentioned previously is included.

Print generator

Bibis LMS is equipped with a powerful print generator for the export of title descriptions to printers. Per module, a large number of printing layouts can be created and selected so as to be able to provide customized printed matter for the librarian and the end user. In the catalogue this means, for example, that there are comprehensive facilities for making literature reviews from your own catalogue. A number of the layouts you would want to keep intact, others you would use to make temporary modifications for special requirements.

Thesaurus sub-module

This sub-module forms part of the Catalogue module as standard. It is used to manage all the parts of the thesaurus. A thesaurus is an ordered list of index terms selected from the natural language that, in connection with postcoordination, in principle cover simple units of concepts, stating their mutual semantic relationships. A preferred term from a thesaurus is called a descriptor. This module can also be used for managing a list of headwords. In the thesaurus we distinguish BT=Broader Term, NT=Narrower Term, RT=Related Term, SN=Scope Note, UF=Used For and USE=Use.

Where applicable, the reverse relationships are automatically entered immediately by Bibis LMS. When entering a new descriptor, it is possible to copy the existing relationships of an existing descriptor. Relationships that have been created can always be changed. A count is kept of the use of descriptors, both in title descriptions and in searches. Descriptors can be checked, replaced or removed. If you are working with several languages, translations of descriptors and references from the language of communication to another language can be entered, removed, retrieved or printed. This can be done in such a way that a, for example, French-speaking user would see the thesaurus as being completely, and only, in French. The thesaurus can, of course, be printed and retrieved to suit many views. The use of prefixes makes it possible to develop several thesauri within the thesaurus. It is possible to distinguish them to order in the input programs. Where possible in the search programs, the thesaurus and all other tables are presented to provide a check of the information entered in fields (input validation).