Telecommunication Considerations in an Automated Library Network: An Introduction

According to the Dictionary of Data Processing, telecommunications is the transmission and reception of signals over long distances by means of radio, telephone, or telegraphy. Telecommunications can take place across the room, across town, or across a state. When data are transferred between remote locations, telecommunications equipment is necessary in addition to the usual computer hardware. The equipment creates a host of considerations other than those encountered in a single building automation project. In fact, in an automation project with disbursed sites, telecommunications, rather than computer hardware and software, may become the major source of problems. A number of basic telecommunications concepts are presented as an introduction to the technology and associated issues.