Information technology in the Library

At the beginning of 1998, the Library of the German Bundestag introduced a new library system. The aDIS/BMS system is a client-server solution with UNIX-based servers and Windows-based clients. In addition to processing acquisitions and cataloguing, modules are used for the issue system, thesaurus maintenance, WWW-OPAC, aDIS-client-OPAC with extended search components for experts, and for compiling bibliographies, managing the circulation of periodicals, placing bookbinding orders and preparing statistics. Members can order all Library material from their offices.

The Library's electronic information services are developed and managed using the aDIS/BMS library software and a Content Management System. Both programs are available to users in the German Bundestag via the Intranet. The libraries of the federal ministries can access the data held by the Bundestag Library directly.

The Library has a CD-ROM server with which it makes around 70 CD-ROMs available via the Intranet. Electronic texts which are of particular and topical interest to policy-makers are currently stored on the production server in the catalogue database.