Thesaurus management programs and the RELEX

Abstract

Currently, database management systems for libraries do not contain thesaurus program moduies that allow the efficient creation neither of keyword lists with simple relationships, nor standard thesauri. Online catalogues are variable to display only simple alphabeticaf indices. It is very difficult to come across stand-alone software packages for the construction and maintenance of thesauri. It is this shortcoming that is addressed by the commercially available RELEX thesaurus software package, created nearly ten years ago, and substantially improved since. Using this software, it is possible to manage thesauri that are accessible using word processors and which at the same time satisfy the requirements of transfer to the HUNMARC and USMARC data exchange formats. The import and export formats of RELEX are Microsoft Word editable documents. 13 thesauri have been created, or are underthe process of creation. using RELEX, and the majority of them are still maintained using the software.