LIBRARY AUTOMATION

• Library automation may be defined as the application of automatic

and semiautomatic data processing machines (computers) to perform
traditional library house keeping activities such as acquisition,
circulation, cataloguing and reference and serials control. Today
“Library Automation” is by far the most commonly used terms to
describe the mechanization of library activities using the computer.
OBJECTIVES OF LIBRARY
AUTOMATION
•  To maintain bibliographical records of all the materials, in a
computerized form.
•  To provide bibliographical details through a single enumerative access
point of holdings of a library.
•  To reduce the repetition in the technical processes of housekeeping
operations.
•  To provide access to information at a faster rate.
•  To share the resources through library networking.
•  To implement new IT processes to provide high quality information.
NEED FOR LIBRARY AUTOMATION

• Information Explosion
• User Service
• Greater Efficiency
• Information availability in one access point
• Cooperation and Resource sharing
PURPOSE OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION
• To improve internal workflows and sharing cataloguing data.
• To improve control over collection of various document.
• To promote the existing service like CAS, SDI,ILL etc
• To introduce service like EDDS, bibliographic service.
• Avoid duplication work
• To prepare library statistics quickly and accurately .
Planning and Implementation

• Who should be planned of library automation?

• Library authority
• Library committee
• Librarian or library staff
• Computer Specialist or Engineer
Steps of Planning for Library
Automation
• Objectives or vision
• Present status of library
• Requirement gape
• Feasibility
• Technology plan
• Project proposal
• Approval of proposed project
Objectives or Vision
• A vision is a dream. It is a vivid picture of what you would
like your library to become in the near future. It is based on
the mission of your library, the needs of your users and on
the trends in library service. A vision provides direction and a
philosophy for the library.
Present status of Library
A systems study is conducted to assess the library’s status and needs. It
involves all the following issues;
1. Nature of Library and its purpose
2. Total collection of library
3. Number of users
4. Daily circulation
5. Numbers of multi lingual documents
6. Information service
7. Available staff
8. Working process of library
9. Users need
Sources of data
o Statistics
o Staff profile
o Patron profile
o Policies and procedures
o Functional specifications
Requirement gape
• By comparing the actual status with the objectives of the project, the
systems requirements can be determined.
Feasibility
Immediately after the analysis and design for the system has been
completed, a feasibility study must be conducted. It is designed to
answer:
– Is the proposed system possible?
– Is it necessary?
– What other options are available?
– Is it affordable?
The end product of a feasibility study is a report to management.
Technological plan
The technological plan should be a written document Contains:
– Vision, Goals and Objectives
– Components of the project in terms of needs to achieve the vision
– Specifications for your system requirements,
– Financial estimates,
– Action plan and
– Time table for the project.