LibraryAutomation

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Submitted by: Sameen Tiwana

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DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Contents

LIBRARY AUTOMATION
ADVANTAGES OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION
DISADVANTAGES OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION
EMPLOYEE CUT-BACK
LIBRARY CLOSINGS AND HOUR SHORTAGE
BOOK BUDGETBUDGETS
RAISING BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS
LibraryAutomation:

refers to the use of the computer to automate the typical

procedures of libraries such as cataloging and circulation. In the process of
library automation, a library makes the use of computers and other
technologies to support its systems and services.

Advantages of Library Automation

Advantages of Library Automation are as follows:

Computers and advanced technologies have made it possible to

enhance services in diverse industries including libraries. Through
library automation, in-house collections and resources can be
computerized, spreadsheets and databases can be automated,
CD-ROMs can be provided in-house and the Internet can be made
available to patrons.

Caution Various factors must be considered when planning library

automation include how automation will help the library and
educate the public, how automation fits into the library’s
technology plan and how it fits into the budget.
 Library automation reduces the workload for library staff in terms
of cataloguing, circulation and acquisitions. This frees up time to
provide a higher quality of service to library patrons. The staff
becomes available to answer reference questions, help people with
research work and find information on request. With automation,
finding library materials such as books and reference journals
becomes easier and less time consuming. Patrons no longer have
to wait ages for a harried library staff member to attend to requests

With the help of library automation, automated cataloguing

standards, for example, machine readable cataloguing (MARC)
help librarians to catalogue items quickly. It is possible to
catalogue items for easy reference using vendor-supplied
catalogues. Professional cataloguing with the use of scanning
technology can be employed where bar codes on books can be
scanned directly into the catalogue database. Automated
cataloguing makes the task of keeping track of library materials
that much easier. It also helps to quickly identify inventory stock
when budgeting for new library materials.

There are many benefits to library automation, but one of the

major disadvantages is employee cutbacks. With a huge amount of
the budget being spent on automation, there is generally not much
funding left over for salaries and employee benefits. Further, the
need for the full complement of library staff is not there anymore.
Automation takes over many of the functions that people perform.
DISADVANTAGES OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION
Disadvantages of Library Automation are as follows:

Employee Cut-Backs:

With the new automation systems in public libraries, there is less

funding left in the budget for employees. Also, fewer employees
are needed. The automation system does the work of human
employees by scanning books and more. You can check books out
by yourself by simply swiping your library card and then scan your
book across the book pad. Users can be taught to handle terminals
and systems, but it is harder and harder to find people, especially
out on the floor of public libraries, of whom you can ask your
perhaps not-fully-formed question or make a general inquiry.

Library Closings & Hour Shortages:

Many libraries are closing their doors because of economic
pressures. Library doors are either closing permanently or they are
closing earlier or opening later. Partly due to the new automation
system, funding can no longer be afforded to keep them all up and
running. Library closings mean less library access for all patrons.
Library closings mean job closings, less children’s story hours,
book club closings and cancelled after-school reading clubs to
help keep kids off of the streets. It seems that each week brings
news of libraries forced to close branches, reduce hours. Libraries
without automation are simply less expensive to run. Government
grants cannot cover all of the branches with rising technology
costs and smaller libraries cannot always afford to pay for the
automation costs on their own.

Book Budgets:
A higher budget percentage being spent on automated library
systems means less money is being spent on books. With
bookshelves shrinking, it is less likely to find what you need during
your next visit to the library. Library books have a shelf life and
sometimes are only kept according to the number of times they are
checked out. If academic libraries continue to cut back on their
purchase of specialized scholarly books, if they begin to define
worth or value in terms of the number of times someone has
sought access to it one could imagine a day when every university
would have its own “press.” The new technology is radically
changing the environment in which scholars do their work. The
great danger is we will end with a system of scholarly
communication which will be technically viable, but not
intellectually desirable.

Rising Building and Maintenance Costs:

When automated systems are added into a library,
FindArticles.com states that added power consumption and the
changes in heating and air conditioning needs are seldom planned
for when automated systems are installed. The noise and heat of
the machines combined with the noise and heat of body heat from
extra people, cost more than what the library had been previously
paying for the building’s maintenance and power costs.