3/27/2024

Concepts of Library Automation

MZUMBE UNIVERSITY

LIM 214 LIBRARY AUTOMATION AND

NETWORKING

Mwl. Kardo J.M.

[email protected]

Wednesday, 27 March 2024

Lecture One (A picture is worth a thousand words)

Introduction Library Automation

As Librarians, how can we use Information • Information Technology (IT) changes the society as
T Technology in performing the following functions;
well as the library staff, users and services

1. Networking and collaboration • The term ‘automation’ was first coined by Harder D.S.
2. Provision of library services in 1936 while working with a motor company related
3. Selection and acquisition of library information resources systems in USA
4. Marketing and dissemination of information resources
5. Access and retrieval of library information resources • Automation is a technological development that uses
6. Monitoring circulation of library information resources self- controlled machines or systems
7. Preservation/conservation of library information resources
8. Archival of library information resources • Automation mainly imply the use of computers and
9. Evaluation of library collection other modern technologies

Library Automation.. Library Automation..

• In libraries, automation came into being by a USA • Library automation concerns with controlling,
Librarian Dr. John Shaw Billing around 1950s - 1960s managing and computerising library collection and
services
• In developing nations, the introduced low-cost
personal computers of 1970s and improved • Library automation refers to the application of
connectivity of 1980s helped establishment of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in
automated library systems performing traditional library activities and services

• In Tanzania, the University of Dar es Salaam was the

first among public universities to automate its library
services in the year 1998

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Library Automation.. Library Automation..

• Library automation processes are integrated systems • ILS or ILMS is a sophisticated platform which
of a set of interlinked modules responsible for the incorporate hardware, software and Internet to support
management of different operational sub-systems library functions e.g. selection, ordering, acquisition,
processing, circulation, serials control and
• Hardware, software and Internet improved library dissemination of information services
automation processes with integrated technology i.e.
Integrated Library System (ILS) or Library • It is a management tool which provides for library
Management System (LMS) administration, planning and decision making

• ILS is an automation platform in which various

applications share one bibliographic database

Library Automation.. Library Automation..

Integrated Library System (ILS)

Library Automation.. Library Automation..

• Library automation requires an integrated library

management software

• KOHA and many other software including ABCD are

important software for library automation

• Integrated library management software forms a

computerised manageable library functions and NOT
a digital library

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Library Automation.. Library Automation..

• A library in KOHA is the digital representation of a

“physical” place

• Modern library automation systems are Web

compatible and accessible through Internet for
Bibliographic information retrieval as well as data entry
activities

Integrated Library Management Integrated Library Management

Software Software..

• They are commercially (proprietary) acquired and/or • OSS library automation/management software can be
accessed as free Open Source Software (OSS) shared and modified to suit user needs

• Most of the Microsoft software, including the Windows

family of operating systems and Microsoft Office are
proprietary

• OSS library management software include; Koha,

ABCD, ADLIB, Greenstone, Evergreen,
PhpMyLibrary, EPrint, DSpace, OPALS, LIBERO,
OpenBiblio etc

Integrated Library Management

Software.. Need for Library Automation
• Library automation is highly needed for;
- Increasing efficiency of library services/activities
- Enhancing better access and quality of library
services
- Broadening user access to library services
- Improving user satisfaction and involvement
- Innovating library information services
- Improving productivity and creativity of library staff
- Minimising traditional library services/activities

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Need for Library Automation.. Considerations for Library Automation

- Information explosion and increasing library • Project identification

collection
• Plan and conduct feasibility study on resources (time,
- Time management in locating resources traditionally
funds, experts), infrastructures functionality, technical
- Adopting the advanced IT for library management aspects and potential risks assessment

• Adequate collection - the larger the collection, the

more the necessity for automation

• Library budget - infrastructures such as computers,

servers, trainings and library data entry are expensive

Considerations for Library Automation.. Considerations for Library Automation..

• Selection of the IL Software for first time functioning, • Monitoring and evaluation of the platform for
migration or adding a discovery interface or other improvement
modules to the current ILS

• Develop and present the project proposal for decision

making

• Implement by organising library automation software

and hardware

• Test and launch for use while keep on training staff

and users, marketing and advocacy for awareness

Advantages/Merits of Library
Discussion Automation
• Searching, browsing, issuing and receiving is made
easier and quicker thus saves time of access to
information among users and staff

• Increase speed, quality, efficiency and productivity of

What are the Advantages of Library
work done in the library i.e. traditional operations
Automation? minimised

• Improves sharing of information resources among

libraries (networking and collaboration)

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Advantages/Merits of Library Advantages/Merits of Library

Automation.. Automation..

• Easy to learn and use but also save storage space • Removes barrier of time and place for access to
library services
• Create interactive, collaborative and participative
platform for users on library service • Provides for better management of staff, physical and
financial resources e.g. through acquisition module,
• Minimises workload to library staff and may only enables for library budget management
provide end-user-services if need be

• Supports decision and policy makers in providing

appropriate decisions based on generated reports

Disadvantages/Demerits of Library
Discussion Automation

• Initially expensive in development and on repair and

maintenance (i.e. developing network infrastructures,
software and hardware procurement, recruiting
expertise, training and retraining)
What are the Disadvantages of Library
• Depend on Internet and electrical power
Automation?
• Needs trained and skilled people

• Technical issues e.g. Storage device may corrupt,

threats such as virus, hackers and vulnerabilities to
risks

Disadvantages/Demerits of Library
Automation.. Questions

• Security issues
1. Identify any five open source and
• Time demand practices (continuous training and proprietary library information
processing) management software programmes
and state the function of each (10
• May lead to retrenchment and unemployment marks)

2. Discuss with the support of relevant

examples on what you would consider
for effective automation of the academic
library collection (10 marks)

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Questions..

3. Discuss with the support of

relevant examples on how
information technology assists in
transforming higher learning
institution library services (10 Marks)