Page 159 - DLIS105_REFERENCE_SOURCES_AND_SERVICES

Reference Sources and Services

Notes 2. Documentation:

(a) Existing literature: Go for the software after carefully examining the existing litera-
ture and documentation on the particular software.
(b) Training: Does the company or authority of the particular software provide train-
ing? Where and how the training is conducted, whether it is online, Onsite should
also be consider.
(c) Manual: Does the training is accompanied by easy to follow supporting print mate-
rial or manual. How good the manual is?
3. General features of the software:
(a) Various computer platform: The various computer platform needed to run the soft-
ware, i.e., server, wireless connectivity, hard disc space needed, etc.
(b) Multiple platform: Is the software able to run in multiple platforms such as win-
dows 2000, windows N.T., windows98, 95, etc.
(c) Capacity: The restriction in total number of database /information /records in a
database it can handle effectively.
(d) Speed: Speed of operation in different environment.
(e) Flexibility: Flexibility to handle of records of variable sizes.
(f) Standardize data format: Does it use standardize data form for importing and ex-
porting of data.
(g) De-bugging facility: De-bugging facility and scope of proper error message while
executing the software.
(h) User friendliness: Is the system easy to use? Does the system empower the experi-
enced user with short cut and flexible tool. Does the system easy to learn? Is the
system menu driven.
(i) Effectiveness: Does the system meet the specification.
(j) Reliability: Does the search give consistent result?
(k) Expandability: Does the system permit addition?
(l) Total cost of the software: Does the system come in different modules i.e., available
in only circulation module, circulation plus cataloguing module. What is the total
cost of the system?
(m) Streamless movement of data: Is the database built on open standard technologies
such as SQL, cold fusion, or XML that allows different types of software to talk to
each other. That means your different systems of the software can easily and auto-
matically share and update any information that is in common, e.g., students name,
address, etc.
4. Services:
(a) Acquisition: Does the system carry out duplicate checking while entering the data.
Does it have the capacity to print accession register?
(b) Data entry and editing: How effective the system is for data entry? Does the soft-
ware provide easy way for editing of records? Are insertion and deletion of records
easy?
(c) Circulation: provision of facility for issue, return, computation of fines, reservation
of document etc.

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