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Information and Communication Technology Applications

As the Internet grew, ILS vendors offered more functionality related to computer networks. As of
Notes 2009 major ILS systems offer web-based portals where library users can log in to view their account,
renew their books, and authenticate themselves for access to online databases.
In recent years some libraries have turned to major open source ILSs such as Koha and Evergreen.
Common reasons noted were to avoid vendor lock in, avoid license fees, and participate in software
development. Librarytechnology.org does an annual survey of over 1,500 libraries and noted in
2008 2% of those surveyed used open source ILS, in 2009 the number increased to 8% and in 2010(most
recent year available) 12% of the libraries polled had adopted open source ILSs.

Not many years ago, libraries used card catalogs, typewriters, and manually assigned
due dates. Library automation, an up-to-date method to help libraries and library
patrons to effectively use library resources, is now streamlined because of computers
and software.

To appreciate the advantages it becomes necessary to highlight the different levels of library
automation. For convenience it can be visualized at four levels:
1. Library cataloging system
2. Housekeeping operations and networking
3. Development of CD-ROM library/products
4. E-mail system and internet.
The library catalogue or index to the collection forms the base for most of the library activities such
as acquisition, reference, bibliographic service, inter-library loan etc. The users of library card
catalogue will appreciate how fast the retrieval is, search and printing in automated environment.
If the same system is available in network environment, users can have simultaneous access to the
same database. From the library staff point of view the cumbersome job of printing the cards and
their subsequent filing gets eliminated. Also, it conserves space and saves stationary.
The second level automation will be to use software which can handle all the house keeping
operations of the library such as acquisition, circulation and serial control thus creating a network
within the library or becoming part of the existing network of the institution. Networking of
computers within an organization helps the users to browse the cataloguing system from any of the
workstation/ terminal.
A very handy technology available for library is the CD-ROM products which can be considered at
the third level. The development of CD-ROM collection not only conserves space but also provides
multi-user access in network environment. There are many self-tutorial CD-ROMS available with
multi-media effect. Libraries facing high incidence of mutilation of materials will benefit from such
electronic products. Also people doing empirical research can download data and directly take it to
other software platform for analysis and making graphical presentation.
Other technology which libraries can make use of is the e-mail system. This not only reduces the
recurring expenditure but also be effective and fast. Sending reminders for non-receipt of journals
by e-mail has proved to be very cost-effective. In addition to this, sharing of resources among libraries
become easy. Few public domain e-mail software are available and there will be no additional
expenditure incurred.
Another technology which has revolutionized the information world is the development of internet.
Subscribers of internet, in addition to getting access to various public domain databases and services,

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