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Unit 10: Library Automation

will also get free e-mail and fax facility. Some publishers have started giving content pages of journals
and libraries having subscription to such journals can also have full text of the articles. Many academic Notes
and research institutes have given free access to their working papers.

10.2 Barriers of Library Automation

Following could be the few possible barriers of library automation:
• Fear of adverse impact on employment
• Apprehension that the technology could be too expensive
• The library staff has to undergo extensive training.
• Lack of support from the management, may be owing to budget constraints
• Fifth reason could be retrospective conversion of data.

10.3 Need of Library Automation

Library automation is necessary to:
• Obtain increased operational efficiencies,
• Relieve professional staff from clerical chores so that they are available for user-oriented ser-
vices,
• Improve the quality, speed and effectiveness of services,
• Improve access to remote users and other stakeholders, e.g., the general public,
• Improve access to resources on other networks and systems, including the Web,
• Provide new services not hitherto possible,
• Improve the management of their physical and financial resources,
• Facilitate wider access to information for their clients,
• Facilitate wider dissemination of their information products and services,
• Enable their participation in resource-sharing library networks, and
• Enable rapid communication with other libraries (including outreach libraries) and profes-
sional peers.

10.4 Library Management System

• A library management system, also known as an automated library system is software that
has been developed to handle basic housekeeping functions of a library.
Single function.
Integrated.
• Realizing the important role that the library management system will play in planning and
implementing library automation projects, it is necessary to educate ourselves and know more
about these systems.

What do you mean by library management system? Explain it.

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