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Unit 10: Library Automation

Lasting Effects
Automation is also a way of preparing the collection to become sustainable with the ever-increasing Notes
shift to a technology-based society, in terms of information dissemination, paired with the ever-
decreasing amount of funding for libraries. Automation will help libraries who begin to struggle
and are forced to lay off staff. Switching to an automated system allows libraries to add on features
when they become available in the future, in stead of having to do a complete overhaul of their
collections and cataloging methods.

Automation and the networking of academic libraries are still in their formative
stages. The reasons for, prerequisites of, and benefits of networking are given.
Networking systems at the national and local levels are described, as are the salient
features of INFLIBNET, which has been functioning since 1988. There are also
three metropolitan networks, viz., DELNET, CALIBNET, and BONET. The libraries
of the three metropolitan cities are already reaping the benefits of networking.
The constraints of networking in Indian academic libraries are explained. The
conclusion is that major information library networks such as INFLIBNET should
have a more realistic and time–bound programme.

Automation in Indian Libraries
The scientific and technical libraries working under such R&D institutions as CSIR, ICMR, ICAR,
and DRDO have taken the lead in library automation. Notable among public sector libraries are
BHEL R&D and SAIL . They have funded several training programs and software development
projects which have played an important role in increasing awareness of the potential of the new
technologies. Their main emphasis was on database development and information retrieval services.
Unfortunately, the academic libraries have made little progress in this direction. The reasons for the
slow pace of automation in academic libraries are the following:
• Academic libraries in India function in a relatively less autonomous environment.
• The academic libraries are a comparatively smaller unit within a larger setup.
• Libraries have to compete for scarce resources.
• Undergraduates outnumber postgraduates, faculty, and research staff.
• Academic libraries are not under as much pressure to improve their services as are scientific
and technical libraries

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
1. A library management system, also known as an ...... .
2. MARC stands for ...... .
3. In recent years some libraries have turned to major open source ILSs such as Koha and ..... .

10.5 Summary

• Librarians often referred to ILSs as library automation systems or automated systems in the
1970s and early 1980s.

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