Page 163 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Library Automation

Notes bibliographic database, based on MARC formats, LIBSYS supports all activities relating to
acquisition, cataloguing, circulation and serials. Additionally, it provides for analytical
indexing of journals, and an advanced user-friendly OPAC interface to access all library
materials through a Web browser (LibSys Corporation, Undated). Alice for Windows is a
complete, integrated library and information management system which provides
powerful automatic document and resource control. This can be configured to give the
most cost-effective method of document and resource management available and can be
used to manage a wide variety of materials like journals, books, slides, audio and video
cassettes, paper clippings, magazines, charts, maps, equipment, electronic documents, and
World Wide Web sites. Alice performs all the tasks needed to manage a library. These can
be divided into three broad activities:
Recording of items
Finding items

Controlling the use of items
Modules in Alice are grouped into three sets: Standard modules, Advanced modules and
Special modules (Softlink Asia Pvt. Ltd., Undated).
Problems in UML

Librarian of the UML replied that they get few problems after installing updated versions
of the software. At the same time, the Head of the Reader Services Department said that
they have difficulty to customize the software to suit the needs of their department. Head
of the Periodicals Department was of the opinion that they have some problems in sending
reminders to periodical vendors through the system. Head of the Technical Services
Department mentioned that they face difficulties in printing catalogue cards, spine labels
and barcode labels through the system since the software supports well only for Windows
98 operating system in printing above mentioned cards and labels. Head of the Acquisition
Department replied that they have no other software problems.
Problems in UCL
Head of the Acquisition Department mentioned that they have problems in entering
currency figures and they do not get warning messages when there is a duplication of
records. According to the Head of Reader Services Department, report generation and
retrieval were slow and it was a difficulty for them. Other respondents of the UCL said
that they do not face any other problems in the software.
Questions

1. Discuss the automation of university libraries in Sri Lanka.
2. Provide solution for the problems in UCL
Source: http://www.cmb.ac.lk/academic/institutes/nilis.bak231210/reports/Dilroshan.pdf

8.5 Summary

The use of electronic resources in libraries began with the development of the machine-
readable cataloguing (MARC) format in the mid-1960, a full 30 years before the introduction
of the World Wide Web and its subsequent ubiquity. Bibliographic databases became
available at approximately the same time.
Web-based electronic resources were widely available beginning in the mid-1990s.
Libraries offered Web-based catalogues, bibliographic and full-text databases, electronic
journals, and eventually electronic books through the Web.

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