Page 164 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Unit 8: Library Automation in Technical Processing

Electronic resources began to dramatically change the way patrons accessed library Notes
resources in the mid-1960s. The card catalogue, a standard fixture in libraries for a century,
faced its demise. One of the major developments during the 1960’s was machine-readable
cataloguing (MARC).

Library Technical Services is responsible for acquiring and providing intellectual access
to collections in all formats and in dozens of languages for the libraries. Library technical
services are the processing and maintenance activities of a library’s collection.

Process automation refers to the application of technology to previously manual activities
performed by library staff. Process automation involves using computer technology and
software engineering to help power plants and factories in industries as diverse as paper,
mining and cement operate more efficiently and safely.

Many libraries attempt to transfer and incorporate the print workflow onto electronic
resource management. The result is a feeling of chaos and lack of control.
Planning for electronic resources is perhaps the most important and least practiced activity
in libraries. Electronic resources present a number of challenges to the traditional library
operations and workflow that must be addressed in order to provide smooth management.

Some of the librarians indicated that they documented part or all of their electronic resource
management workflow in order to determine what is not getting done.
Some believed the workflow is too cumbersome to document. Others work in libraries in
which most electronic resource management is done on a case-by-case basis because there
are too few common issues to make workflow documentation relevant.

8.6 Keywords

Catalogue: A list or itemized display, as of titles, course offerings, or articles for exhibition or
sale, usually including descriptive information or illustrations.
CD-ROM: A CD-ROM a pre-pressed compact disc which contains data. The name is an acronym
which stands for “Compact Disc Read-only Memory”.
Electronic Journals: Electronic journals, also known as ejournals, e-journals, and electronic serials,
are scholarly journals or intellectual magazines that can be accessed via electronic transmission.
Electronic Resource Management (ERM): ERM is the practices and software systems used by
libraries to keep track of important information about electronic information resources.

Machine-Readable Cataloguing (MARC): MARC, which stands for Machine Readable
Cataloguing, is the data format for library catalogue records, or bibliographic records.
Online Public Access Catalogue: An online public access catalogue (often abbreviated as OPAC
or simply library catalogue) is an online database of materials held by a library or group of
libraries.
Process Automation: Process automation refers to the application of technology to previously
manual activities performed by library staff.
Sorting: Sorting is any process of arranging items in some sequence and/or in different sets.

8.7 Review Questions

1. What are electronic resources?

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