Page 183 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Library Automation

Notes country. The software was originally developed for minicomputers in 1980. Since 1983 it
has been available for use with IBM PC and compatible machines. The package is powerful,
flexible and relatively easy to use. Data are stored in variable length fields and each field
may be repeated, which fulfils requirements for multiple authors, subjects, etc. in a
bibliographic database. Fields may be indexed by keywords, term or both for quicker and
easier retrieval. Boolean operators (and, or, not) may be used to broaden or narrow the
search. Comparison operators (greater than, lesser than, equal to) may be used in term
searches. Searches may be stored and later recalled or modified. INMAGIC offers output
of search results on screen, to the printer or to an ASCII file on disk. Field-wise sorting and
sub sorting are available.
CDS/ISIS
A number of libraries in Pakistan are working on CDS/ISIS. The range of ISIS users
includes all types of libraries. ISIS was developed by UNESCO and is being distributed
free of charge. More than 5,000 libraries are licensed users worldwide. It is a non-numeric
database specially designed for bibliographic records, and is multilingual. A database can
hold 16 million records. It provides variable length fields, repeatable fields, and sub-fields.
It has powerful indexing and searching techniques. It provides a stop word file. Advanced
programming can be done in the PASCAL language. Data can be exchanged according to
international standard ISO 2709. It can be run on local area networks. Well elaborated
documentation is available. Its latest version 3.07 was released in December 1993. Although
CDS/ISIS cannot perform all housekeeping operations easily, its use is rapidly increasing
in the country. Various journals publish regular columns on the development in CDS/
ISIS. Five Pakistan Library Association computer training centres offer regular courses on
CDS/ISIS and hundreds of librarians have become trained users.
Library Automation Training in Pakistan

The most important people in making library computerization successful are librarians.
They know their job well and should be most qualified to decide which function should or
should not be computerized. It must be realized that librarians will not be able to make
any use of computer equipment until they are provided with the know-how required to
use it. So, before providing the equipment, it is necessary to make training arrangements
for the professional development of librarians. In the first two or three years of library
automation in Pakistan, a few librarians have been able to develop an acquaintance with
the computer either through training abroad or by working with foreign consultants.
Self-education was another method used by a small minority.
Library Schools
There are six library schools in Pakistan which offer postgraduate courses on library and
information science on a regular basis. It is their duty to keep their syllabi up to date with
changing concepts in the profession. With regard to library automation training, the
condition of library schools in the country is disappointing. The University Grants
Commission (UGC) presented a revised curriculum in 1991 but unfortunately no library
school implemented it. Another problem is that there are not adequate hardware facilities
for training the students. The school at Karachi was first to have a computer, followed by
the school at Peshawar. Punjab University succeeded in having the maximum number of
four computers. NLDP also donated one computer to each library school last year, but the
existing facility is still insufficient.
Professional Associations

With the emergence of library automation in the country, professional library associations
showed an immediate response and took it as a challenge. After its revival, PULSAA
Contd...

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