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Unit 9: Library Automation in Circulation Section

arranged the first short course on the use of microcomputers in libraries in August 1989. Notes
The participants evaluated the course as excellent. PULSAA also arranged two other courses
in 1990 and 1993 in which training on CDS/ISIS was emphasized. The PLA (Headquarters)
arranged a ten-day workshop on “Computer introduction, application and data
management in libraries” in October 1991 at Lahore. Librarians at Multan have also
conducted a course with the sponsorship of NLDP. Fifteen librarians were trained in DOS
and Word-perfect.
PLA Computer Training Centres
With the help of NLDP, the Pakistan Library Association has established five permanent
computer training centres at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. The cases
for Hyderabad and Bahawalpur are under consideration. The first PLA centre started
functioning in November 1992 at Lahore. By the end of June 1994, PLA centres in the
country had trained 500 librarians and other people in library automation. The courses
include “Fundamentals of computers”, “Disk operating system (DOS)”, “Word-processing
using MS Word and Word-perfect”, “Spreadsheet using Lotus and Quatro Pro”, “Database
management using dBase”, and “Library automation using CDS/ISIS and LAMP”. A special
one-month course was also designed with the help of USIS at all the centres. The course
was conducted by Dr Nelson, a library automation expert from the USA. At Lahore, to
make students well-versed in a working automated environment, visits to automated
libraries in the city have also been made an integral part of the courses.
Questions
1. What efforts have been made in the field of library software?
2. Why very few people have been trained well in library computerization?

3. What role does PLA computer play in the selection and development of suitable
library software?
Source: http://www.academia.edu/1187803/The_status_of_library_automation_in_Pakistan

9.7 Summary

Circulation work of a library involves a group of operations that are specific, repetitive
and systematic. As a result automated circulation systems have been fairly successful from
the early days of library automation.

Circulation work is the primary task of most modem service libraries. A collection of
documents, thoughtfully and painstakingly built up as a library, is meant to be used and
hence should not be allowed to idle on the shelves.
Circulation aims to maximise the availability of all library material to users and thereby
optimise their use. The major concern of any circulation service is to perform this task
with economy and efficiency.
A circulation system helps a library user in the use of books and other library material
that have been sent by the technical processing division of the library to the maintenance
division most effectively.

The charging system which presently exists in Indian libraries has evolved over a period
of time. From a simple register system of recording loan transactions, circulation systems
have now evolved into sophisticated computer-based systems.

The earliest method of charging books for home use was a relatively simple one of
writing the author, title and borrower’s name in a ‘Day book’.

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