Evaluation of Library Software;

1

• Evaluation of Library Software
• Its implications on Library Services

2
Outline

• Scope
• Library Automation
• Technological Trends
• Library Software Evaluation
• Impact of IT on Libraries
• Pragmatics of Library Automation
• Acquisition, Cataloguing, Circulation, Serials
  Control, OPAC
• Features of Library Software
• CDS/ISIS LIBSYS
• Conclusion

3
Scope

• Information Storage Retrieval Software
• DBMS - On-line Databases
• CD-ROM Interface Software
• House Keeping Activities including Bibliographic
  Database Software
• Existing Software Packages
• Selecting the new Library Software
• Limitations
• Information Storage Retrieval Software Packages
• DBMS - Online Database CD-ROM interface
  Software
• No Customization is possible

4
why Library Automation

• Library Services
• Operation of Libraries
• Labor-intensive
• costly
• Salaries
• benefits
• support facilities
• Increase in cost of library materials
• Books, Serials , etc..

Rs.
5
Impact of IT on Libraries

• Impact of IT has been Profound and Omini Present
• Vertical Horizontal Integration of Services
• Diminishing Distinctions between
• Technical Services Public Services
• Ex OCLC, WLN, RLIN
• Primary Journals Secondary Journals
• Bibliographic Access Physical Access
• Changing Collection the Electronic Library
• On-line Products Sources
• CD-ROM Products Services
• Hypertext and Hypermedia

6
Technological Trends

• Paper gt Electronic Means
• Information Demand gt End-Users
• Digitalization
• Miniaturisation
• Networking
• Computer Communication
• Analogue gt Digital
• Standalone gt Network
• Computer Terminal gt Client-Server
• Command Structure gt Graphic Interface
• Mono Media gt Multi Media

7
Technological Trends

• Small Band gt Wide Band
• Fixed Equipment gt Mobile/Portable Equipment
• New Markets
• Standard Product gt Customized Product
• Multi-stop Shopping gt One-stop Shopping
• Traditional Competitors gt New Competitors
• National Market gt World Market
• Pricing
• Source Pricing gt Package pricing
• Single rate Pricing gt Service-level Pricing
• format Pricing gt content Pricing

8
Technological Trends

• Cost-based pricing gt Value based Pricing
• Variable fee gt flat fee/up-front pricing
• Single-user Pricing gt Multi-user, Site Licensing
• Virtual Library
• Penetration of PC
• Telecommunication Networks
• Automation of Library Catalogues
• On-line Databases, National Bibliographies OPAC
• CD-ROM Publishing

9
Evaluation of Library Software

• Technical Requirements
• Operating Systems Hardware Configuration
• Special versions Security
• User Friendliness Documentation
• Limitations
• Database Vs Non-Database (RDMS)
• Input Maintenance of Data
• Indexing of Stored Information
• Retrieval of Stored Information
• Output of Data
• House Keeping Activities

10
Evaluation Criteria

• Ease of Use
• Tried Tested Features
• Good Documentation
• Large User Community
• Built-in Routines
• Compatibility
• Vendor
• Performance
• Flexibility

11
Evaluation Criteria

• Value
• Continuous Support
• Obsolescence and Upgrades
• Software Guides Directories
• Reviews
• Benchmarks (No. Records)

12
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules
Acquisition

• Acquisition Librarian functions
• Receive the Request
• Initiate to procure
• Duplicate Check
• Approval Procedures
• Orders, Invoice Processing Payment
• Reminders, Order Cancellation, Recording,
  Correspondence etc..
• Intimating the Users
• Enquiries
• Reports
• Maintenance of Different Databases

13
Acquisition

• Exchange Rate, Vendor Record, Budget, Discount,
  Accession No's etc..
• Users
• Request for Title
• Approval details
• on-line enquiry
• System Administrators Routines
• Database Loading
• Database reorganization
• Transfer of Acquired titles to the Cataloguing
• Functional Routines
• Security

14
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules

• Data Input Maintenance of Data
• Direct input from Keyboard
• Screen Editor/Word Processor
• Editing/Deleting record
• Data extentended 8-bit ASCII code
• Data in Record Structure with Separate Fields
• Predefined Record Structures
• Adding/Deleting the Existing Record Structure
• Changing the Field Names at later date
• Fields have Variable Field length
• Changing maximum field length (later date)

15
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules

• compulsory input option for certain fields
• direct input of data from other sources
• downloaded data
• Batch input format

16
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules
Cataloguing

• Maintenance
• Titles-in-Process, Update Holdings, Call Nos.,
  Subject Updates, Keywords, etc..
• Transfer of Data to OPAC Circulation
• Classification Codes
• UDC, DDC, CC etc..
• User Services Products
• CAS
• SDI
• Bibliographies
• Printing
• Catalog cards etc..

17
Cataloguing Standards

• ISBD
• MARC
• Common Communication Format
• ISO 9702
• Z39.50

18
CCF

• Conform to ISO 2709
• Core record consists of Mandatory Data essential
  to bibliographic description
• Core Record augmented with optional data
  elements
• Techniques would be devised for accommodating
  levels, relationships and links between
  bibliographic entities

19
CCF

• INFORMATION SYSTEM

INPUT FORMAT
DATA BASE
STORAGE FORMAT
RECORDS
RETRIEVAL FORMAT
DISPLAY FORMAT
20
Z.3950

• OSI Model
• Database source systems
• Client-server communication
• state-of-art microcomputer workstations
• Linked System Protocol (OSI)
• Lower Level Interaction
• physical, Data, Network Transport
• Upper Level Layers
• Session, Presentation Application

21
Z.3950

• Integrate Text Graphics
• Support Multimedia
• Support complex documents
• Multitasking operations
• Large, fast Mass Storage devices
• Electronic mail
• Support Data Acquisition
• Address Substantial amount of Memory
• User Customize permission
• Enough speed to permit intensive processing

22
Z.3950

• Functions
• Initialization
• Security Validation
• Searching
• Present Record
• Accounting Facility
• Delete Facility
• Termination Facility

23
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules
Information Storage Retrieval

• Searching
• Sequentially
• Slow
• Index
• Computer-generated Index
• Single word, Compound terms whole (sub) fields
• Indexing of Stored Information
• Max. No. of Characters indexed per term
• Max. no. of different indexes per file
• Different Ways of Indexing
• single, compound and Whole Fields

24
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules

• Choice of each file to be indexed
• Indexing of tagged words only
• Availability of Stopword list
• user defined maximum no stopwrods
• Indexing of New Records/batch indexing
• speed of indexing
• Size of indexed data
• Building / Removing of Indexes or Changing the
  type of Index
• Use of controlled index terms
• Thesaurus

25
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules

• Retrieval of Stored Information
• Searching through an Index or Sequential
• Non-indexed through Sequential search
• Indexes can displayed/printed relations through
  Thesaurus
• Availability of Index list on the screen as
  search terms
• Default search fields
• Indication of a field or tag is required
• Boolean searching with AND, OR and NOT operators
• More operators with parenthesis
• Search terms and/or previous search terms can be
  combined directly in Boolean searches

26
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules

• Presence of KEEP command offers full boolean
  possibilities
• Proximity searching
• Searching on Truncated terms
• left, right and internal masking
• Range searching
• From, to, greater than, lessthan
• Saving the search strategy
• Output of Data
• Standard formats
• Display, Printing Writing of data

27
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules

• User defined output formats
• Sorting of data in varies fields (multiple)
• Including field tags or names
• Search terms can be highlighted
• Formats for direct data exchange
• Reference lists according to Journal styles

28
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules
Circulation

• Issues
• Returns
• Reserves
• Membership Records
• Registration, Category, Institute member, Define
  subjects for SDI
• Collection Updates
• Display Titles, Copy missing, Damaged, Withdrawn,
  Binding etc..
• Inter Library Loan

29
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules
Circulation

• Enquiries
• Status, Transactions Log, Charges, Missing,
  Withdrawn etc..
• User Communication
• Reserves, Overdues, etc..
• Reports \ Printing
• System Setup
• No. of Days issues, Category wise issues,
  Reference,Serials issue etc..

30
Pragmatics of Library Software Modules Serials
Control

• New Subscription
• New Titles, Approval procedures, Order,
  Subscription Details, Invoicing, Payment,
  Correspondence, etc..
• Renewals
• Issues Received (Kardex)
• Claims Monitoring
• Periodical Reminders,
• Binding
• Enquiries
• Circulation of Back issues

31
Classical Retrieval systems CDS/ISIS

• UNESCO
• Information Storage Retrieval
• Menu Driven
• Choosing the Existing Database
• Changing language
• Changing or Adding Data
• Searching the Database
• Sorting Printing writing on file
• Creating or Updating the indexes
• Creating or changing database definition

32
Classical Retrieval systems CDS/ISIS

• reorganizing, exporting in ISO-format
• creating a back-up of a database
• Utility programs
• Programming additional modules in Pascal
  according to ISO-format
• Very Comprehensive well-organized manual
• Field Definition Table
• Simple Field Structure
• Subfield within field
• Comprehensive Search Facility
• a.ANY file for synonyms and narrower terms

33
Classical Retrieval systems CDS/ISIS

• Format Tables for output data
• Retrieved data can be exported ISO format
• Very powerful Versatile program
• It is fast on relatively old slow PCs
• CDS/ISIS Ver 3.0
• Network use Unix Version

34
Classical Retrieval systems CDS/ISIS

• Limitations
• User Manual is essential
• very Comprehensive
• Extensive menu driven, confusing
• No integration
• FDT cannot be created automatically
• FDT cannot be duplicated (only through MS-DOS)
• Not easy to change existing data entry sheet
• Worksheet composed of several pages (screens)
• Quantity of information on content is more
• Indexing process
• long time, lengthy process, lot of space etc..

35
Classical Retrieval systems CDS/ISIS

• Format Tables are complicated to create
• No high lighting or special colors for retrieved
  data
• Restrictions on
• Display of databases, Six Characters of Database
  name, user print formats
• Screen presentations are character oriented

36
Integrated Library Software Libsys

• Generalized Comprehensive Library Software
  Package
• Integrated with Multi-user Capability
• Menu Driven
• Modularized Approach
• Supporting Utilities
• Security through Modules and Operations
• Parametrically Defined

37
Integrated Library Software Libsys
Acquisition
OPAC
Cataloguing
LibSys
Circulation
Serials Control
38
Integrated Library Software Libsys

• Limitations
• Cost
• Documentation
• Manuals
• On-line Help
• Serials Control
• Backup
• Not incremental
• Customization
• Slow
• Customer Support

39
Conclusion

• No software package can meet all the requirements
  of a given library system. Inevitably, some
  compromises will be needed in work flows, input,
  output and report formats. Customization takes
  lot of time, by doing that other problems could
  arise. Therefore while evaluating the Library
  Software it is important to prioritize the
  requirements and make sure that the chosen
  software meets most, if not all the high priority
  requirements