DEFINITION
Library: – Library is a stored house of knowledge a repository of information where printed and non-printed materials are kept. Library is the backbone of every institution without the library various information cannot be kept for generation to generation.
LIBRARY AUTOMATION
According to library and information science, library automation is design in complete system to accomplish task originally done by hand in the library.
Library automated since (1960) with development of machine readable cataloguing record recently automation has expanded include core functions of acquisition control serial control, circulation and inventory inter-library loan
and document delivery.
According to Ugah (2000) He define automation as his opinion about the use of computer to carryout library services.
Berman (1980) defined library automation as the use of computer and associated technology to do what has been done in the library with justification reducing cost and increase performance.
Automation: Automation is the application of computer and other forms of information technologies to process library operation activities oppose doing the same activities manual.
Advantages of Automation
1) Automation make our work job more accurate and easy to access.
2) It reduce you cost of production in times of stress.
3) It make our operational activities faster and easy.
4) It enable greater efficiency in the library.
5) It bring about collaboration about us with others.
Disadvantages
1) Lack of power supply i.e. electricity can cause delay in running the library operation.
2) It require a computer literate
3) It is capital intensive (inadequate fund)
4) Problem of network
5) High cost of purchase.
Reason of Automation
1. Advance in technologies
2. Volume of transaction ready to be concluded.
3. Fund
Purpose Of Automation In Library
1) To help in improving productivity and output for service if demand of service increase i.e. it is confirmed that student use the library when examination is approaching this means that demand will increase so library automation would solve most of the problem of manual method of service delivery.
2) To avoid the need of higher additional staff when the increase demand for services i.e. save human labour.
3) To provide need to offer new improved service to patron / users.
4) To facilitate collection of data or management of information for better decision making by library manager.
Scope of Automation
Scope simply means the ways, area of form library is automated.
1) Identification
2) Location
3) Processing
4) Storage
5) Dissemination
Important of Automation
1) It usefulness in service delivery
2) It enable a manual work should be access into easily and fast means in system.
3) It enable most documented material to be retrieved fast and easy
4) It increase output and yield production in the library.
Network
Network is define as a group of two or more computer system linked together.
Types of Network
(1) Local Area Network (LAN)
(2) Small Area Network (SAM)
(3) Wide Area Network (WAN)
1). Local Area Network (LAN)
The computers are geographically close together i.e. (small building or environment) e.g. in a room or department, computer centres for the process of data base.
2. Small Area of Network (SAN)
This network of computer is for information process and transmission in a building or organization e.g. Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa library, other libraries within its environment.
3. Wide Area Network (WAN)
The computer network information process and dissemination in a wide geographical coverage or area, it is the computer connected with various network.
Other networks include
i. Campus area Network (CAN)
ii. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
iii. Home Area Network (HAM)
Computer Systems
Computer has been defined by various people, some see it as a machine for activities of various task.
So as a device which undergo control of stored programme which accept data in a prescribed form.
A computer as machine
– Accept data often as input
– Process data
– It supplied data information (Output)
Characteristics of Computer
(i) Speed (ii) Capacity (iii) Versatility (iv) Reliability
(v) Accuracy
Structure of Computer
1. Analog computer
2. Digital computer
3. Hybrid or general purpose.
1. Analog Computer
Analog computer: – These computer work on continuous variable and data and helps in direct physical quantities represented. Temperature, pressure, weight, volume of the ship analogue use for primary function counting or measuring of direction.
2. Digital Computer
This are computer that recognize data by counting discrete value representing data / information in binary digit bit.
3. Hybrid Computer
Hybrid computer it combine some features of both digital and analog computer.
Types / classification of computer
1. Super computer
2. Mainframe computer
3. Mini computer and
4. Micro computer
1. Super computer
These are the largest fastest and most expensive computer, they cost several million of dollar and speed between 600 million to 900 million instruction per second.
2. Mainframe Computer
It is a large computer in term of size, of price, size of internal memory and speed.
It is among the computer system in the 1st and 2nd generation. It storage capacity need specialized memory 256 megabyte.
3. Minicomputer
Mini computer developed in 1970 for specialized test. They are smaller less powerful and expensive than main frame. Mini is between 128 megabyte.
4. Micro Computer
These are smaller in size, it is a computer whose central processing unit (CPU) is based on a micro-processor. The capability is not as much as mainframe. They are easy to used.
Difference And Component Of Computer Of Digital Computer
Which are as follow:
1. Hardware configuration
2. Software configuration
3. People human ware
1. Hardware Configuration
They are machine and other mechanical device including peripheral equipment that is necessary to perform certain operation e.g. CPU, Printer, scanner, mouse and keyboard.
2. Software Configuration
These are program and other system document that have to be accurate before a computer can perform and programme these are set of operation in certain activities.
3. People Humanware
People as part of configuration means that computer cannot work without the people because it need human programming to instruct it.
Library Application Area Of Computerisation
a) Acquisition sub-system
b) Cataloguing
c) Circulation
d) Serial control
e) Reference services
f) Inter – library loan.
a. Acquisition sub-systems
these sub-system involve the use of computer and other telecommunication means process purpose.
a. Ordering procedure
when meter order arrived; when they are being they need to be check to ensure the material are completed.
b. Fund accounting
In the process of financial transaction between the library and vendor in other to have an accurate account.
Under the find accounting. The file are generated
i. In-process file: The file provide machine which determine the progress of each order. This involve placing the order and waiting to known or check what you place.
ii. Order file: This file provide information necessary for input to account sub-system.
iii. Vendor file: this file provide information and address and other bibliography of the vendor.
CIRCULATION
Circulation is set to be the image to every library, it is the basic point where user get access to the library, ensuring that material in the library holding are made available to those who need them in accomplishing those aim in the library work maintenance of record where materials are located who is responsible for it and when material will be available for some one else.
Serial Files
They are general in the central processing unit (CPU).
a. Transaction file
These are files that contain the record of every book or document which is not located where it is suppose.
b. Borrow registration: This contains record for every person direct location of material charge out the record of indirect borrow.
c. All card files
This is created to identify book / user when either book card or borrow card can not be found.
d. Statistical file
This contains the listing of document or item in circulating by subject or by patron.
History File
It contain record of transaction within a period of time, weekly, monthly, yearly or even more.
Overdue File
This file contain the record of library borrow or user as part of the circulation services, this is to make materials available for other users when they will charge the user days, weeks, months.
Problem of Library Computerization in Nigerian Libraries
1. Administration problem
2. Financial problem
3. Technical problem
Management Planning and Implementation
These include the following
1. Selection of project
2. Site preparation
3. File conversion
4. educational training
5. System evaluation
1. Selection of project
This involves the selection of team or committee charged with the responsibilities of planning and implementation the automated project from beginning to the in public relation include all level of staff.
2. Site preparation
This is the process whereby field where users and equipment like computers will be kept and the place must be comfortable for material.
3. File conversion
This is the process of converting library record from the manual stated/stage to machine readable format. The process include;
a. Through a commercial vendor
b. Though in-house development
c. Through bibliography utility
4. Educational training
The project team must ensure that there is a training centre to educate the various levels of staff and patron.
5. System evaluation
Checking of system after six month or one year or operation of new system, there is need for evaluating the performance of the system with a view to determining the level of success of new system.
PROBLEM OF LIBRARY COMPUTERIZATION AMONG NIGERIAN LIBRARIES
They include (3) section
1. administration problems
2. financial problems
3. technical problems
REFERENCES
Anonymon (1995) automation of library archival materials, selective bibliography prepared G.O
Asogwa E.B, and L.L Ezeme (2012) The need of automation in libraries.
Lecture Manua