Development of Mobile-based Library Catalogue System
Model using Web-based
Technologies
for Electronic Resources for University of Wolayita
By
AbebeAno,Msc
Scholar Arba Minch University ,Ethiopia
July,
2016
Abstract:
Online system has
become the important part of modern technology. It is highly chosen according
to its speed or the fast search of information, accuracy, best security and an
access to exploit the knowledge on various aspects from different field of
studies. University of Wolayita is the recently established university which
islocated in southern part of Ethiopia. A great number of books, and other
resources like: references, journals and audio-visual materials in the form of
electronic resources are avail in the library in order to serve the whole
library users of the campus and the researchers. It is observed that the
current manual catalogue system has been facing several challenges like: very
slow or time consuming, miss shelving of the wanted books or references,
unorganized and difficult for inventory purpose. This proposed research is
focused on to analyze the significance of above mentioned problems and develop
an online-based library catalogue system model to electronic resources using
web based technologies.
Key
words: Development,
Mobile-based, Library Catalog, Model, Electronic Resources,
Universityof
Wolayita
1. Introduction
1.1. Background
In this rapidly
changing world, mobile technology isone of the leading technologies that plays
vital role in providing fast service, accurate, easily accessible with best
security. University of Wolayita is one of the outstanding universities in
southern Ethiopia. The library in the university can accommodate large number
of students, instructors and administrative staff. The researcher observedthat
the currently existing manual library catalogue system is slow, inaccurate and
difficult to access. Then after the research is conducted to develop the new method
which is mobile-based library catalogue system model for electronic resources
using web-based technologies in order to increase the efficiency and
effectiveness of the university’s
library service.
1.2. Statement of the
problem
Since the development of
mobile-based library catalogue system for electronic resources, University of
Wolayita library service problems are as follows:
·
Very slow and time consuming
·
The books are not found in the correct
place (miss shelved)
·
Unsecured system of controlling mechanism
·
Difficulty in inventory and Loss of
books
·
High work load on circulation system
1.3. Significance of
the study
The significance of
this study is concerned with the development of mobile-based library catalogue
system model for electronic resources service provision system using web-based
technologies. This research can be used for:
·
Changing the existing manual system of
library services
·
Upgrading the utility of library
resources
·
Developing the new system
·
Referencing for further study
1.4. Objective of the
research
1.4.1. General
objective
The general objective
of this research is to develop a new system that is mobile-based library
cataloguing system for electronic resources and providing services by using
web-based technologies to full fill the user’s satisfaction.
1.4.2. Specific
objectives
Based on the
research title to achieve the general objective of the proposed system model,
the following specific jobs will be conducted to:
·
Provide
fast services
·
Identify
and locate the resources with appropriate content
·
Secure
the resources or easy controlling mechanism
·
Provide
easy access to inventory
1.5. Justification and
thrust area
As
the researcher stated in problem statement, the currently used manual system
requires large number of circulation workers, but any user is satisfied, no
protection of the loss of resources, the time wastage is still unsolved and
difficulty in inventory. The significant solution to solve this problem is
encouraging the proposed system model in which all the apprehensive body will
accept and do for the better change of the University library.
1.6. The scope of the
research
This study focuses on:
·
Standardization of the university library
·
Manual or existing library catalogue
system
·
Betterment of university library
·
Better utilization of library resources
·
The chief librarian and other librarians
who are working in the circulation section
2.
Literature Review
The
mobile-based or online technology play outstanding role in solving abundant
problems in using library resources for different field of studies. Applying this
technology to promote the library service provision method for electronic
resources becomes the global solution for currently existing manual system. An OPAC(Online Public
Access Catalog) is considered to be the major tool of the library operations and
gateway of library services as it facilitates the customers to the various
services of the library and acts as “a device of change in today's libraries” (Mulla, 2009) .
The current generation of library catalog systems are
distinguished from earlier OPACs by their use of more refined search
technologies, including relevancy position and faceted search, as well
as features aimed at greater user interaction and participation with the
system, including tagging and reviews. These new features rely heavily on
existing metadata which is often poor
or inconsistent, particularly for older records. These newer systems are almost
always independent of the library's integrated library
system (ILS), instead providing drivers that allow for the
synchronization of data between the two systems. While older online catalog
systems were almost exclusively built by ILS vendors, libraries are
increasingly turning to next generation catalog systems built by enterprise
search companies and open source projects, often led by libraries themselves (M., 2008)
OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog)
An Online Public Access Catalog (often
abbreviated as OPAC or simply Library Catalog) is an online database of
materials held by a library or group of libraries. It is a computerized library
catalog available to the public. Most OPACs are accessible over the Internet to
users all over the world. Users search a library catalog principally to locate
books and other material physically located at a library. Why use a catalog
instead of just browsing the shelves of the library to find a book? Books that
contain information on a particular topic may be shelved in several different
areas of the library, in special collections, or even in different libraries
altogether. Books are shelved in the library by call number order (a unique
number for each book), so you would have to be very familiar with the either
the Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress Classification System to find the
small area devoted to your topic. The patrons in the library can search the
bibliographic database and find specific information online. The search
facility also apprises the user about the availability of each item for
circulation, including current status of individual copies of a title and
reserve status. It also shows titles on order displaying current status in
acquisition. The scope of these services include online catalogues.
The following catalogues are available online:
• Title Catalogue
• Author Catalogue
• Subject Catalogue
• Classified Catalogue
• Publisher
• Place of Publication (Library.dce.edu/pdf/OPAC.pdf)
Husain R. and
Alam Ansari M. noted that, these and other early online catalog systems tended
to closely reflect the card catalogs that they
were intended to replace.[2] Using a
dedicated terminal or telnet client, users could search a
handful of pre-coordinate indexes and browse the resulting display in much the
same way they had previously navigated the card catalog (R., 2006)
Throughout the 1980s, the number and
sophistication of online catalogs grew. The first commercial systems appeared,
and would by the end of the decade largely replace systems built by libraries
themselves. Library catalogs began providing improved search mechanisms,
including Boolean and keyword searching, as well as ancillary functions, such
as the ability to place holds on items that had been checked-out. At
the same time, libraries started to develop applications to automate the
purchase, cataloging, and circulation of books and other library materials.
These applications, collectively known as an integrated library
system (ILS)
or library management system, included an online catalog as the public
interface to the system's inventory. Most library catalogs are closely tied to
their underlying ILS system. (Adamson, 2008)
Mobile applications increasingly affect the
diffusion of information as well as business activity. They gain broad
acceptance due to the increased need in supporting the mobile workforce and the
rapid improvement in the devices and wireless technologies for communication.
Many mobile applications provide personal services such as sending and viewing
email, browsing the world wide web (WWW),
viewing traffic and weather reports , watching movies and chatting with others.
(E.S.M. EL-Alfy, 2005)
1.7. Research Methodology
The methodology of
research paper includes:
Literature review-: a
number of published ideas about manual library catalog system problems and
services.
Data collection-: data
has been collected from the library users and librarians.
Data analysis-: the
above mentioned collected data have been analyzed, and organized to make
suitable for modeling the mobile-based library catalog and service system.
Modeling-: the modeling
of one online library catalog and service providing system of the resources.
Bibliography
1.
(n.d.). Retrieved from Library.dce.edu/pdf/OPAC.pdf.
2.
Adamson, V. a.
(2008). JISC and SCONUL library management system study . UK: Sero
consulting.
3.
E.S.M. EL-Alfy.
(2005). A General Look at Building Application for Mobile Devices.
4.
M., B. (2008). "Open
Source Library Automation". Library Technology Reports 44(8):5-10. Journal,
Library Science.
5.
Mulla, K. A
study on the effective use of Online Public Access Catalogue at the libraries
of Engineering college in Karnataka" International Journal ofLibrary and
Information Science, Vol.1 No.3 PP. 29-42.
6.
R., H. (2006). "From
Card Catalogue to Web OPAC. DESIDOC Bulletin of Information Technology
26(2).
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