Need for Library Software

Industries were made automated and manufacturing got better with time. So why services sector will lag behind. The invention of the computer was a turning point. The computer was upgraded and it got better with each passing day. Gradually Computers made a place in everybody's lives. It made bigger changes in the manufacturing and services sector. As you know Library is one sector where each academician has to go through difficulties while retrieving information. The collection increases with time so you have to organize it. But doing all these things manually is not possible. A computer was brought into the library to manage the collection and provide better services. So Software development started in the field of library and information science in 1964 when INSDOC developed an alphabetization program for the Union Catalogue of Scientific Serials for running on the IBM 1620 model available at IIT Kanpur. So development process was initiated at other institutions. Government and private companies started developing software to automate libraries to increase the retrieval of resources. They wanted to achieve efficiency in library management through Library Software. It also helped to improve the existing library services and introduce new library services. Library Software avoided duplication of the work and provided services to users effectively. The ultimate benefit of using Library Software was to save the time of the users.

Need for Automation of Libraries :

The main motive of Libraries is to make information available in a convenient form at the right time. The following are the reasons for automating the libraries :

1. Information Explosion - As you know there is an information explosion. The amount of information published increased exponentially. The growth of the rate of information is quite high in the fields of science and technology and medicine. The research is going and so publishing is quite high.
2. Space Saving - Every Library faces a shortage of space at one time and moves to the new building but that is also not sufficient after a few years. The application of computers would reduce the pressure on this front of storage. Most of the documents can be digitized and stored in computers. This will help to reduce the space, which is occupied by hard copy.
3. Time-saving - Dr. S.R. Ranganathan's fifth law says "Save the time of user".If computers are made available in Libraries, databases will be created, and thus retrieval of documents will be quick, and thus time will be saved.
4. Availability of Information in Electronic Form - Due to tremendous growth in information technology, the quality of information produced in electronic form increased rapidly. Now many journals are switching from paper format to digital format. I used to subscribe to Journals from the Indian Academy of Sciences but this year 2020, they switched to digital format.
5. Cost-effectiveness - Automation of the library results in saving money in the long run. It will reduce the cost of library operations.
6.  Data Manipulations - The information once entered for one function can be used for other functions like citation analysis, subject index, bibliographies in classified order, etc. The same data can be used any number of times with the same speed and accuracy.
7. Exploitation of Computer Readable databases - The application of information technology can exploit for better advantage, the computer-based database services and internet resources. 

Input and Output Devices

Input and Output Devices are called peripherals. It is used in a wider sense. An Input device helps in conveying instructions and converts that data into a pattern of electrical signals in binary code that is complex and comprehensive. An output device reverses the process and converts the digitized signals. In Computing Input and output is the medium to communicate between the information processing system and the outside the system. Inputs are the signals sent to the system. It receives the data and processes it. After processing the signal is sent through the output device. An input device is any hardware component that allows users to enter data into the computer. Output devices can produce the final product after processing by computer. That processed data is usable by humans.

Some of the Input Devices are:

1. Keyboard- Keyboard is the most common input device used. The data and instructions are fed into the computer with the help of a keyboard. The message or instruction typed on the keyboard reaches the memory unit of a computer. In a Desktop computer, the Keyboard is connected through a USB cable, but in a Laptop it is assembled together. The keyboard is very much similar to the keyboard of a Typewriter. The keyboard consists of alphabet keys, numerical keys, special character keys, Function keys, and some control Keys. When keys are pressed, an electronic signal is produced. Some keyboards have multimedia buttons for volume control, CD player control, Copy, Paste, etc. have been given. These days wireless cable is available as its access is easy.

2. Mouse- It’s a pointing device. The mouse is rolled over the mouse pad and then it moves the cursor. We can drag the mouse to move the cursor to the required place. Modern mouse are optical mouse..An optical mouse contains a Camera, and light light-emitting diode (LED). The led illuminates the lower portion of the mouse. There is a wireless mouse called a cordless mouse also. It uses RF (Radio Frequency signal).

3. Scanner- Scanners are used to scan any material that was born in paper format into digitized format. It converts printed copy into soft copy. It can be written, typed, or image. It is manipulated by a computer. There are different types of scanners like Optical scanners and magnetic-ink Character readers.

4. Trackballs- It is a pointing device, which contains a ball, which rotates in any direction. It is used on Laptop. The user slides a finger in a different direction to move the cursor on the screen.

5. Light Pen- It is also a pointing device. It is used to select a displayed menu option on the CRT Monitor. It is photo sensitive pen-like device. It is used to draw lines or figures on the screen. It can be used for graphics work. A user can draw directly on the CRT screen provided with a CAD package.

6. Bar Code Reader- This device reads bar codes on any product and converts them into electronic signals to be processed. Bar Code Reader emits red light when its switch is put on while reading the bar code on any product. A bar code is a format where data is encoded in black and white bars.

7. Voice Input system- This device converts spoken words to machine language. A microphone is an important output device used to convert human speech into electric signals.

8. Digital Camera- It converts graphics directly into digital form. It has no film and just looks like an ordinary camera, but there is a CCD (Changed Coupled Divide) Electronics Chip inside which is used. The Digital camera just collects whatever object is there and its image is captured.

Some Output devices are :

1. Monitor- It is the most important part of the computer. It is an electronic device with having LED light. When the user puts input data through the keyboard, we can see the output on the monitor screen. The monitor is a plug-and-play unit. Only power cord adaptor is required to use the monitor. Previously CRT Monitor was used, Then TFT (Thin Film Transistors), and now LED (Light Emitting Diode) monitors are used.

2 . Printer-It is commonly used in Offices. It is also an important output device. The printer helps us to print any information in a permanent Readable format. They produce an output of results, programs, and data. The following types of printers are Dot Matrix, Ink Jet, and Laser Printers.

3. Speaker- Sound is the output that we get after running multimedia. Speakers are attached to the computer so that we get sound from the sound.

4. Headphone- It is also one of the output devices.It also converts the electronic signal into sound. It is attached through USB cable or these days wireless headphones or earphones are available.

History of Computer and its Characteristics

Concept:

The word computer has been derived from the Latin word, which means to calculate. The computer was 

made as a programmable electronic device, which performs with the help of arithmetical and logical 

operations. It can process large volumes of data simultaneously with enormous speed and absolute 

accuracy according to given commands.

Computer is one of the main components of Information Technology. Government and Corporate 

sectors, agencies, institutions, schools, and all the similar institutions are using it. The use of computers 

is also being done in Libraries and Information centers to improve their services. It is a transition period 

now, all libraries have initiated in computerization of libraries.

History of Computer:

The first mechanical calculator was developed by 1623 by William Schickhard. Another mechanical 

calculator was developed in 1642 by the French philosopher and Scientist Blaise Pascal. This machine 

could do addition and subtraction automatically. In 1971 German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz 

extended Pascal‘s machine to perform multiplication and division automatically. In 1823 Charles 

Babbage built a mechanical computing machine capable of performing automatic multistep 

calculations. In 1830 Charles Babbage developed a powerful mechanical computer. He named the 

machine an “Analytical Engine”. This machine was developed to perform mathematical calculations 

automatically. It contained all the required and essential components of a modern digital computer.

The first electronic computer using valves was invented by John V. Atanasoff in the late 1930s at Iowa 

State University. Several electronic computers were developed in the early 1940s. The first popular 

general-purpose electronic digital computer was ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and 

Calculator ) which was developed at the University of Pennsylvania.

Computer Generations:

1.      First Generation (1946-1954) - The digital computers using electronic valves (Vacuum Tubes) are known as first-generation computers. Some examples of the first generation computers are IBM 700 Series –IBM 701, IBM 704, and IBM 709. The first-generation computers usually used vacuum tubes as CPU components. They stored information in the form of sound waves. Electrostatic memories have also been utilized in first-generation computers. It used Machine Language and Assembly Language for programming. First-generation computers were very huge in size.

2.      Second Generation (1955-1964) - The Second generation computers used Transistors for CPU components. They used high-level languages such as FORTRAN (1956), ALGOL (1960), and COBOL (1960) for programming. Examples of second-generation computers are IBM 1620 (1960).IBM70941 (1962). Floating point Arithmetic hardware was widely used.Input/output Processor (IOP) to control  Input/output operation. It relieved the CPU from many repeating repetitive tasks. Computer size was reduced because of transistors. Less energy was consumed in this computer.

3.      Third Generation (1965-1974) - Third Generation computer used Integrated Circuit (IC). These IC chips consist of thousands of electronic components. It was a combination of Resistors, Transistors, and Capacitors. The electronic components are assembled and connected with the printed circuit board. The Introduction of IC and PCB reduced the size of Computers. At this time computers were named Mini Computers. A new concept revolved at this time was Virtual Memory. Cache memory was also incorporated along with microprogramming, parallel processing, multiprocessing, multiprogramming .etc. An example of a third-generation computer is the IBM370 Series (1970).

4.      Fourth Generation (1975-1990) – in the fourth generation computer Microprocessors were used as CPU.VLSI Chips were also used for CPU so computers became very fast. The Microprocessor chip had control of the whole computer. At this time the Computers were called Micro Computers. Examples of Fourth Computer were Intel’s 8088, 80286, 80386 and 80486.

5.      Fifth Generation (1991- Till Date) – Supercomputers and laptops are the fifth Generation Computers. These computers are very efficient.PARAM-1000 is a supercomputer invented by our country. These computers are used for scientific research. Fifth-generation computers used ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) Chips. Millions of transistors are placed in a single IC in ULSI Chips. Fifth-generation computers emerged as powerful computers. Examples of Processors are Intel Pentium to Pentium 4. Core i3 to Core i7 Processor. Operation System available today are Windows 10, Linux, etc.

Characteristics of Computers:

1.      Speed – The computer can perform any task very fast in comparison with man. It can also do complex tasks with high speed. If you are using a computer with more RAM and the latest processor then it can multi-task with good speed.

2.      Arithmetical and Logical Operations- Computers can do all types of calculations.

3.   Accuracy- Computers are devices that give accurate results as the instruction is given. There is no doubt about its accuracy.

4.      Reliability- Computers of the modern day are reliable and the crash rate is low. It creates no problem and so it is reliable.

5.      Storage-Computers have Internal Storage (Memory) . Storage is of no issue as 2TB storage is available on its hard disk.

6.   Retrieving Data- The computer lets retrieve its stored documents. It can be searched by different approaches.

7.   Automation-Computer automates the services. Automation leads to efficiency and productivity. Different devices are attached to computers like scanners and printers.

8.   Versatility-Computer is versatile in nature. It performs different tasks simultaneously. If you are listening to music and composing mail together. At the Railway station, Trains are controlled as well and ticketing is also done.

9.      Communications- Computers have a great role in communications. Today every school going kids to corporate level, Government and Research, etc are communicating by the use of computers. Lots of application software available like Zoom, Skype, Webex, etc. which are installed and can do video conferencing.

10.   Diligence- Computers work for hours without being tired. It can work continuously for months to years. It has no issue of headache or any problem.

11.   No Emotion- Computers have no emotions. It can’t be angry or sad. It detects objects based on the command given to it. The results or output is based on the instruction given to it.

Use Webinar Software for E-Learning

Seminars and Conferences are professional activities. Professionals used to take formal leave from 

college and universities to attend the Seminar. There are Registration charges which vary from 

institution to institution Any Professional would like to attend the Seminar as they know the topic and 

are enthusiastic to learn about it. Professionals gather together and meet each other. They know each 

other and discuss different subjects related to their profession. These meetings of intellectuals give rise 

to new innovations. Seminars and conferences give participants to present their papers and later on, get 

published named conference proceedings. The seminar helps every participant to update their 

knowledge on that particular topic. After the seminar, the participation certificate in hard copy was 

distributed. But COVID-19 has changed a lot of things as seminars on the web and so it is named 

Webinar.

The Webinar is done online. As the name suggests, the platform is on the Web. Professionals are 

getting webinar information on WhatsApp and Telegram Groups. Professionals have to click the 

registration form and thus the process gets completed within minutes. The message of confirmation 

gets on the registered mail. The link to the webinar and timing details are given in that email. The 

organizers of the webinar send reminders one hour before through email. We have to click ten minutes 

before the time of the webinar otherwise, it may that due to the limited participant number, permission 

is rejected for joining. After joining the webinar few minutes is a trial and error game as some others 

start presenting and sometimes times main speaker or guest is left out and not able to join due to the 

full strength of the participants. Somebody leaves then they join. Sometimes times speaker connection 

is disconnected. So these are part of the Webinar Technical problems. The participants are warned to 

mute themselves, and even then somebody unmutes it and creates problems for the speaker and 

participants. Later participants as the time reaches to finish, start to write for feedback links. Then 

organizers put a feedback link and participants fill out this form and submit it. The certificate is mailed 

to our Inbox. Some Professionals are very happy to receive these certificates and post them on 

Facebook and other social networking sites. But the real issue is that prestigious institutions like ILA 

(Indian Library Association) are also issuing these webinar certificates but some professionals claim 

their validity. But at the end of the day, knowledge matters for these webinar participants.

Webinars are conducted on different platforms and so their apps are to be downloaded. The following 

are the apps mentioned below:

1. Google Meet- Hangouts Meet is now Google Meet. Advanced Google Meet video conferencing has 

larger meetings with up to 250 participants. It is free for businesses on G Suite through September 30, 

2020. If you have a Google account you can use Google Meet. It keeps you connected with video 

conferences built on Google’s robust and secure global infrastructure. Meet is included with G Suite 

and g Suite for education. It is trusted by enterprises around the world. Just set up a meeting by sharing 

link. Its interface is very lightweight. Meet is fully integrated with G Suite. Gartner names Google 

Meetings Solutions a Peer Insights Customer’s Choice for 2018. It's very simple in three steps. Start 

Video, Join, and Add people to a meeting.

2. Zoom Meetings- It is an American Communication technology company situated with its 

headquarters in California. It provides video telephony and chat services through this software 

platform. It is the most popularly used teleconferencing platform for webinars and providing online     

education. The Government of India, Ministry of Home warned regarding Zoom App usage as it was 

not safe. The Computer Emergency Response Team of India cautioned against the vulnerability of the 

app. However, lots of webinars of prestigious institutions were organized on Zoom App. Schools are 

still conducting classes on this App. Zoom has made a place in India and people are very comfortable 

in using this app. Initially, due to COVID-19, it is free with 100 participants and after that it is 

chargeable. It gets disconnected as time restrictions are there in the free edition.

3. GoToMeeting- It is a web hosting service developed by LogMein.It is designed for online meetings 

and video conferencing. It is also a very good app enabling users to conduct online meetings, trainings, 

and webinars. Its headquarters is in Boston, US.

4. Uber Conference- It is a cloud-based conferencing app from Dialpad. It is built on WebRTC, as it 

provides real-time call control. Its other features are basic calls, HD Audio, document sharing, Call 

Recording, and detailed profiles on callers from media profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and 

Linkedin.UberConference has been integrated into file hosting services from Box, dropbox and 

EverNote. Brian Peterson Co-Founder of UberConference. Its headquarters is in San Francisco (US).

5. LifeSize- This company provides cloud-based video conferencing services. It offers proprietary 

software for 4K video conferencing, audio, and video devices. It is used in education, media, and other 

technology industries. Craig Malloy is the CEO of this company. Its headquarters is in Austin, US.

6. Skype- it is the oldest technology company used for video conferencing and is still strong as it 

developed an app for instant messaging, real-time video, and voice communication. It provides 

software and mobile application that allows professionals to call and chat. Its headquarters is in 

Redmond, US.

7. Ready Talk-It provides communications through audio, web, and video conferencing, webinars and 

webcasts. It has a long list of product solutions range consisting of web conferencing, audio 

conferencing, video collaboration, mobile conferencing webinars, etc. Its headquarter is in Denver, 

The US. It was founded in 2000. Dan King Founder and CEO of this company.

8. Star Leaf- It delivers HD video calling and conferencing solutions. It is provider and manufacturer 

of messaging and video conferencing services. Mark Richer and Willaim MacDonald are the 

cofounders of this company.

9. GoToWebinar-It is a platform that helps to provide online and video conferencing with customers, 

colleagues, professionals, etc. The applications of GoToWebinar are very efficient. This application 

gives excellent options for professionals and companies that want to reach their audience. This 

platform best suitable for webinars and training. Its interface is very simple and user-friendly. It is a 

a very good tool to effectively promote your online event.  GoToWebinar supports all devices like 

Windows, Android, iPhone, Mac. The pricing model is available for monthly payment and Annual 

Subscription. Its customers are small businesses, Large enterprises, Medium Businesses and 

Freelancers.

10. Cisco Webex – It is the leading conferencing platform having partners like CNN. It is also an 

American company develops and sells web conferencing and video applications. It was founded by 

WebEx in 1995 and was taken over by Cisco Systems in 2007. Its headquarters is in Milpitas, 

California. Its founders were Subrah Iyar and MinZhu.It has lots of products namely Webex Meetings, 

Webex Teams, Webex Training Centre, Webex Support Centre, Webex Event Centre, Webex Enterprise 

Edition and Webex Connect.

11.AnyMeeting- It provides web conferencing and webinar for small business. It helps users to host 

and attend web-based conferences and meetings. This application is also web-based software. In 

In August 2017, AnyMeeting had over one million registered users.

12. Ring Central Meetings-This application lets users meet, share, and collaborate with anyone, 

anywhere in real-time. It is an HD video conferencing and screen-sharing solution. One can host 

unlimited videoconference calls and share content in a meeting with anyone. It can have an online 

meetings up to 500 video participants. Its release date is December 2107.

13. Microsoft Teams- It is a Communication and Collaboration platform that combines persistent 

workplace chat, video meetings, file store, get, and application integration. This service integrates with 

office 365. It is available in 26 languages. Microsoft announced Teams at an event in New York and 

launched the service worldwide on March 12, 2107.

14. YouTube –It is also a popular platform for webinars these days. It is an American online video

sharing application. Its headquarters is in San Bruno, California. Three former PayPal employees 

Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim developed this service in February 2005. Google bought this site 

in November 2006. It is one of Google's subsidiaries.Its CEO Susan Wojcicki.

15. FreeConferenceCall.com- This is a website founded in 2001 in Ling Beach, California, US. The 

company is one of the largest providers of conference call services online. David Erickson owner of 

this company. It was launched on October 26, 2001.

            

Thus these above-mentioned tools are very effective in communicating with others living in remote 

places. One can see the body language and facial expressions of participants. This platform was made 

popular due to COVID-19, which created this sort of environment. Everybody needed these platforms 

to discuss and meet. These applications fulfilled everyone's needs and desire to communicate officially 

or personally. These applications are a boon for professionals who use these platforms to conduct 

webinars. Things were made easier for people due to these web conferencing tools.

Role of a Librarian

A librarian works professionally in a library, providing access to 

information to users. Librarians' duties vary from institution to institution. Helping people is the 

part of work. From ordering books, organizing books, and monitoring children’s 

behavior also, who is reading and who is a disturbing element. The Librarian is no longer 

traditional. The role of a librarian is continually evolving to satisfy users' requirements with the 

help of technology. A contemporary librarian looks after the maintenance of data in many 

formats, including books; electronic resources; magazines; newspapers; audio and video 

recordings; manuscripts; photographs, etc. A librarian can also provide other information 

services, including information literacy instruction; computer provision, and training.A librarian 

always looks forward to appreciation from readers as the Librarian tries his skills to give a 

solution to the user in the form of documents in time. The following major services he has to 

look after :

Acquisition services 

A Librarian has to make the policies that have to be followed for acquisition services. He has 

to make a requisition form and that form has to be issued to those faculties who require 

a book. After filling in the bibliographical information of the book, the faculty submits it to the 

Librarian. Now Librarian gets approval from the head of the Institution. The Librarian has to 

see if the budget permits the required purchase. After the approval, he places an order to the 

vendor. Before that, he has to take quotations from different vendors. The vendors who give 

the maximum discount with best service the order will be placed to that vendor. Usually, it 

takes a month to get the books. The Bill is sent to the Accounts section. Before that, you have 

to check the book's information with the purchase order.

          

Cataloguing Service

Now the book is given an Accession number and entered into the Accession Register. The 

bibliographical information of the book is entered in the Accession Register. The following 

columns are there Date, Author, Title, Edition, Publisher, Publisher place, volume, Vendor, 

Cost, Call No., etc. So this information is again entered into the Library Software. Before that, 

you have to do stamping so that you can write the Accession number and Call No. on the 

book and book card. Again you have to write bibliographical information on the Book Card.

                                          

Circulation Section 

Librarian who has to issue and return books also. If you have staff there then Librarian looks 

after other work. But if he is alone you have to Issue and return books. You have to be cool 

while returning books as a lot of rush happens suddenly.

Magazine and Journals section

A librarian has to subscribe to Journals and magazines. He has to make an entry into 

Register and again feed into Library Software. The reminder is sent for missing issues of 

journals. The Renewal is also done by a Librarian.

Automation of Library

This part is most important for a head Librarian. Some issues are coming daily. The 

major issues come when new admission of children. The records of new students are fed 

into Library software. If intake is 2500. Then two to three weeks you have to enter it. Then 

make Library cards. You have to issue smart cards. The cards with Bar-coded are issued 

from the library. Again Librarian has to take the initiative for the distribution. Oracle password 

has to be renewed after a certain time.

Guide Users

The Librarian guides users in searching for information for them. It may be physical 

documents or online. A librarian should help users and he feels happy in doing it. The new 

students are informed about the rules and regulations of the library. How to use a digital 

library?. Librarian issues old question papers to students. Librarian guides which book will be 

better for which topics. He even recommends the bookshop for those interested in buying 

books.

Conclusion

Lots of big and small issues are part of the job. Librarian has to do multi-tasking jobs. The 

librarian is happy and satisfied at the end of the day. He is not at all tired as he loves caring 

for his users. He is happy to be there in the middle of books. He gets knowledge from books 

as well as from discussions with faculties. So Librarian loves his role.

"Magazines at Mosman Library" by Mosman Library is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

"Screen time" by Moore Memorial Public Library is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

"Young Reader, Do You Have a Question for Reference?" by Taekwonweirdo is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0"Backshifting reference" by Andrew|W is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0