Integrated Library System: Selection and Design

Abstract

The wide use of computer and communicating systems in the recent pastfacilitated the design and development of ‘integrated library (information)systems’. Dr Ralph Halsted Parker, pioneer in library mechanization coined theterm `Library Information Systems (LIS)' around 1968, envisioned LIS as not only‘automating’ existing library procedures, such as circulation, cataloguing, etc., butalso providing access to materials held electronically even by other libraries and information centers across the globe. Currently, the systems librarians have beenendeavouring to develop ‘Integrated Library Systems’ (ILS), by creating thetechnologic landscape for supporting and enhancing end-user access to digitallyrecorded document surrogates and content. Analysing and designing an LISaims at enhancing patron satisfaction by providing just-in-time access toappropriate information. Survey findings across North America and Europereveal that the rationale for migrating from one system to another is for increasedfunctionality of library’s information system for the benefit of end-user, sideliningthe cost issues. This article describes system selection processes andprocedures, and other planning and decision-making issues and factorsassociated with the design and development of an ILS.

http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dbit.25.5.3666