BY
AWE FOLUSO CHARLES /
ARC/01/0435 /
MENTOR: PROF OLU OLA OGUNSOTE /
ABSTRACT
The paper gives an outline of library automation. It tries to enuciate the procedure that a library user can go through in assessing online materials. It also describes the overview of e – book and related problems.
1.0INTRODUCTION
The success of library depends on the ability of academic library users to acquire basic skills necesssary to enable him to use the library materials which are most suitable for his purpose. Hence, users need to know what the library is, types of libraries that are avaiable, library sections and service points within the University Library system, the forms of library materials, how to acquire and organise the materials. All users should also develop the skill to effectively use the computer system with minimum library staff intervention.
2.0DEFINITIONS
2.1Library
Ogunleye (2000) describes library as a planned collection of documents organised in such a way as to meet the needs of users. Folorunso (2008), positioned that library is a proper arrangement of information bearing materials according to some acceptable and standard plans for the purpose of easy retrieval and maximum satisfaction of users. The information – bearing materials may be in written or in non-written forms. The information herein could only be accessed by the aid of a set or sets specially designed for the purpose.
The word library is derived Latin “Liber” which simply means books. It signifies a place set aside for reading or reference and for collection of books.
Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary describes library as a building in which collections of books, tapes, newspapers etc are kept for people to read, study or borrow.
2.2Materials
It refers to various forms of document, which may include books, serial publicatios, journals, University publications, maps, pictures, magazines, drawing etc.
2.3University Library
The University Library is an academic library which support the basic functions of the Univesity which are teaching, research and comunity service.
Ogunleye (2000), enumerate three functions of the University library:
- To provide for the undergraduate students with materials to support learning and teaching.
- To provide research materials for academic staff, postgraduates students and other researchers in the University.
- To provide materials, including management information, that will adequately cater for the need of the entire membes of the University community.
3.0THE LIBRARY
3.1Library Types
There are six types of libraries performing various functions and care for various categories of people in the society.
The six types are:
- Academic libraries e.g University, Polytechnic library etc.
- National libraries: by the Federal government
- Private libraries owned by individuals
- Public libraries owned by Federal, State and Local Government.
- School libraries, for Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools.
- Special (research) libraries e.g Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) Library or International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (ITTA) Library, Ibadan.
3.2Sections of the Library
There can be as many sections of an academic library as the size and staff strenght are major factors in sectioning. In most University libraries, the follwoing are common sections, though the assigned name may differ:
-Acquisition or colection development section
-Cataloging
-Reference
-Serials
-Reprographic or photocopy
-Sepecial collection
-Audiovisual
-The archives
-Government document collection
-Bindery
The acquisition and cataloguing sections are often refer to as the “Technical Services department” while the reference, reprographic and circulation sections are the reader’s services.
3.3The Library catalogue
The section is highly relevant to library users because basic questions by library users are addressed by this section.
Questions of where and how to locate:
-A known work written by a known author
-A known work written by an unknown author
-An unknown work written by a kown author
-Any work on a named subject
-A particular edition of a work
-Some series of work on a subject
The library catalogue is a tool which provides access to the works held by the library and enables them to be retrievable by authors, title, subject, series, illustrations or translation.
The common forms of library catalogues are
- The cards in cabinet drawers
- Microfiche
- Microfilm
- Sheaf book
- On-line (computer catalogue, for example on-line public Access Catalogue). This is the main interest of this paper.
3.4Library Automation Software
There are many kinds of library automation software that are used in the library. The common ones are:
- TINLIB
- MICRO CDS/ISIS
- LIBERTAS
- CARS/CLASS
- GLASS
- BOOKMASTER
- IN MAGIC PLUS
- ERUDITE
- XLIB
- GREENSTONE
4.0THE ON-LINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE (OPAC)
The library user in an automated library consults the OPAC rather than the card catalogue. OPAC provides its users with on-line access to a variety of other electronic resources located both within and outside the library, once the library is automated and connected to the outside libraries. This will enable users to have access to current materials like journals, books and other information resources that the users library may not even have.
The on-line access enables the user to retrieve a library material, usually by title, author or subject. Also, enables the usder to find out how many copies of the books he req uires are in the library it also helps the user to know if a book in the library has been borrowed, has been weeded or is outrightly lost.
5.0E – BOKS OVERVIEW
Andrea and Kristine (2007) mentioned that especialy in academic libraries, e-book collections are built around titles that are web-accessible. On-line e-books work with libraries and patrons; desktop computers, laptops and other existing hardware, they also fit logically with other electrocnic text regardless of size or composition (a digital object), but excluding journals publications, made avaiable electronically (or optically) for any device that includes a screen.
Some points to note when planing for a successful implementation of e-books include the placement within the site of pages with links to e-books, what words aid phrases will be used to refer to and link to e-books, how well access to e-books in integrated into library catalogs, how easily and in what ways e-book can be searched through sections of libraries web sites outside of catalogs, and how to promote the use of e-books through library web sites.
Ogunsote and Ogunsote (2003) submitted that there are several sources of digital books on the web, which can be searched by author, title, building type, country, language and specific keywords, popular web sites with Architecture books include:
- Amazon.com
- eBay.com
- Architecturestore.com
- half.com
- halfPriceBooks.com
- exampus.com
- alibris.com
- builserspace.com
- overstock.com
While onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu lists more than 20,000 online books in English.
Cliff and James (2003) reported that several users saw the advantages of e-books to include the ability to store several titles in a single device and the ability to read the device in reduced lighting conditions by virtue of the backlight.
6.0CONCLUSION
The library in a University is regarded as the primary gateway to information for the University academic community, hence, the library should be automated. Also, all students should have the skill to access on-line their desired documents.
On line material accessing should be the policy of University management due to its merits of ease of accessibility and mode of storage and convenience. If this can be done students and the University comunity stand to benefit and be enhanced.
REFERENCES
Andrea Dinkelman and Kristine Stacy-bates (2007). Accessing E-books through Academic library web sites, Journal of Colege and research libraries p.59.
Cl;iff Mcknight and James Deanlery (2003). Electronic Book use in a public Library, Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 35(4) December, 2003, p.241.
Folorunso O. (2008). Brief History of Libraries and Education. General Studies Unit, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Ogunleye, G. O. (2000): the use of te library. Ado-Ekiti, ralph Blessed Encyclopedia.
Ogunsote, O. O. And Prucnal – Ogunsote, B (2003). The use of search engines, web directories and indices on the World Wide Web for Architectural research in Nigeria: resources and methods. The Association of Architectural Educators in nigeria (AARCHES) 2003. Anual general meeting and Conference. Theme: Methodological Issues in Architectural Research. 24 – 27 September, 2003, Zaira.
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