Use of software for automation of academic libraries in Sialkot
| Date | 28 February 2023 |
| Pages | 417-428 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-08-2022-0081 |
| Published date | 28 February 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Library & information services,Lending,Document delivery,Collection building & management,Stock revision,Consortia |
| Author | Mazhar Iqbal,Muhammad Kabir Khan,Arslan Sheikh |
Use of software for automation of academic
libraries in Sialkot
Mazhar Iqbal
Department of Library, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Kabir Khan
Information Services Department, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and
Arslan Sheikh
Junaid Zaidi Library, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
Abstract
Purpose –The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academic libraries in Sialkot. This study consisted of
three objectives, including recognizing the reasons to adopt the software for library automation, investigating the problems faced by librarians while
using library software and identifying the satisfaction level with the attributes of library software.
Design/methodology/approach –A quantitative research approach was used to achieve the objectives of this study. A survey was conducted to
collect data from the library information science professionals working in the academic libraries of Sialkot. The data was collected from 46 library
professionals through a structured questionnaire.
Findings –The findings showed that the economic cost of implementation, maintenance and the software providing multilingual support were the
major reasons for adoption of software for the purpose of automation. In this study, compliance with the internet, noncooperation in library
automation by university/institution, availability of training facilities, insufficient library budget, a lack of financial/economic resources, staff transfer
and a lack of consultancy and technical service were identified as major issues when using library automation softwa re. However, the respondents
were quite satisfied with the performance of software attributes including circulation modules, easy to use cataloguing modules, reports’modules,
software attributes of administration modules and multilingual facility.
Originality/value –This study persuades library and information science professionals to automate their libraries through the adoption of lib rary
software.
Keywords Academic libraries, Library automation software, Integrated library software, Pakistan, ILS, Library software, Library automation
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The flow of information is increasing daily in the world, and it is a
challenge for library and information science (LIS) profe ssionals to
manage information in such a way that it can be accessed easily
within a short time. The fundamental function of LIS professionals
is to facilitate users by fulfilling their information needs. Libraries
are considered one of the most important and core sources for
providing authentic information to students effectively and
efficiently. This is why there is a need to implement information
management systems (IMS) in libraries. As in conventional
libraries, users have to spend a lot of time searching for inf ormation,
andtheyhavetorelymostlyonthelibrarypersonnel.Inthe
modern age of communication technologies, software are used for
the day-to-day housekeeping of the library operations, which sav es
the time of users and library staff alike. The world is now an
information society where advancementsin information processing
and rapid advancements in information and communication
technology (ICT) have emphasized the role of IMS in all forms of
libraries, especially in university libraries (Verma, 2014). According
to Olorunlagbara and Ojo (2021), the information system is a
systematic mechanism for gathering, sorting, saving, and extracting
information to meet a variety of needs.
The knowledge revolution has generated a need for IMS
creation to store, organize and retrieve information for users
without wasting their time. The use of a computer to perform
library tasks such as acquisition, cataloging, classification,
circulation and serial control is known as library automation.
Automation is a significant ICT extension for libraries. It enables
the rapid operation of libraries, facilities, access and distribution
of content (Mairaj and El-Hadi, 2012). The use of computers in
libraries begun in the 1960s. Borgman (1997) has divided library
automation into three stages. These three stages are elab orated as
below. The term “library automation”first appeared in the
The current issue and full text archiveof this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2398-6247.htm
Information Discovery and Delivery
51/4 (2023) 417–428
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2398-6247]
[DOI 10.1108/IDD-08-2022-0081]
The authors acknowledge the anonymous reviewers for their valuable
comments on this manuscript. This research received no financial support.
Received 18 August 2022
Revised 7 October 2022
11 November 2022
25 November 2022
4 January 2023
5 January 2023
Accepted 21 January 2023
417
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