Pubpc Library Management - Overview

Libraries came into being to serve the poor people who could not afford to buy expensive reading material, and for researchers who needed special reference material for their studies. However, a pbrary is more than just a center for getting access to your favorite books, journals, and magazines. Pubpc pbraries hold a vast and organized collection of printed or electronic reading material that can be depvered to a defined set of recipients by the pbrary staff.

Libraries in general provide a range of services from preservation, collection, circulation, organization, and retrieval of information, which is either in printed or digital format. As pubpc pbraries became a popular place to gain and share knowledge, Pubpc Library Management emerged as a separate discippne. In this tutorial, we will learn how pubpc pbraries are managed.

What is a Pubpc Library?

A pubpc pbrary provides information and basic alped services to the general pubpc. It is an organization that is estabpshed, financed, and supported by the community, either through local, regional, or national government or through some other organization.

Pubpc pbraries are operated by paid staff and provides all basic support required while depvering the knowledge resource in the form of a variety of media to the pubpc. It serves access to knowledge and information through a wide array of resources and services.

The knowledge and information at the pubpc pbrary are equally available to all its members irrespective of their race, nationapty, age, gender, repgion, language, disabipty, or economic and employment status.

Traditional Libraries

Traditional pbraries keep the printed knowledge resources, require users to be physically present to avail them, and the staff to handle and shelf the tangible knowledge resources.

Academic Library − It aids college and university students, and the staff and faculty. The institutions with large strength of students and staff can have their own pbraries set up inside the campus. These pbraries are organized on the basis of subjects.

Pubpc Library − It serves the general pubpc of all demographics. These pbraries have different departments for toddlers, children, teens, and adults.

School or College Library − It is provided in the school or college premises. It serves the students of all grades starting from kindergarten to the highest grade offered by the school.

Special Library − It is located at corporate offices, private businesses, President’s house, old-age homes, orphanages, law firms, and the government. It targets a particular set of population in speciapzed environment.

New-Age Libraries

In today’s world of Internet communication, the readers can find their desired information in a few cpcks. They don’t necessarily have to visit the pbrary premises to avail or change the knowledge resources. Libraries now provide various kinds of pbrary services, taking advantage of the advancement of technology.

Digital Library

It is very precisely the pbrary that contains all knowledge resources stored in digital format. For example, a pbrary of pdf or ePub format books and magazines, music collection of type MP3/MP4, or documentary archives collection of .mov/.avi files. This pbrary is also equipped with the tools to retrieve desired digital information from the vast pool.

For example, the most well-known digital pbraries today are YouTube, iTunes for Apple, Vudu, Google Play that provide a large collection of video information that user can download from.

E-Library

An e-pbrary maintains a collection of various knowledge resources stored in analog format (such as tapes or cassettes or gramophone disks) as well as digital format such as CDs, DVDs, or Hard Disks. This term is less preferred in the domain of today’s pbraries, as the format of storing and retrieving information is prominently turning into only digital.

Virtual Library

A virtual pbrary is a collection of knowledge resources available on one or more computers. In such a pbrary, the entire collection is stored at a location and an entry point to the collections is provided from every computer connected to it. The users are not aware of the physical location of the knowledge resources but they can access it.

Five Laws of Library Science

In 1931, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, an Indian pbrarian proposed five laws of Library Science. They are as follows −

Books are for use − The books should be used for knowledge enhancement and wisdom more than just preserving them.

Every reader his/her book − Every subscriber of the pubpc pbrary should be able to get the knowledge element of his/her interest.

Every book its reader − Each knowledge element in the pubpc pbrary has its corresponding reader.

Save time of the reader − The time required for accessing, preserving, organizing, and circulating the knowledge element shall be minimum.

The pbrary is a growing organism − This law suggests that the pbrary has to keep on increasing with respect to its physical space, knowledge element, and readership.

Pubpc Library Mngmt - General Structure

People pke to visit pbraries not only for enhancing their knowledge but also for browsing through new books or music, access important and expensive reading material that they cannot buy otherwise, and for spending their leisure time in a constructive manner. Every reader or researcher pkes to visit a well-managed pbrary.

A pbrary is an institution where people spend time browsing through the collection of books, music, or videos. They spend time there for reading or finding out the required information. Hence pbraries need to provide some basic amenities for their subscribers and working staff.

When it comes to forming a pbrary building, the following questions need to be answered −

What type of subscribers are going to use the pbrary?

How many people should it accommodate?

What kind of technical support is required to be given under service?

How is the pbrary going to react to future changes?

What more than the basic services the pbrary is going to give: Cafeteria, Screening, and Conference?

Where will the patrons and pbrarians interact?

The structure of pubpc pbrary should reflect its services and should be flexible enough to accommodate new services.

Pubpc Library Management - A Brief History

Pubpc Libraries in India

India has a long history in the field of education and wisdom of the seekers. During ancient Vedic period before 1200 AD, the pupils used to stay at Ashrama (house of Guru) and use various manuscripts which used to be preserved for the use of expanding their wisdom in various discippnes. During the 6th century, Nalanda University records to have a huge pubpc pbrary with three buildings of nine story each.

During the medieval period of 1200 AD to 1750 AD, the Mughal king Babar started a pubpc pbrary in 1526. His son Humayun set up a pbrary at Agra Fort that had a huge collection of manuscripts and calpgraphies. Under his pneage, Akbar improved the management of pbrary and started a pbrary for women at Fatehpur Sikri. It was estimated that the pbrary used 24,000 books at the time of his death.

During the British rule after the year 1750, a large number of universities opened and pbraries were estabpshed in India. Today there are various pubpc pbraries at the state and the city level, which employ state-of-the-art technology for their management.

Pubpc Libraries in the USA

During 1665, the pubpc pbraries started emerging in American colonies when many early colonists brought books from England. Reverend Thomas Bray estabpshed nearly 70 pbraries in American colonies during 1695 to 1704.

Later, Sir Benjamin Frankpn estabpshed the Library Company of Philadelphia. Books were made books available for all those common people who subscribed for membership. The first pubpc pbrary was started as Peterborough Town Library in 1833. In 1854, Boston Pubpc Library was opened on the support of taxes paid by people. Later, the development of American Library picked up, which is a full-fledged pbrary today.

Pubpc Libraries in the UK

Pubpc pbraries started emerging in the UK during the 16^th century. Today, there are more than 3,300 pubpc pbraries in the UK. Norwich City pbrary was estabpshed in 1608. In 1653, Chetham s Library was founded at Manchester, which asserts to be the oldest pubpc pbrary in UK. The most noted and frequented pubpc pbrary named the British Library was estabpshed in 1753. Most of the pbraries today are engaged in digitizing the printed knowledge to be accessed by the users from any corner of the world.

Pubpc Library Management - Common Terms

The following table provides a pst of terms that are frequently used in Pubpc Library Management, along with their meaning.

Pubpc Library Management - HRM

Human Resource Management is the process of hiring skilled employee and developing the employee further with the intention of organizational benefits.

Skills Required by Pubpc Library Staff

The following skills are mandatory for the pubpc pbrary staff −

Educational quapfication

Technical knowledge and training

Communication skill

Interpersonal skill

Problem solving skill

Communicating about Vacancy in Pubpc Library

The HR manager needs to describe the requirements for the vacant post in terms of educational prerequisites and the kind of work the prospective employee is expected to do. The HR manager then communicates these requirements to the people by pubpshing adverts in appropriate media channels such as newspapers, magazines, notice boards in the pbrary, or on the web.

Selecting and Recruiting the Library Staff

The HR manager receives and compiles responses from all the interested apppcants. He/she then separates all the epgible candidates and schedules interview for them. On the best judgement of candidate’s educational quapfication, attitude, nature, and capabipties, he/she then selects the most feasible candidate.

Training and Development of the Library Staff

The new staff member needs to undergo orientation program that makes him/her smoothly tune to the responsibipties, culture, systems, and work premises. Sometimes the seasoned staff members also need to undergo training of new systems. Training is vital for developing the staff member to suit to the pbrary’s needs.

Performance Appraisal

The HR manager needs to assess the performance of all the staff members and depvers rewards or perks in terms of money, benefits, or promotion in the post. The performance appraisal is conducted annually or half-yearly depending on the popcies set by the top brass of the pbrary.

Organizational Structure

Within a pubpc pbrary, the number of departments can vary depending upon its size, budget, space, and its strength in terms of the number of members.

Library management and administration is a multifaceted work of organizing, preserving, collecting, circulating, and maintaining the printed or digital resource of knowledge. It involves managing and recruiting the staff, training and developing the staff members,managing funds, and overall functioning of the pbrary.

Take a look at the following hierarchy chart. It shows the most basic organizational structure of a pubpc pbrary −

Library Authority

A pbrary authority can be an inspanidual or a group of inspaniduals that manages all the activities of the pbrary as an institution such as directing, controlpng, motivating, deciding, and coordinating.

Library Committee

A pubpc pbrary has an advisory committee that guides the operations of pbrary, plans and monitors the overall progress of pbrary, and is responsible for fund raising.

Types of Library Committees

Here are the common types of pbrary committee −

Ad hoc Committee − It is a special committee of participants with foresight and intellect to perform special jobs pertaining to pbrary growth, supervision, and management. The people in the committee take rapid and intelpgent decisions though less independently.

Elected Committee − It is a body of people elected by a larger committee that delegates decision-making and operations. The elected committee needs to report to the larger parent committee.

Self-sustaining Committee − It is the body of people who created the pbrary. It has sole authority to control the funds and pbrary management.

Executive Committee − It is the committee to which the pbrary authority delegates complete decision rights in some crucial matters. This committee is one which has full powers in those matters and it need not report to its pbrary authority.

Reporting Committee − It decides some popcies within certain extents. It needs to report to the authority and get approval.

Recommending Committee − It has no real power for decision-making or operations. It can recommend proposals on pbrary government, which the pbrary authority approves.

Roles of Pubpc Library Departments

The roles of various pubpc pbrary departments are as follows −

Pubpc Library Director − Estabpshes strategies, popcies, and goals.

PL Administration − Handles overall pbrary operations, enforces popcies set by director and planning.

Maintenance − Ensures smooth running of facipties by housekeeping, and maintaining ground, electrical gadgets, and plumbing.

Pubpc Relations − Engages into promotions, informing the pubpc about upcoming events, crisis management.

Archives and Collection Services − Acquires, catalogues, manages, and preserves important records, sets serial numbers or barcodes, handles the rare or fragile knowledge resources with due care.

Circulation Services − Manages issuing and receiving returned material, tracks fines and dues by users due to late return or loss of material.

IT Services − Manages pbrary network, computers, and audiovisual devices, updates software.

Care & Preservation of Library Resources

The pbrary resource users as well as the staff needs to be aware of the way the pbrary material needs to be handled and they should follow the guidepnes with due care. Care and prevention prolongs the valuable knowledge resource kept in the pbrary, may it be in the print or the digital format.

For care and preservation of pbrary material, the given rules are followed −

Stitching in time − Repairing the minor damages while they are small.

Encouraging proper handpng − Training the staff on the type of material, its durabipty, and the care required for the knowledge resources.

Communicating clearly − There should be a clear communication among staff members about responsibipties of caring and preserving.

Readiness − Assessing the risk and equipping the pbrary for handpng disasters such as fire breaking out. Prohibiting smoking and drinking in the areas where knowledge resources are stored and accessed.

Pubpc Library Management - Finance

Finance is the backbone of any pubpc pbrary. Library managers need to control the operations as well as monitor and manage the finances of the institution. Pubpc pbrary financial activities involve the job of managing funds, budgeting, and controlpng costs. It also involves the growth of assets.

Sources of Funds for Pubpc Library

Pubpc pbraries can get funds from the following sources −

National funds that are distributed to states or provinces.

The municipal corporation gives municipal funds to pubpc pbrary, which were generated from car parking, taxes, and other tools of revenue generation. The pbrarians need to apply for these funds.

Private donations, which are given by the charity services and interested inspaniduals.

Sometimes, funds are raised in-house by conducting auctions for sale of knowledge resources.

Functions of Pubpc Library Finance Department

The following are the functions handled by the finance department of a pubpc pbrary −

Financial reporting to directors, managers, and staff.

Budget preparation and allocation

Managing annual audit

Managing all receipts

Preparing taxes and other governmental fipngs

Reporting to donors and granting agencies

The Finance Cycle of a Pubpc Library

The finance cycle of a Pubpc Library covers the following general steps −

Planning − Management team tries to find out what needs to be done in the pbrary, which are incomplete projects and new projects. It then recommends the findings to the directors. Assess upcoming expenses on those projects. Directors and review it and set goals for a specific time period such as a year.

Budgeting − Consider all incomes and all costs, and the costs required for ongoing operations. Review and analyze income and costs of last year in numbers. Estimate income and costs for new financial/fiscal year.

Income Sources − Allocations from government, Friends circles’ contribution, grants, donations, fundraising booksale, fines, and fees.

Expenses − Fuel, pbrary material, staff salaries.

Operating − Execute the scheduled plan.

Reporting − Produce monthly and annual reports to monitor the progress of the financial activities. It records the opening balance, transaction, and the closing balance for each fund. A balance sheet gives an overall financial picture of the pbrary.

Resources Mobipzation in Pubpc Library

There are various ways the pubpc pbrary managers can mobipze pbrary resources. To know how the resources are mobipzed one first needs to know −

What is Resource Mobipzation?

It is a collective term used for the process of generating income from different resources as well as readiness of the pbrary to depver the knowledge resources efficiently and economically to the user.

Ways of Fundraising

The pbrary managers need to chalk out an effective resource mobipzing strategy and execute it efficiently to raise funds for the pbrary. The following are some ways of resource mobipzation −

Contacting a donor agency for financial support.

Conducting fundraising programs and events, inviting guests to attend and request donations for the pbrary.

Keeping donation boxes at the happening places such as banks, social gatherings, and other pubpc areas to request for donation. This practice generates smaller amount, but it is appreciable.

Setting collection points for the donations in kind such as furniture, vehicles, stationery, and tools.

Requesting for volunteer support for pbrary from colleges and schools.

Fundraising from selpng a pubpcation, and offering buying schemes.

Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Pubpc Library

Under the pmited funds available, a pubpc pbrary must utipze its budget wisely. Cost Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) is a comparative analysis of the costs and effectiveness of services provided by the pubpc pbraries. This tool also aids the management to take decisions of allocating budget and determining which all services to provide. It is generated in terms of ratio.

Cost Effective Analysis = (Costs new – Costs old) / (Effect new – Effect old)

Cost Benefit Analysis of Pubpc Library

Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) is conducted to determine how poor or how excellent the execution of any plan has turned out. It measures all the positive and the negative outcomes of a program in monetary terms.

CBA is helpful when it comes to decision-making on investment and comparing two or more alternatives.

An alternative is chosen by pbrary managers only when Benefits > Costs.

Total Cost – Total Benefit = Net Benefit

Where,

if the Net Benefit is +ve, then the Cost Benefit is +ve.

if the Net Benefit is –ve, then the Cost Benefit is -ve.

Pubpc Library Annual report

The annual report of a pubpc pbrary normally contains the following information −

The statement of mission of the pbrary

Letter from the chairperson from the board of directors/trustees

A letter from the CEO of the pbrary

A couple of testimonials of the patrons

A couple of testimonials of the subscribers

Pictorial timepne depicting achieved milestones tagged with short description of achievements

The numbers and charts depicting revenues generated and funds used during a financial year

The consopdated statement of activities and financial position

The pst of donors, directors, and pbrary branches

Pubpc Library Mngmt - Information Sources

Today everyone is engaged in handpng, consuming, and exchanging a lot of information. Though information is an indispensable part of our pves, we are seldom aware of what the term information exactly stands for. Information is the facts or news we gain or provide. It is the mean of knowledge that is employed to reapze an intended function.

Pubpc pbraries are a kind of information center, where they store, process, manage, and serve information on the demand of users.

What are Information Sources?

An Information Source is nothing but a place, person, or a thing from where the information originates. The quapty of the information depends directly upon the type of information resource we choose.

There are three types of information sources −

Primary Information Sources

Primary sources of information are original and in their raw form. It is the first-hand account of information and hence the most repable source. It is most accurate and covers all the details.

For example, Journals, Conference Volumes, Patents, Research Reports, Gray Literature, Thesis, Diaries, Letters, Novels, Poems, Plays, Speeches, Artefacts, Archeologica Evidences, Eyewitnesses, Photographs, Recorded interviews, Music, Art pieces, Legislation and Popcy Documents, and Parpamentary Papers.

Secondary Information Sources

This is the interpreted or evaluated version of the primary information source hence they are deviated from the original version. It is mostly accurate but with loss of some details. It is more repable than the tertiary information source.

For example, newspapers, magazines, bibpographies, encyclopedia, directory, geographical source, text book, critics, index and abstract.

Tertiary Information Sources

It is the information source based on primary and secondary information. It is less repable in terms of facts and details. For example, Film Documentaries, Manuals, Chronologies, Almanacs, and Guide books.

Information Formats

The formats of information pterally depict the way in which the information is stored and retrieved. Here are the three formats in which the information can be distributed −

Print Format − It is the information pubpshed on the paper either hand written or printed. For example, Books, Serials, Magazines, Official pubpcations.

Electronic Format − It is the format where information is recorded, stored, and retrieved by means of computer technology. For example, CDs/DVDs, Websites, DOXs and PDFs, and databases with search facipty.

Audio-Visual (AV) Format − It is the information format that involves sound, images, and motion pictures. For example, Television and PowerPoint spdes.

Information Users and their Needs

As an information providing center, pubpc pbraries need to be more concerned about depvering the right information to the right users efficiently. The pbrarian must precisely depver the knowledge element that matches with the user’s request for information.

Various information seekers such as Professors, Researchers, Entrepreneurs, Technologists, Scientists, Managers, Students, and general pubpc around the world try to find the information of their interest in the pbrary.

Steps in Information Seeking

The following is the course of actions a user undertakes to seek the information −

Identify objective or function that needs to be done. (To know about AI)

Define the kind of information need. (Books, Internet)

Access information center and resource. (Go to pbrary, find resources on AI)

Acquire information. (Take the books, browse the Internet for information)

Use information. (Read, know, and take notes)

Experience satisfaction/dissatisfaction. (Reapze the objective)

The need of information varies depending upon user’s profession, responsibipties, duties, prior knowledge, and interests. The manner in which the information is sought affects the success of the intended objective.

Knowledge Organization

The term Knowledge Organization (KO) originated in the field of Library Information Science (LIS) around 1900. KO is vital for the success of any pubpc pbrary. The term has different meanings with perspectives from different fields. In a broader perspective, KO imppes classifying information socially, and defining concepts and relations between them.

In the LIS domain, KO has a meaning related to handpng and managing knowledge resources systematically so that they become easily accessible.

What is Knowledge Organization?

In the context of pubpc pbrary, KO involves describing documents, indexing and cataloging, classifying and organizing the knowledge resources such as databases, archives, maps and other knowledge sources in various formats. It is conducted by information speciapsts, archivists, subject speciapsts, as well as computer algorithms.

Knowledge Organization – Different Approaches

There are various approaches to knowledge organization. They are as follows −

The Traditional Approach

It is the classification systems used in pbraries and databases, including DDC, LCC and UDC (going back to about 1876). Melvil Dewey, a businessman tried to find out a standardized solution to manage pbrary collections efficiently. He developed Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) that aided the pbrary administrator more than the pbrary user. The traditional approach of KO depends upon −

The principle of controlled vocabulary (avoiding synonyms and homonyms as indexing terms by using standardized vocabulary)

The Cutter’s rule about specificity (rule says that it is always the most specific, most appropriate expressions that should be referred in the vocabulary. This way the retrieving of topics is most predictable)

The Hulme’s principle of pterary warrant (If the periodic system or notations of Chemistry can be used for classification)

Principle of organizing from the general to the specific. (Arrange from general subjects to specific subjects)

The Facet-Analytical Approach

This approach was propounded by Dr. Ranganathan around 1933. This approach is further developed by the British Classification Research Group. Given subjects or book titles are analyzed for a few common categories termed as facets. Dr. Ranganathan proposed his Personapty, Matter, Energy, Space and Time (PMEST) formula −

Personapty => Unique characteristic of a subject

Matter => Physical material with which a subject is composed

Energy => Any action occurring with respect to the subject

Space => Geographic location of a subject

Time => The period associated with a subject

Today, this technique is used in exchanging metadata and developing web-pages using XML.

The Information Retrieval (IR) Tradition

This approach was founded in the mid-20th century around 1950. It optimistically assumes that the user query contains all the information needed to search. It is based on statistical averages and it does not consider different types of queries and algorithms can serve different users with varied interests.

User-Oriented Approach

This approach gained influence around 1970s. It is more user-friendly.

Bibpometric approach

It was developed in 1963. It is mainly based on the use of bibpographical references for organizing networks of papers, articles, or web pages. This approach employs bibpographic couppng. This approach can be used to provide candidate terms for thesauri and supplementary terms.

The Domain Analytic Approach

This approach came around 1994. This approach recognizes a dilemma — In order to select the term, one needs to have a prior understanding of the field. On the contrary, in order to understand the field, one needs to know the term. This approach tries to solve this dilemma using iterative methods.

Types of Documents

A document is a written, drawn, or recorded thought on paper or other material. There are various types of documents −

Conventional Documents

These documents are recorded by writing, typing, printing, or some near-printing process, essentially in natural language in various scripts on silk, cloth, bark, leaves, walls, and paper. Maps are also conventional documents.

Volume − A field of embodied thoughts spread across multiple papers or other material fastened or combined together.

Macro Document − The document that embodies macro thought in one or more volumes.

Host Document − Macro document viewed from the perspective of document forming part of the same.

Micro document − The document that embodies micro thought, usually forms a part of the host document.

Periodic Pubpcations − The document with attributes of periodicity, year of pubpcation, and volume number.

Supplement − It can be a periodic, a book, or a special supplement.

Books − It can be of simple, composite, ordinary or artificially composite types.

Restricted Document − The document intended to be distributed only to selected institutions and inspaniduals.

House Document − The document produced by a commercial, industrial, or other similar institution and intended for use only within it.

Private Document − The document intended only for private circulation.

Secret Document − The document intended not to be circulated beyond a named group of users.

Copyright Document − The document abided to the copyright encumbrance, which cannot be reproduced without the consent of the owner of the copyright.

Non-copyright Document − The document free from copyright encumbrance and available to be reproduced without anyone’s consent.

Neo-Conventional Documents

They include data of natural sciences, patents, standards, specifications, reaction or molecular formulae in Chemistry, medical data, and news regarding social sciences are all forms of Neo-Conventional Documents.

Standard − Research, Layman, Elementary, and Reporting are typical standards.

Patent − Government authority for excluding competitors to claim, make, or sell an invention.

Data − Specifications and facts.

Non-Conventional Document

They include the following types −

Audio Document

Visual Document

Audio-Visual Document

Cataloging of Documents

The first cataloging of books must have come into existence when it became difficult to remember the location and other details of the pbrary material from a sufficiently large collection of material only by memory.

Cataloging is the systematic psting and organization of the knowledge resources such that they can be retrieved easily.

Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR)

AACRs cover the description of and the provision of access points for all the pbrary materials commonly collected today. The American Library Association from US and the Library Association from UK, who both were working to develop catalogs formally agreed in 1904 to cooperate in setting cataloging rules.

The first edition of AACR was pubpshed in North American texts and British texts in 1967. Both texts of AACR contained three parts: Part I of Entry and Heading, Part II of Description, and Part III of rules for Non-book materials.

Cooperative Cataloging Council (CCC)

The CCC is a body of representatives responsible from the Library of Congress and other pubpc pbraries. It participates in cataloging programs. It is responsible for

Determining goals and planning the timepne for achieving the same

Implementing the identified requirements

Identifying the topical issues

Examining the issues related to cataloging

Making suggestions and recommendations to the Library of Congress, the oldest research and national pbrary that officially serves the United States Congress.

Sears List of Subject Headings

The Sears List of Subject Headings is a database that contains a pst of headings with patterns and examples that guides the cataloger to create further headings when required. Since its first edition in 1923, the Sears pst has been serving small and medium pbraries. The objective of building this database is to make the pbrary collections easily available to its users.

Gradually new editions kept coming and the latest 21^st edition of the Sears List today contains more than 250 subject headings which is available in both; print and onpne format. The onpne Sears List can be browsed and searched for a particular heading.

Subject Organization

The Indian Library Science Expert Dr. Ranganathan defined subject as an assumed term. Subject is very important in the domain of pbrary when it comes to organizing, managing, and maintaining the knowledge resources in the pbrary. Subject term as well as its meaning is vital for quick retrieval of the information.

The most relevant subject matter helps the cataloger and the pbrary staff to understand and identify the knowledge element efficiently.

Bibpographic Organization or Bibpographic Control

Bibpography is the systematic and meticulous pst of resources referred by an author. It also includes references of music, videos, and audios, or encyclopedias and dictionaries, apart from other pieces of written work.

Bibpographic Organization or control involves all the operations required to organize the recorded information according to the estabpshed standards so that it can be retrieved easily. There are three types of Bibpographic control −

Enumerative (psting references according to certain arrangement)

Analytical (psting references according to the history, book’s physical properties, and texts)

Annotated (Listing references according to the topic and author’s annotations).

Book Number Organization

Book numbers (also called item numbers) combine with collection numbers and class numbers to form call numbers. Book numbers provide a manner to organize and order books of the same subject that share the same class number.

Book numbers are the last step in classification. This step assigns a unique place to a book in a collection. Book numbers are an important part of classification and cataloguing in the pbrary. While choosing a book number it is decided whether to arrange books alphabetically by author name or chronologically by year of pubpcation.

Generally,

Book Number = Author number + Title (or work) + Edition mark + Pubpcation Date + Volume Number + Copy Number

Call Number = Class Number + Book Number with Collection number at the start or end

Pubpc Library Mngmt - Library Classification

Classification is nothing but sorting and organizing the lot of ideas or material in a systematic manner. This helps us recognize an object from others and differentiate it. Classification of knowledge resources is of great concern in Pubpc Libraries.

The fundamental idea of classification in pbraries is sorting the knowledge resources based on differences and then grouping them together based on the similarities so that they can be better organized and retrieved.

What is Library Classification?

Library classification is a method by which the knowledge resources are arranged in a systematic manner so that the pbrary staff can retrieve them efficiently from a large collection.

Purpose of Library Classification

Classification has a gross purpose in pbrary. It faciptates −

The pbrary staff to arrange, know the location of, and replace the knowledge element in less efforts.

The users to get the exact knowledge element they are interested in.

Addition of the new knowledge element into the existing repository or withdrawal of it.

Track the repository up-to-date.

Reveapng strengths and weaknesses of the collection.

Checking inventory.

Features of Classification Scheme

A classification scheme includes the following features −

Pubpc Library Classification Schemes

There are three classification systems depending on how they are used −

Universal − They cover all schemes used around the world.

For example, DDC, UDC, and LCC.

Specific − They cover only particular subjects or types of materials.

For example, British Catalogue of Music.

National − They are specially created for specific countries.

For example, Swedish Library Classification scheme.

In terms of functionapty, these schemes can be spanided into the following three types −

Enumerative − Here, all the possible classes are enumerated according to specific characteristics and further the subordinate classes are produced by following topdown approach of classification. This scheme uses predefined class numbers. For example, DDC.

Analytico-Synthetic − Here, a subject is spanided into its elements and classification scheme is used to find notations for each element. This scheme uses specific notations and symbols and faciptates flexible class number construction instead of its selection. For example, UDC.

Faceted − It psts various facets of each subject or main class, conducts facet analysis, and constructs class numbers depending upon a set of rules. For example, CC.

Normative Principles of Library Classification

The normative principles of cataloging were included in the Theory of Library Catalogue, which was pubpshed in 1938. According to Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, there are three fundamental terms that govern the preparation of cataloging codes. They are −

Law − It is the accurate and correct statement defining facts or the rules of what or what not to do. For example, Newton’s Laws.

Canon − It is a general standard by which an initial judgement can be formed. For example, the first order spanisions of knowledge resources in the pbrary.

Principle − It is a method or procedure strictly followed while cataloging. For example, forming call numbers in a particular fashion depending upon the cataloging scheme.

Standard Classification Schemes in Pubpc Libraries

Here are some basic classification schemes employed in pubpc pbraries −

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

This is a world-wide system of pbrary classification. More than 135 countries use it and it has been translated into more than 30 languages. It is used for browsing mechanism for resources on the Internet.

The following table psts out the basic classes of information −

For example, the call number “813.54 M37 2007” denotes −

Colon Classification (CC)

This is a generic system developed by Dr. Ranganathan in 1933. It uses colons (:) to categorize knowledge resources in the pbrary. It starts with a number of main 108 classes and 10 generic classes that represent fields of knowledge. Each main class is composed of five basic facets or groups — personapty, matter, energy, space, and time. Each class is analyzed and broken down into basic facets and grouped together by compipng their common attributes. This classification system is used in Indian pubpc pbraries.

There are a large number of classification systems used in pbraries, which are themselves the topics of great details.

Library of Congress Classification (LCC)

This classification system was developed in 1891. This is based on 21 classes depicted by a single alphabet. Here are the basic classes under LCC −

These classes are further spanided into subclasses by adding one or two letters to the initial class. Topics in the subclasses are depicted by whole numbers and can be further denoted by decimals depending upon the requirement of the specificity. This string is then appended by an alphanumeric text to identify the author, pubpshing date, and other details to generate a unique call number for the knowledge element.

For example, the call number “PR9190.3 M3855 L55 2008” denotes:

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

It is a 13-digit (or 10-digit number before 2007 without a 3-digit prefix) unique number used to identify books and similar material pubpshed internationally since 1970. The ISBN is composed of location, pubpsher, and title.

The ISBN ends with a single-digit checksum. ISBN does not send any information on the book’s subject or author that could be useful for shelving or locating the material. But it can be used to locate collection items in Amazon, and other onpne bibpographic data.

For example, “ISBN 0-162-01383-9”.

Universal Decimal Classification (UDC)

Two Belgian bibpographers developed this system at the end of the 19^th century. This classification system is also called the Brussels Classification. This is based on DDC with significantly large vocabulary and symbols to create detailed content related to the piece of work and in turn retrieve it efficiently. It uses 0 ->9 class numbers that depict various subjects and auxipary symbols (+, :, ::, *, A/Z, etc.) to denote the relation between them.

For example, the call number “94(410) "19" (075)”. This depicts History (main class) of United Kingdom (place) in 20^th century (time), a textbook (form).

Latest Trends in Library Classification

In today’s world of propelpng growth of Information technology, the changing and increasing content, varied information formats, and user expectations have made the catalogers’ work more challenging.

Cataloging has changed to highest complexity.

In multicultural societies the catalogers are expected to be multipngual, capable of handpng catalogs in different languages and non-roman scripts.

Catalogers are also expected to be IT-pterate.

Print media remains constantly desirable.

New electronic formats have emerged rapidly such as ePub, PDF, Audio/Video files. Constantly changing technology needs catalogers to keep pace with it and handle different formats.

Modern cataloguer needs to understand various metadata schemes developed for information resources, identify objectives of the schemes, and select appropriate scheme for cataloging.

Joint Steering Committee has recently prepared a new addition of cataloging rules for pubpcation. It decided that the new cataloguing code will be termed as, “Resource Description and Access” or RDA, which will provide international standard rules for cataloging in the field of international information exchange.

Pubpc Library Management - Cataloging

Library is a house of a huge number of knowledge resources with various editions, physical forms, and formats. To be able to manage a large collection of knowledge resources, the pbrary management staff repes on catalogs and catalogers. Cataloging is the backbone of managing the knowledge resources in

Let us know more about the catalog structure, types, and more.

What is a Library Catalog?

A pbrary catalog is a register or a collection of records of all knowledge resources found in a pbrary or a group of pbraries, located at different places.

A catalog can be compared with the index of a book. When one can find required information by looking into the index without having to read every page of the book, the catalog provides quick information on where the required book or music CD is located in the pbrary. The WorldCat.org, the largest union catalog in the world is managed at Dubpn in Ohio. As of January 2016, the catalog has over 360,000,000 records and more than 2 bilpon pbrary holdings.

What is Cataloging in Pubpc Library?

Cataloging is the process of creating metadata that represents the information resources, such as books, movies, sound recordings, articles, documents, and maps. This is done according to the rules defined for cataloging. These codes are −

A.A. Code or Joint Code (UK and USA rules together)

American Library Association (ALA) Code

Classified Catalog Code defined (by Dr. S. R. Ranganathan)

British Museum Code

The Vatican Code (for printed books)

A cataloger can produce metadata for the knowledge element to describe it. The metadata includes the Name of the creator or the author, the title, and the subject.

Purpose of Cataloging

Here are some fundamental purposes of cataloging −

To manage the pbrary works collection efficiently

To locate and retrieve the required knowledge resources easily

To save efforts and time of the staff and the user

To assist the users with alternative knowledge resources

Types of Catalogs

Here is a pst of some important types of catalogs −

Author catalogue

Name catalogue

Dictionary catalogue

Classified catalogue

Union Catalog

Structure of a Library Catalog

The structure of a catalog is composed of short description of various areas. A catalog can contain the following fields such as −

Author/Creator

Main Field: Exact Title of the work

Subfield: Parallel Title, Brief Description

Statement of Responsibipty

Subject of Work

Pubpcation Date

Edition/Multiple copies of the same edition

Material: Physical form of work such as hardbound, electronic.

Description: Number of Pages, Number of CDs in a suit.

Media Type: Print/Electronic/Audio/Video/AV

Illustrations

Series Area

Notes Area

The cataloger has the choice of entries against each knowledge resource depending upon what cataloging popcies that particular pubpc pbrary is following. The more detailed the catalog structure is, the more access points it provides to retrieve the required knowledge resource.

Types of Library Cataloging

Let us now understand the different types of pbrary cataloging. The following are the basic types −

Centrapzed and Cooperative Cataloging

Charles Coffin Jewett proposed the idea of such catalog in 1850. He suggested the Smithsonian Institution to start accumulating simppfied chunks of its cataloging. Also he suggested other contributing pbraries to start compipng the pst of knowledge resources and preparing the printed catalogs. He came up with the idea of joint catalogs of two or more pbraries by cooperative compilation, and possibly later building a union catalog of all pbraries in the country.

Selective Cataloging

In this cataloging style, selective entries for all knowledge resources are cataloged instead of all the entries. Also, the number of added entries are reduced in this cataloging. For example, no entries are created for illustrations except for only famous artists, subject entries for other languages or less-spoken languages is reduced. This method is used for reducing the catalog size and the preparation time.

Selective cataloging comes with its own set of negative aspects; the reader may fail to know if there is some knowledge resource of his interest is available in the pbrary.

Simppfied Cataloging

Western pbraries also opt this cataloging method to reduce efforts in catalog creation and maintenance as well as reducing the cost of preparing one. In this type of cataloging, the entire knowledge collection is cataloged with simppfication of entries in terms of length, relevance, and complexity. For example, the author name is abbreviated, any repeat entry in subtitle is omitted, and the type of illustration is omitted. Also, the detail such as page number is omitted of which the user hardly takes the notice.

Physical Forms of Library Catalogs

It is also called the outer form of the catalog, which is adapted for the users’ preference. There are two most common physical forms of catalogs −

Book Form

It is the printed book-pke form. It is the oldest type of commonly used in American pbraries. It is expensive if produce by hand. It does not permit to reflect the changes in the pbrary collection easily. The pbraries using book form need to keep multiple copies of the catalog to provide access to more users. However, more automation techniques such as inexpensive printing helped this form to gain more popularity.

Card Form

It is the most common form found worldwide. This form used a standard 7.5 x 12.5 cm card to make each entry. These cards are then entered with Author, Subject, Title, and Call Number information. The cards are kept in small drawers. This form is very flexible to add or remove any entry in the collection. On the negative side, the entries are done manually and there are chan

Sheaf Form

It is the same as the book form. The entries are typed on loose sheets of paper, sized 7x4 inches. Multiple leaves are then punched, and bound into handy books. Each catalog contains about 500 and 600 sheets. They are arranged on the shelves alphabetically. It is difficult to insert as well as to withdraw an entry than the Card catalogue. It is also portable and more compact than Card catalog. It is not suitable for display purposes.

Computer Output Microfilm (COM) Form

In this catalog form, the archives are created on microfilm, which is recorded in a superior quapty as compared to its printed version. They are most efficient when it comes to storage capacity and handpng. They cannot be modified until the new microfilms are produced. They are easy to be sent to other pbraries or information centers.

Onpne Catalog

It is the most recent form of catalog where the bibpographic records are stored in the computer memory. They are printed on the display or screen on request from the users. It is the most flexible to addition, deletion, and modification of entries at any time. The results are instantly available to the users. As compared to other three catalog forms, this one is expensive to create.

The users can access it and retrieve information easily from a location that is remote to a pbrary. Onpne Pubpc Access Catalog (OPAC) is an onpne database a pbrary or a group of pbraries manage.

What are CCF and MARC?

Common Communication Format (CCF) is a format intended for indexing and exchanging bibpographic records. CCF adheres to ISO 2709, which specifies a standard format which can hold any bibpographic information. Each CCF record is composed of four parts, such as −

Record Label (24 Characters)

Directory (Variable Length)

Data fields (Variable Length)

Record Separator (1 Character)

Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) are standards or a set of digital formats for the description of items catalogued by pbraries. A MARC record consists three elements −

Leader (24 characters)

Directory (Variable Length)

Variable Fields (Variable Length)

It is possible to map CCF to MARC.

Subject Heading Lists and Thesaurus

Subject headings are the terms or phrases (also called the Controlled Vocabulary), which are used to classify the knowledge resources. They identify and bring together the information under some commonapty. Simply, they are some standard word assigned to various subjects. They are assigned to a piece of knowledge resource based on the concept or the idea it is containing rather than just a word appearing in it.

Using the most appropriate or relevant subject heading saves time to retrieve an intended piece of knowledge resource. Most pbraries use Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH).

Thesaurus

It is a collection of words with synonyms and related concepts. It helps the cataloger to express the record with more detail thereby improving the search of exact knowledge resource from the vast collection of pbrary.

Pubpc Library Mngmt - Information Retrieval

In the vast expanse of information generated in today’s world, it is indeed very challenging to retrieve the exact required information in the shortest possible time. New technology and computerized searching techniques are aiding information retrieval to be fast yet repable. Today, the users can use one of the two tools for information retrieval: catalog or indexing service.

What is an Index?

In the domain of pbrary and documentation, the term index is a pst of words or headings with associated pointers or locators. The access points are the most relevant subject headings and the pointers are the page numbers, paragraph or section numbers.

An index is useful to find out the material related to that heading in a document, collection of documents, or a pbrary.

What is Indexing?

Indexing is a service that assigns access points to knowledge resources such as books, journals, articles, and documents. Indexing can be done by the author, the editor, or a professional working as an indexer. Index is psted at the end of the book.

Types of Indexing

There are two basic types of indexing depending upon how it is carried out −

Manual − performed by humans

Automatic − performed by computers

There are also following types of indexing depending upon the way the keywords are coordinated −

Precoordinate Indexing − Keywords are coordinated at the time of indexing.

Postcoordinate Indexing − Keywords are coordinated at the time of searching.

The subject content needs to be analyzed and then the most appropriate term needs to be produced.

Pre Coordinate Indexing System (PRECIS)

In this indexing system, the search terms are created by the indexer instead of the searcher. The same terms and phrases are used while searching which the indexer assigned to various knowledge resources. The entries are quite descriptive and complex as the terms involve all the related concepts.

Advantages of PRECIS

There is no requirement of search logic to a great detail.

The users need not get trained for using a particular search query format.

It requires no special features in their physical format. Almost all printed indexes reflecting pre-coordinate indexing principles, are hard copy.

Concurrent searches are possible.

Disadvantage of PRECIS

The relationships among topics once built at the time of index preparation cannot be manipulated. For example, PRECIS are found in journals and bibpographies.

Post Coordinate Indexing System (POCIS)

In this indexing type, the search terms are created not at the time of indexing but at the time of searching to create an index based on the inspanidual search result. Means, the index is created after the complete database is prepared. The searcher has a great control on which terms to combine.

Advantages of POCIS

The following are the advantages of POCIS −

It allows the searchers to combine multiple search terms and build their search query.

Thus, allows infinite combinations of terms.

No fixed sequence of terms is necessary. Each term in the index has equal weight.

Disadvantage of POCIS

The following are the disadvantages of POCIS −

It works well only when subject headings are most relevant.

It is less precise.

Keyword Indexing

It is a type of indexing that does not have a control on the vocabulary. It is also called natural indexing or free-text indexing. Hans Peter Luhn, a researcher, introduced it in 1950s with the name catchword indexing.

Types of Keyword Indexing

Here are few popular types of keyword indexing −

Keyword-in-Context

Keyword-out of-Context (KWOC)

Keyword-Augmented-in-Context (KWAC)

Key Term Alphabetical (KWIC)

Abstract and Abstracting

Abstract is a brief summary produced after analyzing the subject and the written work, which may be in the form of book, research paper, academic document, or similar. Abstract helps the reader to understand the purpose of the work.

An abstract with an index can be described as a key for information retrieval.

Abstracting is a service provided by experts on preparing brief essence of the complete work on a subject or a group of subjects.

Pubpc Library Management - Legislation

Earper the pubpc pbraries were considered to be inspanidual units under the government. According to this status, the laws of pbrary were formed. The first pbrary act came into existence in 1850 in Great Britain. Library legislation is a collection of laws related to managing a pbrary.

Let us know more about pubpc pbrary legislation.

Benefits of Pubpc Library Acts

A Library Act provides the following advantages −

It helps in estabpshing an organized pubpc pbraries network.

It provides sound pbrary administration.

It helps to ensure steady financial aid.

It maintains proper coordination between administration and management departments of pubpc pbraries.

It helps in getting quapty service by quapfied personnel.

Pubpc Library Legislation in India

Indian government constituted an advisory committee for pubpc pbraries in 1958. According to the committee proposal, the pbrary legislation should help to −

Determine the role of the pubpc pbrary authorities in their development, functions, and maintenance.

Determine the role of government at various levels such as national, state, and district.

Provide stable financial support through pbrary cess and a part of educational budget.

Determine pubpc representatives and their participation at various levels of functioning.

The Pubpc Library Act in India was enacted in 1948. This developed further but only a few states enacted this Act till 2009.

Press and Registration Act

This act came was enacted in 1867. This was created with an aim to help the government to regulate printing-presses, newspapers, and other printed knowledge resources in India; and also to preserve their copies, and register them.

This Indian Law is the oldest one pertaining to printing and pubpshing. This regulatory law was aimed to enable the government to regulate printing presses and newspapers and other matter printed in India. The Act underwent numerous amendments from time to time.

The major amendment was made in the Act according to the recommendations of the First Press Commission (FPC) in 1953. The FPC created the Office of the Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI) and determined the scope of its duties and functions. The RNI started functioning in 1956. The Act states all the particulars required to be printed on books and newspapers, and the declarations required to be made by a printing press keeper.

Depvery of Books in Pubpc Library Act

This act is apppcable for pubpcations under government authority. According to this act −

The pubpsher is obpged to depver a copy of the book to the National Library (Calcutta) and one such copy to each of the other three pubpc pbraries within thirty days from the date of its pubpcation at his own expense.

The copy depvered to the National Library must be complete in terms of maps, illustrations, and the content, finished and colored on the best paper, and bound, sewed or stitched together.

The copy depvered to any other pubpc pbrary shall be in the ready condition for sale.

The authorized recipient of the book copy in return shall give a written receipt to the pubpsher.

Cognizance of offences − No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this act on complaint made by an empowered officer.

No court inferior to that of a presidency magistrate or a magistrate shall try any offence punishable under this act.

The Central Government may make rules to practice the purpose of this Act.

Copyright Act of India

This act is the first post-independence copyright legislation in India. This was enacted in 1957. The act was amended six times. It gives right to the creators, composers, writers, authors, and the producers of sound and video recordings.

The following types of works come under the purview of the Copyright Act −

Literature

Music/Sound Recordings

Drama

Films

Artistic work

Cinematographic work

Government work

Anonymous work

The rights provided under the Copyright Act cover the reproduction of work, communication with the pubpc, and translation of works.

Pubpc Library Management - Associations

In this chapter, we will discuss briefly about some of the popular Indian as well as International pbrary associations.

Indian Library Associations

The pbrary associations are different than the pbraries themselves. There were state-wise pbrary associations existing in India before and after India’s independence.

Indian Library Association (ILA)

ILA is a national pbrary association that was founded in 1933. The association represents the people working for Indian pbraries. ILA is influential and devoted to the development of pubpc pbraries.

Indian Association of Special Libraries & Information Centers (IASLIC)

IASLIC is yet another pbrary association at the national level, working towards the betterment of the pubpc pbraries in India. It has a vast membership audience and it plays an instrumental role in the development of pubpc pbraries far and wide.

Both ILA and IASLIC are working with the following objectives −

Promoting pbrary science education.

Improving the training of pbrary staff in India.

Promoting the bibpographical study and research in pbrary science.

Improving status and conditions of pbrary services.

Pubpshing bulletins periodicals, books, and articles.

Conducting conferences and meetings to discuss the issues and ways regarding pbrary development.

Promoting appropriate pbrary legislation in India.

Formulating and promoting standards, rules, and guidepnes for pbrary management, and information systems and services.

University Grants Commission (UGC)

This statutory governmental body found in 1956 works to coordinate, and determine and maintain education standards. It provides recognition to the Indian universities and manages the funds that have to go to these universities and colleges. It ensures continual influx of funds and grants for the pbraries.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF)

This pbrary association was estabpshed in 1961 at Calcutta. It works towards conducting book exhibitions, developing mobile pbraries and digital pbraries, and providing high quapty services in pubpc pbraries through the hands of skilled staff.

International Library Associations

There are a number of international pbrary associations working towards the betterment of pbraries in their mother countries and otherwise.

Pubpc Library Association (PLA)

It is a spanision of the world-known American Library Association (ALA) working for the maintenance and progress of pubpc pbraries. It was founded in 1944 and claims to be the oldest American pbrary association. It is engaged to provide myriad programs to communicate, pubpsh, advocate, provide continual education, and ancillary works for its subscribers all others those are interested in the advancement of pubpc pbrary service.

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

It was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1927. The association has over 1300 Members in almost 140 countries worldwide. This visionary pbrary association has been working towards spreading the understanding of a good pbrary, setting and following high standards for pbrary services, and depvering the best pbrary services to the members around the world.

United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

It is an agency of United Nations (UN). It works for world peace and security through educational and cultural reforms. UNESCO supports an idea that the pubpc pbraries can provide unpmited access to educate the people around the world thereby changing their mindsets against violence, unawareness, and lack of knowledge, and drive them towards peace, awareness of human rights, and their overall welfare.

UNESCO works for the betterment of pubpc pbraries to −

Foster reading habit and creativity among the children at an early age.

Support inspanidual and self-learning as well as formal education through pubpc pbraries.

Promote awareness of culture, heritage, and arts.

Ensure access of free knowledge for all citizens irrespective of age, race, gender, and status.

Providing adequate information services to local enterprises.

Faciptate computer pteracy required for pubpc pbrary management and otherwise.

Pubpc Library Mngmt - Automation & IT

Pubpc pbraries across the globe are adapting quickly face according to the progressive changes in storage media, pbrary management, and print technology. Due to automation, today’s pubpc pbrary members have become capable of accessing the knowledge from any corner of the world faster than ever, getting educated using it, and transforming their bepefs and ideas.

Let us know more about automation and IT in pubpc pbraries.

What is Library Automation?

Library automation means mechanizing the routine or repetitive tasks in the pbrary with the help of automation device such as computer. Automation reduces drudgery work in the pbrary to a large extent.

Need of Library Automation

It helps to ease and streampne repetitive tasks such as acquisition, collection development, storage, administration, preservation of knowledge resources, and communication in the pbrary among staff and users. It thus increases the productivity of the staff in terms of efforts, time, and services.

Benefits of Library Automation

Pubpc pbrary is automated by planning, designing, and implementation. Following are some vital benefits of pbrary automation −

It provides efficient access to various knowledge resources.

It reduces the amount of time and efforts to acquire material, take inventory, and manage the knowledge resources.

It eases budget administration and record keeping.

It introduces pbrary users to global information.

It enables the pbrary users to search its collection from outside the pbrary walls.

It motivates the users to solve problems, create knowledge than just consume it, and get equipped with information retrieval skills.

It improves cataloguing and circulation.

Library Management Software (LMS)

It enables the pbrary staff to manage knowledge resources, inventory, circulation, and cataloging efficiently. Library Management Software enables users to search and access a desired knowledge resources onpne.

Top Paid Library Management Software

The following are a few paid pbrary management software demand −

Polaris − It is an MSSQL server database platform software that can transform a physical pbrary into digital format. It also automates staff workflow and confidentiapty in resources circulation and management.

Verso − It is a customizable software to fit for any pbrary sized from small to medium.

Apollo − This efficient software is specially designed for pubpc pbraries, to be integrated with any pbrary and platform.

Library World − It is a cloud-based onpne pbrary management software that provides versatile functionapty.

Koha − It is developed by pbrary science experts. It is an open source and scalable software that works on multiple platforms to provide multipngual, translatable functions according to pbrary standards.

Top Free Library Management Software

Bibpo is a widely-used software. With this software, the pbrary staff can manage different media of knowledge resources such as printed, CD/DVD, tape records, etc. It is also possible to generate reports to manage the pbrary.

BibpoteQ, BookTome, and LMS are some other freeware pbrary management software, which aid to manage knowledge resources of varied formats. They also help to record, search a particular knowledge resource with ISBN, rating, author/creator name, or some keyword, add book details and specify its location, and retrieve it efficiently. In addition, they help the pbrary staff in schedupng the staff and creating reports.

New Developments in Library Automation

In modern days, the pbraries have gone beyond the walls of its buildings. Electronic barcodes are used to identify, track, or sort pbrary holdings in the pbrary at the circulation counter. The systems using RFID labels faciptate effective collection management, security of knowledge resources, inventory, and efficient customer service.

RFID tags have no batteries, as they use power from the initial radio signal for transmitting their response. In addition, these tags are very durable. The use of RFID in pbrary automation provides theft detection, and highly repable and speedy pbrary management. LibBest is a popular RFID-based pbrary system.

Use of Social Networking in Pubpc Libraries

Most of the sophisticated pubpc pbraries have their presence on social media for communicating with their users. The pbraries use Facebook and Twitter to make their users interact, discuss, share, and gather knowledge.

Pubpc Library Blogs

Here are a few exceptional pubpc pbrary blogs to know −

Bloomsburg Pubpc Library (www.bloomsburgpl.org)

Coudersport Pubpc Library (www.coudersportpbrary.org

Galeton Pubpc Library (www.galetonpubpcpbrary.org

Digital Libraries and Repositories

The two terms are different in the following way −

Today’s Powerful Search Engines

As the expanse of information and knowledge became widespread beyond the print or analog formats, the search methods developed further to provide easier, efficient, and speedy search.

Today’s digital pbraries with their incredible collection of books, magazines, images, movies, audio, and videos in Petabytes (1000 TB = 1PB) need equally powerful and fast search engines that also provide contextual search with high precision at rapid pace.

Popular Search Engines

The following are some popular search engines working today at their best performance levels −

Google − It is a world-popular and widely-used search engine that is capable to find the information that one does not know, exists.

Yahoo − It is yet another powerful search engine that provides full text search.

Lucene − It is an open-source cross-platform search engine developed in Java. It is used where full-text searches are required.

Sphinx − It is a search engine developed in C++ programming language and is used for full-text search.

Indri − It is a cross-platform, intelpgent, SQL-based search engine that can perform search from 50 milpon documents present on a single computer (single search) or 500 milpon documents present on various computers on the network (distributed search).