Library Automation in Bangladesh: The Dhaka University Library Experiences
ABSTRACT
This article attempts to discuss the concept of library automation, status of library automation in Bangladesh, Dhaka University Library and their Automation Project. The paper also presents the model of Dhaka University Library Automation Project (DULAP). Further, it discusses the online access and internet browsing system and how to use GoPAC. The study also has discussed the features and objectives of DULAP, requisite hardware and software, functions and activities of the program, facilities offered to users and tasks still to be accomplished.
0. INTRODUCTION
In the age of information explosion, libraries and information resource centers have become multimedia centers due to adoption of new technological devices and changing nature of their information storage, retrieval and services. During the last 25 years, the computer and telecommunication technologies began to build up an information society, which has crossed the geographical limitations and has provided facilities to access into global information systems. As a result, nature of modern librarianship has changed considerably with the advent of new technologies. In fact, ‘automation’ is an indispensable part of modern library’s information systems development, organization, management and services. In the present ‘age of information’, automation has been making tremendous impact on different sectors of the libraries and information centers. In view of complex and multi-faceted user requirements, this results in numerous specialization and flow of non-stop information, decreasing comprehensive acquisition
of documents for libraries, growing demands of information, increasing number of users, etc. Automation has been playing a vital role in improving the capabilities of libraries/information centres towards attaining satisfaction of their users (Munshi, 1998).
1. LIBRARY AUTOMATION
Mechanization of library house keeping operations, predominantly by computerization, is known as library automation. Library automation is the most sophisticated electronic device invented by human being for processing enormous amount of raw data into meaningful and useful form of information with speed, accuracy and reliability. Library automation may be defined as the application of automatic and semi-automatic data processing machines (computers) to perform traditional library house keeping activities such as acquisition, circulation, cataloguing and
reference and serial control (Int. Lib. Rev., 1989). Finally, library automation is the process of performing all information operations/ activities in library with the help of computers and related information technologies.
2. STATUS OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION IN BANGLADESH
Bangladesh entered into the computer world in 1964 with the installation of an IBM 1620 machine at the Atomic Energy Centre and IBM 101 Statistical Machine at the Institute of Statistical Research and Training (ISRT) at Dhaka (Ahmed, 1998). The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) Documentation and Information Centre and Agricultural Information Centre (AIC) are the pioneers in creating bibliographic databases on
specialized fields using microcomputers (Khan, 1989). Some other libraries and information centres working with computers and some related technologies are at the initial stage of ‘automation process’ and ‘networking’. Till now, there is not a single library or information centre in Bangladesh which is literally automated except ICDDR, B Library and North South University Library. It is observed that about 55 special libraries and information centres of the
country have either created or are in the process of creating databases by using personal computers. Most of the libraries and information centres use computers as stand alone devices. These libraries have installed microcomputers mainly for creation and maintenance of bibliographic databases and some word processing activities. Few libraries have CD-ROMs facilities, but no initiative has been taken to produce any indigenous information product on CDs. Some libraries have online connection and are providing external resource sharing facilities to a limited scale. Only a few specialized libraries and information centres have started networking and resource sharing or use telecommunication systems for inter-site data transfer (Alam, 1998). It is a fact that there is no formal study on how many libraries and information centres have bought computers for initiation of automation. Approximately 82 (24 public & private university, 2 national, 1 public and 55 special) libraries and information centres (covering research, health, agriculture, science and technology, departmental, ministries, missions, etc.) use
computers in their operations and most of these are concentrated in Dhaka, the capital of the country (Munshi & Ahmed, 2000). The application areas are not so much different than that of other general libraries.
3. DHAKA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Dhaka University is acquainted by its name and it is the oldest and most famous university in this Sub-continent established in 1921. Dhaka University Library, also established in 1921 with its parent organization, is the largest academic library of the country holding over half a million items of monographs, books, manuscripts, periodicals, microforms, rare books and different types of special collections. This collection is the great achievement of the library; because it reflects our literature, culture, and heritage and world history. Although the library has its own largest collection but the organization, arrangement and services are traditional in nature and the library is not able to provide user services quite satisfactorily.
4. DHAKA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AUTOMATION PRACTICE
To provide better and faster user services in a convenient way, the Dhaka University Library has decided to automate its operations and services. In 1998, the library started its automation program named as Dhaka University Library Automation Project (DULAP), funded by UNDP and UGC (University Grants Commission). The Dhaka University Library has installed a proven library software GLAS (Graphical Library Automation System) equipped with a network server and a number of PCs distributed in a local area network (LAN) within the different sectors of the library and faculty buildings of the university. The system is being used for creating bibliographic data bases, controlling acquisition, cataloguing and serials, effecting bar-coded circulation, reservation and recall systems, current awareness services (CAS), selective dissemination of information (SDI) services and online literature searches of the national and international data bases through CD-ROMs and also via internet (Alam,1996).
Dhaka University Library Automation Model
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