Automated Library Information System

The definition of automated library information systems requires clarification of the range of professional tasks. Of these tasks, the replacement of traditional library technologies with automated ones comes to the forefront, starting from acquisition and ending with a variety of user services.

The main element of traditional ABIS is the electronic catalog (EC) with all its functions. When working in ABIS, all the properties of a traditional library are preserved without changing much, first of all, funds are kept in their usual form. In the EC there are links to full texts, drawings, audio and video materials, as well as links to Internet resources.

The main component of traditional ABIS is the library automation system (SAB), which provides, from the point of view of a particular library, the most comfortable and adequate user access to the library funds. It is thanks to the SAB that replenishment functions are maintained, maintained and provided to users of EC, library formats and standards are supported, as well as linguistic tools of EC.

In the case of traditional use of ABIS, the user always deals with information support worked out over the years, linguistic support (printed and electronic classification systems, authority files, etc.).

The indexing systems used in the development of the electronic library are significantly different from those used in traditional ABIS. For example, indexing full texts allows you to find not only the text itself, but also the desired parts of the text.

The bibliographic description most often also differs from that used in traditional ABIS bibliographic description. Usually metadata formats are used, for example, such as Dublin Core, which allow not only to describe Internet resources, but also to create an abbreviated bibliographic description of a particular publication. In some cases, there is no bibliographic description and, therefore, an electronic catalog. There are different lists: by author, by name, by rating, etc. It is clear that with a relatively small EB fund, searching in such lists will not be too complicated.

ABIS usually consists of a relational database, software that interacts with the database, and two graphical user interfaces (one for readers and one for staff).

The individual software functions of most ABIS are functionally complete modules that are integrated into a common interface. A sample list of modules includes:

• fund acquisition (ordering, billing, and receipt);
• cataloging (introduction and bibliographic description of copies);
• appeal (issue / return of copies to readers);
• periodicals (tracking magazines and newspapers);
• OPAC is a publicly accessible electronic catalog and user interface.

The information technology of a modern library is based, first of all, on an automated library information system (ABIS) (library automation system (LAS)), which provides processing, analytical and synthetic processing and presentation to users of the library’s documentary fund (both traditional (paper) and electronic information resources), serves library funds at all stages: from acquisition to order.

The main components of ABIS include a relational database, specialized software that allows you to interact with this database, and graphical user interfaces.

The history of ABIS began in the 1970s and 1980s. Previously, catalogs were usually used to track library collections. It was to automate the latter and began to use computer technology. The emergence of new operating systems in the late 1980s, the expansion of the hardware capabilities of computers significantly enriched the functionality of ABIS. And with the advent of the latest Internet technologies, ABIS developers have offered even more functionality related to the Internet. What is characteristic, an online catalog (OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog)) has become a necessary element of these systems. New systems are developing in the direction of the web interface, when all work operations are carried out in a browser.

As F. S. Voroisky rightly asserts, the information and technical infrastructure of a modern ABIS should satisfy a number of requirements and support:

• open standards - to ensure interoperability, namely, to support the use of standard interaction protocols and data formats (ISO, GOST, IEEE 1 standards);
• distributed environment - the ability of the system to work in any network environment - local, corporate or global network, depending on the tasks performed by the system;
• Internet / Intranet and Web-technologies - the use of the Internet as a transport medium, as well as the implementation of user access through a Web browser;
• architecture “client - server” - the system consists of a DBMS, a server part (application server) and a client part (AWPs).

Any ASIS is developed on the basis of classical structural programming, in which the modular principle of building a system is basic. Of course, the number of developed modules, programs in different systems is different, but the main ones are present in each. In particular, these are: administration, which includes functions for setting up the system and its modifications; fund acquisition; Cataloging information search and ordering of publications; reader service; creation of Internet / intranet services that perform the functions of search, order and cataloging; corporate technology support; reader registration unit; module of interlibrary loan and electronic document delivery.

Automated information management technology consists of several parts:

1. The system-wide part, which contains a general description and justification of decisions taken in the ACS project;
2. The functional part that implements the functional subsystems;
3. The part that provides is necessary for the successful operation of functional subsystems and consists of a description of various types of support. The following types of collateral are distinguished:

• technical support - a set of technical means is used for the operation of automated information management technology;
• software - a set of used economic and mathematical methods, models and algorithms;
• software - a combination of system-wide and application software. System-wide software includes operating systems, translators, utilities, databases, and application software includes application programs that implement functional user requests and various descriptions that allow you to successfully use the software;
• information support - a set of implemented decisions on the volume, location and forms of organization of information circulating in the management system. It includes normative and reference information, the necessary classifiers of technical and economic information, standardized documents, data arrays, test cases used in solving management problems;
• organizational and methodological support - a set of documents regulating the activities of personnel in the functioning of the management system. It is intended to describe changes in the organizational structure of the facility management associated with the creation of the ACS (organizational structure diagram, description of the organizational structure); to describe the actions of personnel to ensure the functioning of the automated control system (technological instruction, instruction manual); to establish the functions, rights and obligations of officials to ensure the functioning of the ACS (job description);
• linguistic support - a set of information languages, indexing methods, as well as a linguistic base (dictionaries, thesaurus, rubrics) and methods of its maintenance;
• legal support - a set of legal rules governing legal relations in the functioning of ACS and the legal status of the results of its functioning.

A full-fledged implementation of ABIS, taking into account modern means of information and communication technologies, is not possible without appropriate measures for organizing the administration and functioning of the computer network of the library, organizing the network interaction of its users, and therefore requires the adoption of integrated solutions that take into account the features of the architecture of the ABIS available for the library solutions, optimal models of network interaction.

Most modern ABIS have a pronounced client-server architecture, which requires the appropriate organization of network user interaction with the server and the setup of server equipment, professional maintenance of server databases. The client-server solution requires round-the-clock support of server equipment (server inoperability in such an architecture leads to the failure of the system as a whole), which, in turn, involves the creation of a special technical service led by a system administrator.

L. Zhu made a detailed comparative analysis of 110 publications (from 1996 to 2008) regarding changes in the functions and requirements for the technical support service of the academic library. According to these studies, the role of library technical support has grown significantly in recent years. This is primarily due to the increase in the volume of electronic information resources in library collections. The main requirements for computer specialists of the library in the near future will nevertheless be:

• knowledge of automated library information systems (ABIS);
• professional knowledge of cataloging and related library processes;
• knowledge of library MARC formats;
• ability to work with OCLC services (OCLC Online Computer Library Center , Inc).

Automation of the library and information process, systems and networks is a complex problem, the solution of which is aimed at increasing productivity and labor efficiency of staff and improving the quality of user service.

The construction of electronic information security systems and their networks is determined in the framework of the general design scheme for complex technical systems, adapted to the characteristics of electronic information security systems as a complex social and communication system. Due to their characteristics, social orientation and the priority role of the human factor, for the ABIS EB and their networks, the stage of pre-project research, which requires thoroughness and completeness of all its main components, plays a special role in the process of design research and development.

A successful solution to the problem of building ABIS EB and their networks is based on the optimal selection or development of software and hardware, developing an effective automated technology and the associated complex of information and linguistic tools and organizational and management decisions, and the development of the main components of ABIS EB and their networks is carried out according to common goals and objectives of automation objects, according to selected performance criteria on a system analysis platform and taking into account modern requirements training / educational technologies. A comprehensive, scientific justification and aimed at the successful practical implementation of ABIS EB and their networks requires compliance with the basic principles of building ABIS EB and a set of recommendations for the practical implementation of development results.

According to S. A. Kleimenov, technical and technological measures for the administration of a computer network include: network design; selection and purchase of computers, network and peripheral equipment, software; setup and administration of servers; network setup, modernization and administration; setup and maintenance of computer and network equipment; ensuring information security and data backup; user information support.

During planning, administration of a computer network, it is advisable to determine the following basic functional responsibilities of the system administrator:

• management of users and their groups, names and access to the system, network services, system resources and licenses, use of disk space, print subsystem;
• definition of system policy;
• installation and configuration of hardware devices, software; network configuration;
• archiving (backing up) information;
• information security control;
• monitoring system performance and user performance;
• system load planning;
• documentation of system configuration.

Additional responsibilities of the latter should include:

• qualified preparation of users to fulfill their archiving responsibilities;
• answers to questions and requirements of network users regarding their access to network resources;
• participation in the development and modernization of the corporate network ;
• logging system information.

The main function of any organization’s database is to ensure uninterrupted management of information flows that support the organization’s operational activities and determine its future. The availability of a computerized data management system is not yet a guarantee that the data is used effectively. Such a system is only a means of data management and should be effectively used to obtain the appropriate result. So, the problem of automating the organization’s activities is not to install computers and software, but to use them effectively.

Peter Rob and Carlos Coronel in their work clearly define the main advantages of the effective use of the database in the organization:

• interpretation and presentation of data by structuring and organizing raw ("raw") information;
• dissemination of information among a certain circle of people at the right time;
• data protection and data access control;
• control of data duplication, the use of data both at the external and internal levels.

The introduction of a corporate database requires careful planning and the creation of an appropriate structural unit, staffed, first of all, by persons responsible for the administration of the database. Administrators of this level should have good skills in working with staff, combined with a deep understanding of the specifics of the organization and the various areas of its activities. According to R. Murray, the following main blocks of problems are solved:

• technological: software and hardware;
• organizational: administrative actions;
• intellectual: internal opposition of corporation employees to any innovation.

The introduction of an information system throughout the organization has a significant impact on the nature of the work, on their performance of their functions, their professional status, and interpersonal relationships. Perhaps the emergence of new employees who will compete with long-established employees, and labor efficiency, especially with regard to the performance of new functions, will be evaluated by completely different standards.

For the full functioning of the organization of the database system, the administrator must solve the following main tasks:

• обеспечивать совместное использование данных и готовность их к использованию;
• устранять противоречие данных и обеспечивать их целостность;
• поддерживать безопасность и конфиденциальность данных;
• определять рамки и характер использования информации.

За последние тридцать лет развитие библиотек во многом определялся прогрессом в области вычислительных систем и информационных технологий. Электронно-вычислительные машины (ЭВМ) и технологии автоматизированной обработки информации сразу нашли применение в библиотеках, которые имели значительные ресурсы и множество рутинных операций обработки данных, подлежащих частичной или полной формализации. Возникли первые автоматизированные библиотечные информационные системы (АБИС). АБИС первого поколения базировались на больших и средних ЭВМ. Эти системы не получили широкого распространения и применялись лишь в крупных библиотеках мира. В начале 80-х годов внедряются персональные компьютеры, что внесли изменения в использование вычислительных средств: в библиотеках начали создавать АБИС на базе персональных компьютеров. То есть, система размещалась на одном компьютере, пользователи работали в режиме распределенного времени.

Позже возникают АБИС на базе локальной вычислительной сети. Системы охватывают или часть операций, или весь традиционный библиотечный цикл, в который входит: книговыдача, дружественный интерфейс, присущий программным системам для персональных компьютеров, способствовал их широкому распространению в библиотеках.

• Системы управления библиографической информацией
• АБИС Koha
• АБИС УФД/Библиотека

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