Introduction
Sainik
Awasiya Mahavidyalaya Library is an academic resource centre for study and
research. Although the library was established with the objective of supporting
in the study, teaching and research needs, shortly after the establishment of
Suping Campus at Bhimphedi the library is rendering services to the users of
the Mahavidyalaya. The accession register records that it was started on the 24th
November 1978. At present there are two more libraries, i.e. Bachelor Library
in Bachelor Block and Reference Library in +2 Block. The Library has more than
25 thousand printed documents. There are more than 15 titles of periodicals and
newspapers. Library
automation is the conversion of a library’s procedures from manual to
computerized, such as from a card catalog to an OPAC, or from manual
circulation cards to an integrated library system.
According to
Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences (Kent, 1977) “Library
Automation is the use of automatic and semiautomatic data processing machines
to perform such traditional library activities as acquisitions, cataloguing and
circulation. These activities are not necessarily performed in traditional
ways, the activities themselves are those traditionally associated with
libraries; library automation may thus be distinguished from related fields
such as information retrieval, automatic indexing and abstracting and automatic
textual analysis”.
About SAMB
Central Library
The main goal of
the Library is to back the institution to achieve its goal of research-based,
student-centered teaching-learning task and knowledge transfer. It gives
Internet and information service to students. To fulfil the Vision and Mission
of institution, beautiful library was established on
the 24 November, 1978 (according to Accession Register) when T.U. Suping Campus
Library was established.
Automation History of SAMB Library
Library plays a
central role in an academic institution. It is the heart of the institution and
an indicator of its quality and standard. It supports to impart quality
education, and therefore, must be updated constantly with sufficient
educational materials. It is this principle that has led SAMB to update its
facilities and resources, and to purchase books and journals through its
regular budget. SAMB Library previously used CDS/ISIS a software developed and
distributed by UNESCO for information storage and retrieval. Keeping in view
the developments in the field of technology, it has become necessary to
automate all activities of library.
The SAMB Library
has started automation and migration of data works by using the Koha 2.2.8
(released in March 8, 2007) on 2008. From May 2008, the library started to
implement all modules of Koha like cataloguing, circulation, OPAC etc. Circulation report records that it was
circulated books at first time in 18th May 2008. SAMB Library is the
first library in Nepal which is circulating its documents by using Koha. Now, SAMB
Library is using the latest version of koha 21.05 (released on 28 May 2021) for
its Nepali and English documents and added the new feature i.e. email
notification to users.
KOHA Integrated
Library Software (ILS)
KOHA is a web
based ILS with a SQL database (MySQL) backend, cataloguing data stored in MARC
and accessible via Z39.50. KOHA user's interface is very configurable and
adoptable which has been translated in to many languages. KOHA was initially
developed in New Zealand by Katipo Communication Limited and first deployed in
January 2000 for Horowhenua Library Trust. After the original implementation of
KOHA, it has been adopted by thousands of libraries worldwide and each adding
features and functions, deepening the capability of the software. Now the KOHA
has state of the art web interface for clients and librarians, enriched
content, faceted navigation, keyword searching, user contribution.
Function of KOHA at SAMB Library
Online public
access catalogue (OPAC): The OPAC is web-based and there is no need to
install any software on a user's machine.
Web-based
circulation interface: Can handle issues, returns, transfers, etc. There
is no need to install any special software on staff computers once there is an
intranet in place.
Branches: Since the
software is web-based it is easy to borrow a book in one branch and return it
in another branch.
Borrower
history:
Users can comment and review books, tag them and view their reading history.
They can also view their records and make purchase suggestions.
Customizable
search:
A library can choose the fields they want on their search form. For example, a
search by author, title, subject, and keywords. There is also an advanced
search option.
Acquisitions: This includes
orders from vendors, budgets, and pricing information.
Serials: It allows easy
cataloguing of journals and user can view holdings information through the
OPAC.
Multi-lingual
OPAC support:
KOHA allows patrons to view the OPAC in different languages depending on the
language chosen by the library.
Overdue fines
and notices:
KOHA manages overdue fines and notices that can be sent to users by e-mail.
Barcode and
Spain printing and reader: KOHA fully supports the use of barcodes thereby
removing the chances of human error. Reports and statistics. KOHA can generate
management reports and statistics in cataloging, acquisitions, serials, and
circulation.
Conclusion
Library automation has become a necessity in this current
period. Adopting KOHA in libraries is increasing day by day. Due to its
excellent feature, KOHA is becoming the priority for those who use open-source
software. In KOHA, user interface is very configurable. KOHA is widely used library automation software in the
world and it has the provisions for all library operation. It provides cataloguing,
Searching, Member management, an acquisitions system and circulation. All these
are configurable as per the library needs. Koha is free Library Software and it
avoids duplication.
References
Kent,
Allen (1977). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science. New York, NY:
Marcel Dekkar.
Riaz, Muhammad (1992). Library automation, Atlantic
Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi.
Shah, Steve; Soyinka, Wale (2005), Linux administration:
a beginner's guide, 4th ed., Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing, New Delhi.
Websites
http://koha-community.org
http://kohageek.blogspot.com/
https://www.mkshah.com.np/
www.koha.org
www.kohadocs.org
(This Article is Published in Sallaghari annual Magzine 2079 of Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya, Bhaktapur)
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