CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter gives an overview of the aim, objectives, background and operation environment of the system.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A library can be defined as a room or building where books are kept and referenced. It is an area of multifarious activity on book management. A library as a repository of knowledge houses collections of books, both reference and general, technical reports, periodicals, journals, conference proceedings and the likes. Consequently, truth and knowledge can be found and acquired from the library through the aforementioned sources. The information contents of any of the collections can be recorded on microfilms, audiotapes, microchips and other materials traditionally kept in the library, which is charged with the responsibility of acquiring, organizing, maintaining, and judicial circulation of the books and other library materials through the various sections of the library, for efficient use of the library by the users.
Library Management System is an application which refers to library systems which are generally small or medium in size. It is used by librarian to manage the library using a computerized system where he/she can record various transactions like issue of books, return of books, addition of new books, addition of new students etc. Books and student maintenance Modules are also included in this system which would keep track of the students using the library and also a detailed description of the books a library contains. With this computerized system there will be no loss of book record or member record which generally happens when a non computerized system is used. In addition, report module is also included in Library Management System. If user’s position is admin, the user is able to generate different kinds of reports like lists of students registered, list of books, issue and return reports. All these modules are able to help librarian to manage the library with more convenience and in a more efficient way as compared to library systems which are not computerized.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS
In human endeavors, there are a lot of developments, researches, and discoveries, which result in multifarious production of publications and library materials. These have brought increase in complexity of library system and its operations.
Based on these, a number of problems are facing the library systems, which include:
- Unnecessary delay in library processes.
- High cost of staff recruitment and maintenance.
- Error prone operations/processes.
- Inefficiency in library operation.
- Too many paper work and replication of data on multiple pieces of paper.
- Unreliable card catalogue system.
- Mutilation of books by students i.e. students tear/hide books.
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this project is the Design and Implementation of a Web Based Library Management System which monitors and keeps record of the individual book movement together with the operations going on in various sections of the library.
In this study therefore, the researchers hope to accomplish the following objectives:
- To design a better way of avoiding loss of books in the library.
- To solve the problem of delay in locating books.
- To assist the Liberian to carry out library operations more effectively.
- To eliminate manual operations in the library.
- To achieve high efficiency in the library services.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this study was to help and give a benefit to the concerned group below.
This study will be beneficial to the following:
Students and Staff: Through computerized library system, they can easily find the books that they are looking for without going through the traditional way of searching a library material. Convenience is more visible for it is not time-consuming, resulting to a number of accomplished works.
Librarian: The computerized library system would improve the monitoring capacities of those who maintain the library. It would be easier to determine whether a particular book is on-shelf or not. In addition, they can easily identify when the borrowed material will be returned and if a borrower has failed to return the book on its due date. Furthermore, the librarian would be much guided when it comes to recognizing new inventory books, letting them arrange it promptly and accordingly.
1.5 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
- Unavailability of academic materials.
- Transport problem
- Lack of financial support
- Lack of Time
- Unavailability of programming software such as Visual Basic 6, and .Net.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research work will concentrate on Master entry (i.e. Department, course, student registration, etc…), Users (Registration and login details), Serial control, Transaction, records, tools and about menu which includes handling of some queries like; updating library record, deleting library record and searching for student and staff information via Rank, Department or ID as the case may be. It is a case study of Spring Light Technology Library, Akwa Ibom State.
1.7 ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY
During the process of data collection, information relating to Library Management System was obtained from IBOM LIBRARY. The information was collected from the admin staff during the course of my industrial attachment. Hence, it is assumed that all the data collected are correct and contains no false information.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Design: It is a detail plan or arrangement to achieve a particular purpose.
Library: It is a department in an organization that deals with
Keeping tracks of book issued, returned and added to library.
Management: It is the co-ordination of all the resources of an
Organization through the process of planning, Organization, directing and controlling
System: It is an assemblage of interrelated elements, which we find interesting to study. It could be a process, a machine or a program.
Data: Numbers, Text or image which is in the form suitable for Storage in or processing by a computer.
Information: A meaning full material derived from computer data by organizing it and interpreting it in a specified way.
Input: Data entered into a computer for storage or processing.
Output: Information produced from a computer after processing.
Information System: A set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization.
Library Management System: A library management system, also known as an automated library system is software that has been developed to handle basic housekeeping functions of a library.
Computer: Computer is an electronic device that accepts data as Input, processes data and gives out information as output to the user.
Software: Software is set of related programs that are designed by the manufacturer to control the hardware and to enable the computer perform a given task.
Hardware: Hardware is a physical part of a computer that can be touched, seen, feel which are been control by the software to perform a given task.
Database: Database is the collection of related data in an organized form.
Programming: programming is a set of coded instruction which computers understand and obey.
Technology: Technology is the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use technical and their interrelation with life, society and the environment, drawing upon such as industrial art, engineering, applied science and pure science.
Algorithm : A set of logic rules determined during the design phase of a data matching application. The ‘blueprint’ used to turn logic rules into computer instructions that detail what step to perform in what order.
Application: The final combination of software and hardware which performs the data matching.
Program: It is a set of instructions and procedures that tells the computer what to do.
Data matching database: A structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system.
Data cleansing: The proactive identification and correction of data quality issues which affect an agency’s ability to effectively use its data.
Data integrity : The quality of correctness, completeness and complain with the intention of the creators of the data i.e ‘fit for purpose’
Enrollment : The process of an individual to enroll aith an agency. Involves the initial collection of identifying details.