CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
This chapter gives an overview of the aim, objectives, background and operation environment of the system.
- 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.