Features of Library Management System The software developed by SoftLink provides a list of the features that their Library

Management possess. The said system provides an interactive student search interface which enables the user to manage its own library profile. The feature also allows its users to interact and connect to other online libraries which hasten their needs in terms of searching. The system also included a predictive text searching which allows the user identify the relevance of the search results derived from the query. In like manner, softlink also included a dynamic catalogue in the system. The system provides cover images of the books being searched and include a brief description of the contents of the books which includes author and title information and the summaries of the first chapter. The system is also integrated with a virtual learning environment to provide the user an access with the digital media through moodle and sharepoint. They also included the capability to generate reports statistically in terms of graphs and charts. The generated report can be in PDF or Excel format. The system also ensures the security and safety of the information stored. To support this features, the developers ensured that there will be a level of hierarchy in terms of accessing a specific resources in the system. Source: http://www.softlinkint.com/oliver/key-features-of-oliver/ The software developed by Maven InfoSoft Inc. also enumerated different features that would suffice the needs of the users in using a Library Management System. The features included functions for maintaining records, acquiring book resources and cataloguing which are essential for developing an effective library management system. Thus, the idea of the software supports the features enumerated by SoftLink development firm. However, in addition to the features enumerated by SoftLink, Maven InfoSoft Inc

included functionalities for recording books information using a barcode reader. The barcode reader enables a faster transaction among large libraries. However, the software will still work even without the barcode reader. The software also included OPAC as its main feature. The Online Public Access Catalogue enables the user to have an easy way of searching and provides the capability to filter the search items based on its contents. The software also made used of E mail alerts to send messages to its members, vendors and other individuals who are involve in the system. Maven InfoSoft also embedded a feature for maintaining media resources such as electronic books, video and audio resources saved either in CD or cassette tapes and instructional materials. The system also allows the administrator to provide greater security by including Lock System feature which restricts the user from using library resource. Using this feature, only allowable resources can be accessed by the user depending on their role or hierarchy in the system. Source: http://www.maven-infosoft.com/library-management-system-solutions/onlinelibrary-management-system-features.html In line with this, an online article entitled Library Management System stated that library is regarded as the brain of any institute; many institutes understand the importance of the library to the growth of the institute and their esteem users (students). Thus, the article also enumerated the typical features that could support the need of the end users of the system. Accordingly, this includes acquisition, cataloguing and circulation. The library management system allows the administrators and library users to maximize its efficiency and minimize the time it takes for every transaction. It should maintain the records of the students and books, as well as the information about

every book and other resources available in the library. The systems also embedded an inventory system which provides information regarding lost books, books being borrowed and returned and track the resources which come in and comes out of the library. It also keeps the record of the suppliers and book binders. The company concluded that the software is flexible enough to meet the needs of any library. Source: https://www.google.com.ph/?gws_rd=cr&ei=rK6KUoyODuviQfdtoDwAg#q=features+of+the+library+management+system Harris (2013) conducted an interview regarding the need for evolving the libraries. He stated that many library management systems nowadays are on cloud. This includes the integration with OCLC, Ex Libris and Innovative Interfaces. The author also pointed out the need of the librarians in streamlining the process in providing essential statistics that would help them in decision making. They also stated that the system should assure that the time it takes for every transaction should be efficient and the information should always be available when and where they need it. Accordingly, library users demand simple but efficient workflows. They also want flexibility, especially in the structure of the database so that it can be used not just for the library but for other areas of the business as well. Clients these days do not have time to create their own reports. Suppliers need to understand and work with their clients to understand their needs and help evolve their services. It is about the customer relationship as much as it is about the application. With numerous online and free resources now available, librarians are changing the way they develop their collection from just-in-case to real-time resourcing. Challenges include the management of one collection as a combination of digital and

traditional resources and managing a seamless interface for user services. Key to the librarians success is their ability to discern quality knowledge from the cascade of constant, real-time and often irrelevant information users are exposed to. Source: http://www.researchinformation.info/features/feature.php?feature_id=391 Dhanalakshmi M. and Uppala Mamatha (n.d) conducted a study entitled RFID Based Library Management System. They stated that BarCode technology is being replaced by RFID Technology. Accordingly, RFID tag does not have to be visible for detection. It can be read even when it is embedded in an item, such as in the cardboard cover of a book or in the packaging of a product. It can also store data such as stack number, accession number, book number, author information etc., but barcode is limited to just an identification number. The study also enumerated the three most important modules in a library management system which includes Transaction Module, Monitoring Module and the Searching Module. The authors concluded that RFID in the library speeds up book borrowing, monitoring, books searching processes and thus frees staff to do more user-service tasks. But the performance varies with respect to the vendors of RFID readers and tags. (RFID Based Library Management System, n.d) The idea was supported by the study conducted by Neelakandan.B, et al (2010). The author stated that a properly computerized library will help its users with quick and prompt services. As defined in the study, library automation refers to mechanization of library housekeeping operations predominantly by computerization. The most commonly known housekeeping operations are acquisition control, serials control, cataloguing, and classification and circulation control. The study was conducted to design and develop a web based library management system for the School of Chemistry Bharathidasan

University. The system includes features for maintaining information about the patron, search modules, report generation, administrative links and circulation module. Upon conducting the study, the authors concluded that the failure of the system does not depend alone on the features available but rather depend on how the organization give its full support to sustain the need of the software. In this regard, the authors enumerated these reasons as: (1) Lack of Infrastructure Facility; (2) Lack of Environmental Support, and; (3) Lack of Financial Resources. (Implementation of Automated Library Management System in the School of Chemistry Bharathidasan University using Koha Open Source Software, International Journal, 2010)