Automated Library System and Integration of Automated Library System Essay

For the aside century, change occurred rapidly in professional industry and has posed signifi piece of asst challenges to those who always tries to be the attractor in the professional field. The learning waves or near called the instruction revolution triggered by the rising of networking technologies and personalised computers has in like manner impacted to an institution that is quite unkn birth to some but essential to the community, the library institution. Libraries, as we know of as buildings with stacks of books, magazine, bare-asseds, files, periodicals and signs of silence all around, may face its extinction someday.One may not run to the library or a librarian for information, but to ones own computer which is the basic of automation. The uprising of globalization, market placeization, and privatization had bring signifi stooget changes the long-held political and economic beliefs. Governments and social sponsors have been propagating that social institutionsbe they hospitals, schools, colleges, and librariesbecome self-sufficient if they atomic number 18 to purposefully work and demonstrate their relevance and competence to their clients.institutional excellence will now have to be achieved done the arm race of technologies rather than through rules, regulations and controls.. Librarians and information managers, thitherfore, are being asked to generate revenue to become self-sustaining as much as possible. In Malaysia, libraries and information centers have begun to realize that selling of information products and services is an integral part of administration, in particular as a means for improving drug user satisfaction and promoting the use of services by received and potential users.The main arsenal for libraries in Malaysia fundament utilize would be the automated library trunk and integration of automated library establishment. These ashess has proven that it can improve substantially the services that a crude library c an offer. An integrated library remains (ILS), also known as a library management system is a system for a library, used to track, orders made, items owned bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed. An Integrated subr discoverine library System usually lie of a type of relational database, software to interact with that database.Then theres user interface that would interact with user and also patrons of the library. There are also modules which allow acquisition, circulation, cataloguing, serials, OPAC (public interface for users). These features ease the user of library in their research or other tasks. However these systems are strangers to most library institution in Malaysia. It has been implement in only a handful of institutions such(prenominal)(prenominal) as UiTM , UM ,UTM and few more private institution.This scenario happened not because Malaysia dont have such capabilities to shot these technologies but lack of marketing strategies to in promoting the use of such sy stems. Three main factors, namely the information explosion, the technology revolution, and escalating library costs are responsible for encouraging the library profession in Malaysia to surface a marketing approach in its operations and services. Some information service managers feel that marketing is inimical to the nature of their activities.But with steep competition from other institution in the country, marketing is a factor for survival. There are some radical marketing strategies in order to market information systems library in Malaysia that can be apply. These strategies can be interpreted by the market the market targeted , extraordinary plans that could raise attention and also drastic measures from the national bodies and major institution and systems. Market or target users for information systems library in Malaysia must be thoroughly defined first in order for the technologies to grow in our soil.In Malaysia, the target public and hearing would be mostly students which consist of various layer of information level. Their needs and demands in library services such as navigation, guides in their research can be fulfill through the systems. By studying their likes would dish out in plans of promoting the system and also could meet the target audience easier Introduction of the system or better yet the education of the systems use and functions to the public is prior in marketing the information system.Malaysia has various kind of media channel such as the radio, television, satellite channels and vast amount of printed materials. Advertising the information systems in libraries by qualification a short clip with a twist of a little drama and education in the systems role assisting users to their needs. The education should also be consistent and updated periodically to refresh audiences knowledge and awareness from time to time.Integration of information system through networking can also be a good marketing strategies for institution in Ma laysia since the distance is no more a factor and a mutual bond already existed between education institution in Malaysia. This could help a wide spread of information system network which applies the same system and processes wherever its situated in the country. This could ultimately be far more efficient for the users ( mainly the students) in using the system anywhere they want since it would incorporated the same user interface , functions, database .Technologies has also developed a new kind of attraction for the users nowadays. It offers applications and software that allows users to interact with each other , socialize through wire, gain information and keep updated through high speed network. Information system in libraries and integrated system can absorb and assimilate this application in its chain of function which would be more interactive and fork over the users more experience of the cyber networking via an information system in a library.Also, some more value wrea k to the systems could attract more library user such as networking andweb browsing which would help the customer expand their search wider. There are also marketing strategies that could be implemented throughout government care is standardizing all the library institution by ensuring that every library in the country must be equipped with the automated information and integrated system. Although it is a quite a risky and costly for some , but the services would surely improved and would extend the image of libraries in Malaysia as a bench mark for other institution in the country.The government could also help promoting and marketing this system by introducing it to the firsthand and secondary level education in form of a mini automated system that can easily be used by those ages of kids in their own school library which would familiarize and actualise them easier to adapt to the real system in the future. Another strategies in extending the information system is through the sweetening of library personnel s professional knowledge and skills for marketing the information system and services that a library offer.Library personnel should enhance their professional skills with technical knowledge and diverse skillset. This would drastically changed the user perception thus promoting the system in a way of its own. Conclusion is that these automated library system and integration of automated library system in Malaysia will succeed if the campaign focus on some important aspect of the process such as increasing the clientele and reaching out to them. Unless the information is used , it is major waste to the resources.Other than that, always ensure that product innovation and flexibleness always evolve throughout the period and the financial viability for the whole process maintained at a safe level. There should also some kind of awareness and cooperation in between major organization , government ,institution and the user itself . With all that , it would not be impossible for library institution in Malaysia can also change and compete with other international institution that has long exceed us in information technologies and libraries management.