Library Management system chapter 1

Library Management system

   1.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter provides an introduction about the project and problems of using manual system objectives of the project, project scope, significant of the project ,project organization and       consolation

Library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. ( (PRABHAKAR KUMAR, 2014)Thus the process of handling a library manually is very troublesome and clumsy. As regards to this point of view, the computerized system for handling the activities of library management provides a comprehensive way to lessen physical labor, to reduce complexity of the manual system and so on. This project work aim to design and implement a computerized library management system. The library management system was design and implemented using the C# sharp (programming language), and SQL server database.

1.2 Background of the Study

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. (PRABHAKAR KUMAR R. K., 2014)

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 about 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.

A library is an organized collection of information sources which is made accessible to the people. The library usually contains the information physically or in a digitized format. Library is a fast growing organism.

The Libraries can be divided into categories by several types, which are: Academic libraries, Corporate libraries, Government libraries such as national libraries, Historical society libraries, Private libraries, Public libraries, School libraries, Special libraries, Digital libraries, Picture (photograph) libraries, Slide libraries, Tool libraries, Architecture libraries, Fine arts libraries, Medical libraries, Theological libraries etc.

This project shows an easier way to maintain the records of books, members, book circulation, financial transaction etc. These facilities make this project more useful. Throughout the project, the focus has been on presenting information and comments in an easy and intelligible manner.

The projectis very useful for those who are involved with library such as management authority, the users, and who want to know about Library Management System. We tried to include all essential features to provide best services to the users and management. All of these features can be modified according to the demand of time.

Early mechanization came in 1936, when the University of Texas began using a punch card system to manage library circulation. While the punch card system allowed for more efficient tracking of loans, library services were far from being integrated, and no other library task was affected by this change.

By the mid to late 2000 s, LMS vendors had increased not only the number of services offered but also their prices, leading to some dissatisfaction among many smaller libraries. At the same time, open source ILS was in its early stages of testing. Some libraries began turning to such openness as Koha and Evergreen. Common reasons noted were to avoid vendor lock in, avoid license fees, and participate in software development.

1.3    Statement of the Problem

Library management system that offers many flexible and convenient features, allowing librarians and library users to maximize time and efficiency.  

The University of the Capital is located at Mogadishu city and has its own library. The librarian of the University like the other librarians in the country faces several problems in their service because of the manual system they use in daily transactions. They locate the availability of books through a library classification where in there is a system of documents, library materials or any information according to their subject and allocating a call number to that information resource

The University of Capital Library faces the following problems:

Students cannot easily locate book titles and authors needed for reference. After tracking if a specific book is listed in the library, students cannot easily track if specific book needed is available for use. The librarian needs enough time to track down the full list of borrowed book. The librarian cannot easily track overdue books and unreturned books. The librarian cannot easily give updated and real time inventory count. The librarian cannot easily locate who borrowed specific book; he/she needs to locate it in his/her borrower’s logbook.

NEED FOR COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM
a computerized system is needed mainly because of the lack of speed in the manual system. Computerized system provides speed with accuracy. The new transaction entries can be made instantly. The modification and deletion of records regarding the transaction can be done in no time.

1.4   Purpose of the project

Library Management System is a term for computer-based system that manage the catalogue of a library.

The main purpose of this system is to manage library daily operation efficiently. And  user can add members ,add books , search members ,search books ,update information  , edit information ,borrow and return books  in quick time .

1.5   Objectives

o   To study about the topic

o   To build a system that can receive input and generate automatically output in easy way and short time.

o   To build a monitoring system that is able to monitor and manage all library operations efficiently.

o    To give an opportunity to librarians to reduce mistakes that always happen during manual method.

o   To store properly the library items in order to maintain their security.

o    To enter and preserve details of the various issues and keep a track on their returns.

1.6  project scope

This study is focused in the design and development of a Library Management System for the University of the capital that shall help in improving the processes or transactions in the library through a more organized and faster system

The proposed Library Management System covers the major processes in the University of the capital Library namely searching of books, viewing of the book’s details, maintenance and adding of books, library card monitoring and validation, and borrowing of the books for take home or outside the library.

1.7   Significance of the project

1.8   Project Organization