Library Information System

A Library Information System or Library Management System is a system that makes use of information technology to carry out managerial objectives. This involves three basic elements, the hardware, the software, and the User. LMS is a network of computers that uses a certain program to facilitate technical functions of the library. One such function is electronic cataloguing. With LMS, library users can now trace desired books electronically without going through shelves. LMS also facilitates the lending process by keeping records of items lent and borrowers’ information.

It also supports other administrative task such as inventory and data processing.

Library Management System makes everyday library tasks more efficient. This means more work can be done in less time. Consequently, this decreases operational cost. It minimizes paperwork and manual tasks, thus allowing library personnel to concentrate on other things such as interaction with users. LMS reinforces users’ loyalty and satisfaction as it provides fast and reliable library services. An excellent Library Information System is simple, easy to use and does not require in-depth IT knowledge to manipulate or navigate through the system.

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The system is easy to install and to maintain. Libraries today face the challenge of remaining relevant to users, because of technological
advancement users can now get information from many alternative sources like the internet so there is the need for libraries to be more competitive in terms of extending services. LMS can overcome some of these challenges by providing an integrated information that can be a basis of generating and evaluating what users want.

1.1 Introduction

A library management information system can also be called a library management system or Integrated library system. It is a system that makes use of information technology to carry out managerial objectives. The main goal of a library management information system is to store, organize, share, and retrieve vital information needed to carry out daily operational functions of the library.

1.2 Background:

The West End University College, (WEUC Library) Library Management System is specially designed for the university college to help the library department to function best and be abreast with time, to have a standard with other universities like The Oxford University Library in Europe, The Cape Coast University Library in Ghana and many more. The WEUC Library is intended to assist the entire university to use technological tools to make work easier, faster and more efficient.

2. Literature survey/ review

3. System Analysis:

4. General system design:
6 building blocks
5. Systems Implementation:
5.1 Library Systems
Libraries often contain many thousands of books, magazines, CD-ROMs, etc. In fact, some of the largest libraries (e.g. The British Library in the UK, Oxford university library etc.) contain well over 100 million items - that's a lot of things to keep track of!

For this reason, libraries use computer-based systems to keep a record of
their books, and of the people who borrow the books.

A computerized library database allows for:
Quick and easy searching for books
Easy printing out of book lists / labels
Easy tracking of book loans (who has it, when it was borrowed, etc.) Automatic printing of warning letters for borrowers who have not yet returned books.

5.2 International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
Every published book has an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

The ISBN is typically printed on the back of the book in numeric form, and as a barcode (to allow for quick data entry)

It's important to note that a book's ISBN cannot be used as the primary key field in a library's book database. Why? Because if you have several copies of the same book, they will all have the same ISBN. And the primary key must be unique. For this reason, library books are given a unique ID number / code. 5.3 The Book Database

A typical library book database might contain:
Book ID (number / text)
Title (text)
Author (text)
Publisher (text)
ISBN (number)
Fiction / non-fiction (Boolean)
Genre / category (text)
Cost (number)
Date of purchase (date)

Before computers, libraries had to use manual paper-based systems. Details of books were recorded on small cards which were then kept in small drawers (in order of author's name, for fiction books, or in order of subject, for non-fiction books) You can probably imagine that keeping these cards up-to-date, and making sure non got lost, or put back in the wrong place, was a huge job!

5.4 The Borrower Database

A typical library borrower database might contain:
Borrower ID (number / text)
Name (text)
Phone number (text)
Address (text)
E-mail address (text)
Date of birth (date)
Borrowers are commonly given library cards that have their details printed on, so that they don't have to remember their ID.

Most cards also have the borrower's ID in the form of a barcode for quick and easy data input when borrowing books

5.5 The Loans Database
The loans database has records added to it when someone borrows a book. The loans database links together records from the books database and the borrower database.

A typical loans database would contain:
Book ID (number / text)
Borrower ID (number / text)
Date of loan (date)
Due date (date)
The loans database can be regularly checked for loans that are late back. The computer simply has to search the database for records where: Due date is before Today
When a late record is found, the borrower ID can be used to link to the borrower's record. The borrower's address / e-mail can then be used to send out an automatic reminder letter.

As with the manual book catalogue mentioned above, before computers all loans
were recorded using a paper-based, manual system 6. Conclusion & Recommendation

7. Referencing
www.ehow.com
Visual basic for Dummies 2010, by Sherry Knowells ET all
Guidelines from Mr. Raymond Bentum Boison lecturer West End University Advice and support from Mr. Julius Amegadzie lecturer West End University Advice and support from Mr. Schneider Amartey lecturer West End University