The two library management systems, Koha and Vubis Smart, have many similarities in the specialised features they offer. They both offer a management system that has evolved with the information technology required by libraries to function efficiently and to integrate with other systems so library services can function smoothly.
Both Koha and Vubis Smart contain is a Web based OPAC system, that can integrate into the library’s website. Both systems utilise the online features, Koha offers a feature that manages both online and offline resources with the same tool, Vubis Smart a seamless intelligent linking to external web resources as well as a web search interface. Linking a library system to the Web opens the library to new avenues of library services. It also encourages users to use library services that were previously static and closed.
While both systems have embraced the advancement into the World Wide Web, traditional library system functions are still needed. Both systems offer full cataloguing, acquisition, and circulation modules. Both systems feature the ability to work with and support MARC21, UNIMARC, XML and z39.50. This is an important feature, as it significantly decreases time spent manual cataloguing, time that can be spent managing other online services of the library.
Koha and Vubis Smart are database systems that can handle large amounts of information at a time, handling the specialised formats required for library cataloguing. Koha uses a dual database design, ostensibly covering both a text retrieval system and a database management system (RDBMS), giving a flexible and fluid handling. Vubis Smart uses a database management system, based on a data dictionary, giving remarkable control and stability to a library manager. Both Koha and Vubis Smart use database management systems that will process large amounts of information, and enables multi-tasking on a level not previously achieved.
Another interesting feature that both Koha and Vubis Smart include is the email function. Providing users with online access to the library and its services has highlighted the need for libraries to communicate with users using online means. An email function, that can automatically email overdue notices or other important information for library users can limit manual services that would take a portion of time from librarians, who can now attend to other services of the library.
The library management systems Koha and Vubis Smart have many common features, including the important database management system and a flexible data content, enabling ease of use when cataloguing. Both systems make use of online advantages and present an OPAC that can be accessed over the internet, promoting better service delivery. While each system has different features, creating a unique system, common features are seen because of the needs and wants of libraries.
References
Koha (1999-2005). Retrieved 13th September 2007, from http://www.koha.org/
Vubis Smart - a new approach (2006). Retrieved 13th September 2007, from http://www.library.geac.com/page/vubiseng_LIB.html
Monday, September 17, 2007
3. ACT Public Library Online Information Services
The development of online services in libraries greatly impacts the way a library operates and how services to users are performed. Customer demand has increased the need for libraries to develop online services and this in turn has benefited and increased delivery of services to customers.
The needs and expectations of library customers are changing, as Henezel (2004, p.31) states, “With an increasing focus on technology and an exponentially increasing number of information resources, the expectations of information users are changing. They want information fast - and it must be authoritative and relevant.”. Libraries now cater to the online user, placing many library services that were performed manually online, “online customers should be able to do anything that can be done by a customer in a library branch.” (Hyland, 2006).
In terms of customer satisfaction and service delivery the benefits of online activity are great. Henley reports that the number of customers physically visiting the ACT public library has steadily increased. (Henley, 2004) It is because of the increased online activity that face-to-face visits to the library have increased, users have information and access to library services not previously available and coupled with the provision of current trends in technology, such as public internet access, e-book services and, if possible, wireless connection for laptops, a benefit of online service has been increased interest and user activity in the library.
While creating an online presence for libraries increases user interaction with library activities, it also presents challenges and changes for library staff. Manual services, such as processing requests for library materials and checking user records, have gone online, so staff are undertaking new duties. With the online services being used, glitches and mistakes that have blocked access to areas of information are now becoming obvious, helping librarians to clear away forgotten debris and unwanted data. By reducing the digital divide, librarians can provide delivery of services that focuses on customer demand, providing insight into future developments that will benefit the library.
The development of online services has bought many changes and benefits to the service delivery and service philosophy in libraries. Increased activity online has increased interest and usage of library services, online and physical. Library staff have altered their workloads and taken on new duties to develop skills to best provide service to the online community. Service delivery is fast, efficient and can effectively provide users with services and information that they require. Online access to services has helped place the user as the demand driver for future advancements.
References
Hyland, Margaret. (2006). ACT public library online information services. Incite, 12. Retrieved 5th September, 2007 from http://alia.org.au/publishing/incite/2006/12/print.html?ID=25
Henezel, Sue. (2004). Creating user profiles. [Electronic version]. Online, 28(3), 30-33.
The needs and expectations of library customers are changing, as Henezel (2004, p.31) states, “With an increasing focus on technology and an exponentially increasing number of information resources, the expectations of information users are changing. They want information fast - and it must be authoritative and relevant.”. Libraries now cater to the online user, placing many library services that were performed manually online, “online customers should be able to do anything that can be done by a customer in a library branch.” (Hyland, 2006).
In terms of customer satisfaction and service delivery the benefits of online activity are great. Henley reports that the number of customers physically visiting the ACT public library has steadily increased. (Henley, 2004) It is because of the increased online activity that face-to-face visits to the library have increased, users have information and access to library services not previously available and coupled with the provision of current trends in technology, such as public internet access, e-book services and, if possible, wireless connection for laptops, a benefit of online service has been increased interest and user activity in the library.
While creating an online presence for libraries increases user interaction with library activities, it also presents challenges and changes for library staff. Manual services, such as processing requests for library materials and checking user records, have gone online, so staff are undertaking new duties. With the online services being used, glitches and mistakes that have blocked access to areas of information are now becoming obvious, helping librarians to clear away forgotten debris and unwanted data. By reducing the digital divide, librarians can provide delivery of services that focuses on customer demand, providing insight into future developments that will benefit the library.
The development of online services has bought many changes and benefits to the service delivery and service philosophy in libraries. Increased activity online has increased interest and usage of library services, online and physical. Library staff have altered their workloads and taken on new duties to develop skills to best provide service to the online community. Service delivery is fast, efficient and can effectively provide users with services and information that they require. Online access to services has helped place the user as the demand driver for future advancements.
References
Hyland, Margaret. (2006). ACT public library online information services. Incite, 12. Retrieved 5th September, 2007 from http://alia.org.au/publishing/incite/2006/12/print.html?ID=25
Henezel, Sue. (2004). Creating user profiles. [Electronic version]. Online, 28(3), 30-33.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
2. Intranets and Knowledge Sharing
An intranet can support many activities within an organization, including the sharing of knowledge between peer groups. When groups form between these knowledge sharers, they are referred to as communities of practice, sharing and managing knowledge of a particular area within the organization.
A community of practice plays a valuable role in strengthening the knowledge and identity of an organization, and the focus groups that form due to similar professional interests and concerns. As a way of communicating within a community, an intranet is an important and useful tool. El Tayeh (2007) states that “socialisation means to convert individual into group tacit knowledge”, an intranet that is being used effectively can be sharing and managing knowledge for the community of practice, but also to the rest of the organization. The community creates a knowledge base, of which it has responsibility for, but can be shared by any within the company who wish.
Intranets have been just used for the purpose of storing knowledge, becoming a largely unused resource that is not used effectively. A community of practice that uses the intranet to communicate ideas, knowledge and collaboration will see how ‘dynamic and innovative’ the use of an intranet can be. As Robertson’s article points out, a community of practice relies on human interaction (2007), but successfully used, an intranet can utilise Web 2.0 technology to create online human interaction. A weblog, set up within the intranet can communicate the productivity of a community of practice to the rest of the organization, as well as communicating to other members of the community. A weblog along with a home page for the community within the intranet, can also promote the existence of a community within the organization. However, the changeable and less static nature of a weblog is a key issue to the communication between the community and others within the larger organization.
A community of practice is a group of people who form a community within an organization to share and disseminate information. The use of an intranet within an organization can contribute to the effectiveness and communication within the community, encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration. An intranet can also communicate to the larger organization of the output and effectiveness of this knowledge sharing.
References
Robertson, James. (2004). Intranets and knowledge sharing. Retrieved 27th August, 2007 from Step Two Designs: Beyond the Idea : http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_intranetsknowledge/index.html
El Tayeh, Amjad. (2007). Using digital socialization to support geographically dispersed AEC project teams. Journal of Construction and Engineering Management, 133(6), 462-473.
A community of practice plays a valuable role in strengthening the knowledge and identity of an organization, and the focus groups that form due to similar professional interests and concerns. As a way of communicating within a community, an intranet is an important and useful tool. El Tayeh (2007) states that “socialisation means to convert individual into group tacit knowledge”, an intranet that is being used effectively can be sharing and managing knowledge for the community of practice, but also to the rest of the organization. The community creates a knowledge base, of which it has responsibility for, but can be shared by any within the company who wish.
Intranets have been just used for the purpose of storing knowledge, becoming a largely unused resource that is not used effectively. A community of practice that uses the intranet to communicate ideas, knowledge and collaboration will see how ‘dynamic and innovative’ the use of an intranet can be. As Robertson’s article points out, a community of practice relies on human interaction (2007), but successfully used, an intranet can utilise Web 2.0 technology to create online human interaction. A weblog, set up within the intranet can communicate the productivity of a community of practice to the rest of the organization, as well as communicating to other members of the community. A weblog along with a home page for the community within the intranet, can also promote the existence of a community within the organization. However, the changeable and less static nature of a weblog is a key issue to the communication between the community and others within the larger organization.
A community of practice is a group of people who form a community within an organization to share and disseminate information. The use of an intranet within an organization can contribute to the effectiveness and communication within the community, encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration. An intranet can also communicate to the larger organization of the output and effectiveness of this knowledge sharing.
References
Robertson, James. (2004). Intranets and knowledge sharing. Retrieved 27th August, 2007 from Step Two Designs: Beyond the Idea : http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_intranetsknowledge/index.html
El Tayeh, Amjad. (2007). Using digital socialization to support geographically dispersed AEC project teams. Journal of Construction and Engineering Management, 133(6), 462-473.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
1. Review of 'Library 2.0 theory: Web 2.0 and its implications for libraries'
Library 2.0 is a term applied to libraries that are utilising the functions and applications of Web 2.0 to provide online services to users of the library, and to also collaborate with users. Library 2.0 applies not only to the use of technology and applications that are Web 2.0, but also to the application of a service philosophy and a change in the way libraries communicate and interact with users.
Definition of Library 2.0 is subject to much debate and conjecture. Maness (2006) states that Library 2.0 is a ‘mashup’, a ‘combination of traditional library services and Web 2.0 services’. This statement can be improved with the adding of Casey’s statement that ‘Library 2.0 is a service philosophy’ and is simply a continuation of libraries to provide services to users. (Casey, 2006) Fundamental aspects of Library 2.0 include the use of multi-media services, a socially rich environment, innovation and the ability to change and adapt to changing technologies and placing the user of the library at the centre of services.
Library 2.0 opens up many avenues for successful librarian/user interaction. It is user centred and involves the user in aspects of the library that were previously only the domain of the librarian. The librarian can now facilitate and interact virtually with a user. Habib’s blog, LIS Michael Habib on library and information services, provides an interesting model of the communication overlap of academic, library and classroom interaction and uses physical and virtual interaction to further divide the areas. The library features in the middle of the model, showing the potential libraries have to make use of the interaction online using Web 2.0 services. Usage of Web 2.0 social networks such as Facebook, Flickr and MySpace can allow interaction and collaboration on a level that has rarely been attempted before.
The ability of libraries and librarians to take on Library 2.0 and further library science is also a further step towards maintaining a service philosophy to provide knowledge and reliable, helpful information to users. Maness (2006) uses the Web 2.0 online social networks such as MySpace, Facebook and Flickr to illustrate how interaction between librarians and users can guide users to getting exactly what information is needed. Online social networking between librarians and users has furthered the service philosophy of trying to provide an excellent level of service with every tool available.
Library 2.0 presents a difference in the way that libraries traditionally provide information services, but maintaining a traditional service philosophy, it uses the advances of Web 2.0 to provide users with a level of control and interaction but also strives to serve users in a traditional way of providing the best level of information and knowledge possible.
References
Maness, Jack M. (2006). Library 2.0 theory: Web 2.0 and its implications for libraries. Webology, 3(2), 2006. Retrieved August 23rd, 2007, from http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a25.html
Casey, M. (2006). Born in the biblioblogshpere. Library Crunch. Retrieved August 23rd, 2007 from http://www.librarycrunch.com/2006/01/post_1.html
Habib, Michael. (2006). Conceptual model for academic library 2006. LIS Michael Habib on library and information services. Retrieved August 23rd 2007 from http://mchabib.blogspot.com/2006/06/conceptual-model-for-academic-library.html
Definition of Library 2.0 is subject to much debate and conjecture. Maness (2006) states that Library 2.0 is a ‘mashup’, a ‘combination of traditional library services and Web 2.0 services’. This statement can be improved with the adding of Casey’s statement that ‘Library 2.0 is a service philosophy’ and is simply a continuation of libraries to provide services to users. (Casey, 2006) Fundamental aspects of Library 2.0 include the use of multi-media services, a socially rich environment, innovation and the ability to change and adapt to changing technologies and placing the user of the library at the centre of services.
Library 2.0 opens up many avenues for successful librarian/user interaction. It is user centred and involves the user in aspects of the library that were previously only the domain of the librarian. The librarian can now facilitate and interact virtually with a user. Habib’s blog, LIS Michael Habib on library and information services, provides an interesting model of the communication overlap of academic, library and classroom interaction and uses physical and virtual interaction to further divide the areas. The library features in the middle of the model, showing the potential libraries have to make use of the interaction online using Web 2.0 services. Usage of Web 2.0 social networks such as Facebook, Flickr and MySpace can allow interaction and collaboration on a level that has rarely been attempted before.
The ability of libraries and librarians to take on Library 2.0 and further library science is also a further step towards maintaining a service philosophy to provide knowledge and reliable, helpful information to users. Maness (2006) uses the Web 2.0 online social networks such as MySpace, Facebook and Flickr to illustrate how interaction between librarians and users can guide users to getting exactly what information is needed. Online social networking between librarians and users has furthered the service philosophy of trying to provide an excellent level of service with every tool available.
Library 2.0 presents a difference in the way that libraries traditionally provide information services, but maintaining a traditional service philosophy, it uses the advances of Web 2.0 to provide users with a level of control and interaction but also strives to serve users in a traditional way of providing the best level of information and knowledge possible.
References
Maness, Jack M. (2006). Library 2.0 theory: Web 2.0 and its implications for libraries. Webology, 3(2), 2006. Retrieved August 23rd, 2007, from http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a25.html
Casey, M. (2006). Born in the biblioblogshpere. Library Crunch. Retrieved August 23rd, 2007 from http://www.librarycrunch.com/2006/01/post_1.html
Habib, Michael. (2006). Conceptual model for academic library 2006. LIS Michael Habib on library and information services. Retrieved August 23rd 2007 from http://mchabib.blogspot.com/2006/06/conceptual-model-for-academic-library.html
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