Library Automation & Infrastructure

This Library has the distinction of being the first University Library  in India   

 to have fully   automated all its house keeping operations.   

 

Initiation

  • The Library has started its automation activity in the year 1989, by procuring a PC-AT Intel 80286 with 4mb RAM, 80mb Hard disk, MS-DOS operating system.

  • Initially some programs were developed in dbase III+. In this process, the data for the new books became available in machine readable form. The database was created for searching by author, title, subject and call number. Simultaneously catalogue cards were  printed on the continuous card stationery and monthly list of additions to the library was also generated using dot matrix printer

Integrated Library Operations with LIBSYS

  • During the year 1990, an integrated library application software (LIBSYS) was procured using XENIX as operating system. All the new book records available in machine readable form under dbase III+ were converted into the LIBSYS software package. XENIX is a multi-user operating system on which LIBSYS : an integrated library application software provided facilities for acquisition,  cataloguing, circulation and serial control and OPAC (online public access catalogue) to provide quick search of books to the users.

  • During the year 1991, the hard-disk was upgraded from 80MB to 200MB and  again  upgraded in 1993 its systems by acquiring a new PC 80486 system with 3 VT-220 terminals and UNIX operating system.

  • During the year 1994, with the special grant from the UGC under modernization of library facilities, the library acquired a mini computer system DEC Alpha 2000 model with 6 GB hard disk, 16 numbers of 80386 PCs, 4 multimedia printers, 7 drive CD-ROM network server. Library has started using Bar-code technology at the circulation desk for issue and return transactions.

  • By February 1995, the library could convert all the book records i.e. 2, 35,000 volumes of data base by entering the data from the shelf list catalogue cards and was made available for campus wide access across the Local Area Network (LAN) for the benefit of users in various Schools/Departments.   

 Automation & Digital Library with VTLS  and SUN MicroSystems

  • During 2001, the Library switched over to VTLS software for Library Automation and Digital Library.  A Cyber Storage System (DF-1000) with facility for 400 GB hard disk storage to capture digital data from the CD/DVDs was made available for network access.

Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)

  • Library has replaced  its  card catalogue with Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) terminals for users in the central lobby of the Library and 4 + 3  terminals near the stack/ reading areas. The Library database consists of all the books, back volumes of periodicals, current journals and theses & dissertations.

  • Users can search the database by author, title, classification number, subject, Journal title, Accession Number to know whether  a book/document is there in the Library or not, its status with reservation facility if the book is issued out. Users can also access  the new books list from OPAC. Multimedia links are provided to enable users access digitized text of Thesis and few books  and web pages of Journals to access Table of Contents,  Abstracts and also the Full text. Library initiated linking the scanned pages of Table of Contents to Language Journals and few Indian Journals, where publishers are not providing such links .

 

COMPUTERIZATION

  • The Library has excellent IT infrastructure to manage all in-house operations as well as to provide specialized information services to the faculty and students over the Campus network.  The Library is on cloud, all the library activities and services are available on net, the hardware consists of IBM servers, storage devices, ZEUTSCHEF/ATIZ book scanners, hand-hold laser scanners, laser printers and 60 PCs.  The Library is using VIRTUA application software and operating systems like Red Hat, Ms-Windows, Ubuntu Linux, etcx. The Library uses barcode technology for issue, return and renewal of books for accuracy and efficiency.  24 PCs are place at the entrance Lobby for OPAC, e-mail and internet browsing.  Similarly, 8 PCs are kept in the Library reading halls exclusively for searching of book databases. The Library is connected to the Campus Network through 100 mbps optical fiber channel.  The Library resources can be searched over the internet through Web based Online Catalogue.  The Library subscribed online journals/databases are available on the campus networks as well as remote access.  The library is enabled with wi-fi connectivity for the use of laptops inside the library.

 

DIGITAL LIBRARY

  • The IGM Library has established a model digital Library by signing MoU with SUN  Micro Systems and VTLS, USA.  Under these MoUs, a Centre of Competency in Digital libraries and e-learning as established to undertake R & D activities by using Open Source Software and to create digital content in the University. Currently this facility is being used for conducting hands on training and practical classes for DLAN students. The Library is also a member of Universal digital project of Carnegie-Melon University, Pittsburg, USA (Million books to the web). Under this project, a scanning centre was established in the Library to digitize rare books. The Library has signed MoU with UGC-INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad, to digitize and upload full text PhD thesis submitted to University of Hyderabad. Already 2252 PhD these were digitized/ uploaded to project Shodhganga e-thesis repository. The Library is also making efforts to digitize the remaining printed theses and upload to Shodhganga thesis repository.