School+library+systems

Fletcher SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS Sifting through cards of a school library catalog is a hassle, but it is also buried away by years of the incorporation of IT systems. Virtually all schools with a computer system and library use an Online Public Access Catalog system or OPAC for short. OPAC systems are part of Integrated Library Systems (ILS), which are Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) designed for library use. An OPAC is simply a computerized catalog of bibliographic media within a library that can be accessed from a computer within the library, or from an outside computer with internet access. Similar to the old card catalog system, through running the OPAC program on a computer usually within the library, one can search for a book through certain entry points. These entry points are: keyword, title, author, or subject. With these entry points, there are three different targets that can be achieved: locating a specific book, browsing what is available in the library, and to help in choosing a book. With an ILS, every book in the library has its information recorded on a server of some sort, and a barcode assigned to it which can be scanned and the information easily retrieved. The computers in the library, or a computer connected to the internet can then access this server which contains a database holding all the key entry points of every book in the library. Every member of a library is issued a library card, which also can be scanned, and simple information on the member can be easily retrieved. This helps make keeping track of where the books are and when they must be returned faster and more reliable, hence more efficient. Also, information such as the frequency a book has been checked out, its location, publication date, purchase date, and so on can be effortlessly accessed. Examples of Automation System Companies: @http://www.librarytechnology.org/vend-processquery.pl (A link containing a list of links to automation system companies.) Security systems in libraries are advanced, yet simple in principle. Entries and exits to the library contain special detectors that detect a magnetized chip that is placed within the book. If a person tries to remove the book without properly having checked it out, and neutralizing the issue of the chip, an alarm will sound bringing to the library’s attention of a potential theft. Also, many libraries include CCTV (Closed-circuit Television) cameras that can record and help monitor activity within the library. Online research at libraries is usually more advanced than online research that can be done on one’s own home computer. In addition to the generally known online research techniques using services such as google, yahoo, and wikipedia, a large portion of libraries subscribe to online databases. These databases usually charge fees that can go anywhere up to $40,000 annually, and require ID’s for login and passwords. Some subtleties of the ever growing gap between the older generations and newer generations is evident in this newer system of school library systems. In older generations, people are used to looking up what book they want, browsing through the possible choices as they roam the shelves of books. They might stumble upon something they were not even looking for, but this does not occur with the newer, more "digitalized" generations. For the majority of these newer generation people, simply the quicker they can find the exact resource they want, the better. This is why when a student enters a library for research, it is extremely common they will head straigh to a computer, and open an internet web browser before doing anything else. Using the resources available to them on any computer with internet access first, and resorting to the books or asking a librarian for help only when they are forced to is a very common occurence. This leads one to consider the role of libraries in school...are they really as beneficial and useful as before? Research is being carried out more efficiently than ever, but do the books play any role in this? Times are changing, and it is time to consider these subtle changes that might not be insignificant at all. At the same time, there is a large issue regarding the equality of access. As it is widely known, schools differ greatly in funding and resources. Some schools have very small libraries containing few book, and no relation to any IT system. Better funded schools in first world countries may have thousands of books well organized and catalogued through an efficient IT system like that of the OPAC systems. University libraries extend to have millions of book, and archives dating back hundreds of years, also organized through OPAC systems. This portrays the difference in acess and oppurtunities between schools of developed and developing countries.
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 * ONLINE RESEARCH:**
 * SOME SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER:**

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