In a computerised circulation control system, the machine-readable file comprises records for all items on loan from the library, normally arranged by a unique accession number, call number, or a number assigned specially for the purpose.
Introduction
The check digits in the form of a two-digit year prefix to existing numbers are added for possible future analysis of loans by publication dates. In addition, a borrower’s card which includes a numerical identification number in machine-readable form is issued to every registered library user.
Detailed information about each borrower such as residential address, occupation, status etc is contained in the issued cards.
Focus 1
Input data into the computer systems takes the form of information about the book or other item being borrowed, information about the person borrowing the item, and a variety of other data relating to reservations made and cancelled, loans and returns made
in the absence of the normal machine-readable book and reader cards, to incorrect existing loan records. The first two categories naturally make a collection.
The last category of data, where machine sensible cards do not exist, needs manual keyboarding. The computer system must be able to update the loan file once the necessary data have been inputted.
Focus 2
However, Kimber (1974) asserted that a simple fixed field record structure will normally suffice for computer-based loan systems. Each record must contain information about the book and the borrower, together with data about the date of the loan and the date due.
In addition, provision must be made for holding a short list of identification numbers of borrowers who have placed a reservation for the item. It is equally possible to state a maximum number of reservations.
Focus 3
It will be accepted for any item, thus enabling a fixed-field-size record structure to be retained. Since the main loans file is arranged in book identification number order, new transactions must be sorted into book number order before the main file is updated.
New records are checked for accuracy on the format of the data in each data field, tests made on numbers supplied with check digits, and formatted into the record structure used in the main computer loans file.
Focus 4
The main loans file is updated with the newly sorted transactions and a variety of outputs produced. Each record in the new transactions file is matched with a corresponding record in the main loans file, or else, inserted in the correct position in that file.
Discharge, return, transactions, reservation and cancel reservation transactions should all match with existing loan records. The main loan file is printed in book number order.
Focus 5
Returned books for which reservations have been made in the main loans file are listed to permit library staff to prevent them from re-shelving.
It may also be written to the magnetic disk action file, which will be used to print letters to the reserves notifying them that the books are now available.
This action file also contains records of books now overdue and for which overdue letters must be printed, and records of books to be recalled from their present borrowers due to reservations.
Focus 6
Also, included in this file are books on loan to individual borrowers for whom personal on-loan lists have been requested. From time to time, the main loans file is sorted into borrower order and printed to give a listing by the borrower.
This list shows clearly those borrowers with more than the permitted number of items on loan. The sorted loans file may be searched by the program to find such offenders and recall book notices are printed and sent to them. In case of overdue, the fines are computed and paid by the offending borrower.
Reserve and Short-term Loan
One of the practical steps taken by the library management is to have suitable subject areas where they are required and make them accessible to users in the form of loans and or references.
unlimited number of copies of book materials to be purchased. Yet, the users. To achieve this laudable objective, short-term loan services are provided to patrons.
Focus 1
A short-term loan is a fixed period any one/two weeks upon which a user is given to make use of the borrowed item (s)from the library and thereafter return it. The costly nature of the loanable materials makes it preferable to limit their use.
However, the reserved books section is a special area or shelf for books in restricted use. Such categories of books are reference materials like journals, Newspapers and magazines, dictionaries, encyclopaedia, guides, reports, indexes abstracts etc.
Focus 2
Besides these materials, there are those in high demand by users that are placed on reserve. The principal reason for placing the book in reserve is to ensure that all those who require it have an equal opportunity to read it.
Thus, such books may be borrowed only for a period’s use within the library. Therefore, reserve and short-term loans of book materials enable the users to derive maximum benefits from the use of library stock.
Compilation of Bibliographic on Approved Topic
A bibliography is a systematic listing of published works of art, science and products of arts, sharing similar characteristics arranged in a specific order and containing information about the materials. There are three classes of bibliography namely:
- Analytical: It is the detailed analysis of the structure of the book and its description.
- Historical: It is concerned with the history of the different procedures of book production including printing, illustration, paper-making, binding and publishing.
- Systematic: It may be viewed as the assembling of. bibliographic entries into a logical and useful arrangement for both study and reference.
Focus 1
However, the basic features of a compiled bibliography are:
- Ability to identify with certainty the purpose of the books that it lists.
- Provide detailed information about the materials so listed
- Describe the materials based on the universally accepted criteria on bibliographies
- The listed materials must be addressed or directed to a definite discipline or specific purpose.
- The listing pattern of materials must be systematic, alphabetic and chronological or any other specified format.
Focus 2
It is therefore imperative that adequate information must be acquired on the compilation of a bibliography on an approved topic.
The sources of the needed information for such exercise are current reviews, guides, flyers, announcements, current sources of imprint books, catalogues, national bibliographies, bibliography of bibliographies, guides, Newspapers and magazines etc.
The next stage is to decide how the materials obtained from the aforementioned sources should be arranged. The methods of arrangement of a bibliography could be alphabetical by author or title or subject; chronological, geographical or regional, dictionary and classified.
Focus 3
The compilation of a bibliography on an approved topic needs thorough planning. The factors to be considered when planning on a compiled bibliography are as follows: sufficient finance, the period for the project execution, the audience to be served, the purpose to be accomplished, the energy involved, the character of the institutional holdings, and the estimated size of entries.
Finally, the compiler of a bibliography must determine the manner of his report writing. However, the following factors could serve as a guide when writing a report on the compilation of a bibliography on an approved topic: short introduction, objectives, author, scope, need, estimated size/number of entries, format/arrangement, estimated time for completion and remarks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the library is a repertoire of knowledge sourced by users, specifically students and academic staff in a tertiary institution. The quality of the products produced and services rendered by any organisation is a reflection of library resources.
Every organisation sets up a library to provide information services to achieve its corporate objectives. To provide effective information services, the library personnel must improve their information handling skills. The information needs of the users must be matched with the services provided. You can read more related posts on our research page of the site.
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