2nd ICLIM - 2017
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/18039
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item Migrating of Library Automation from Alice for Windows to KOHA: Experiences from the Library of University of Sri Jayewardenepura.(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Konpola, K.W.A.M.; Angammana, A.M.S.; Hettiarachchi, N.; Wijayasundara, N.D.; Ranasinghe, S.Library ofUniversity of Sri Jayewardenepura used the “Alice for Windows”, a commercial library management software to automate its library resource collections and management activities of the library. During nearly ten year time it was able to process 90% of the library materials. However it was very difficult to fully implement the process due to issues like (1) lack of web interface, (2) inability to work in local languages like Sinhala, (3) high cost of as annual maintenance fee and (4) non availability of local maintenance team. In this circumstance, the library decided to shift to Open Source software named as KOHA. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenging experiences obtained from migrating from Alice for Windows to KOHA- an Integrated Library Management System mostly used in the library automation activities. The great challenge in the process was the exporting of bibliographic records from Alice to KOHA because there was no compatibility between the two. The migration process involved three steps and used the tools such as MARC editor, MARC21 Format and language converter tool and it was able to convert all the data within two month time without any losses of data. With some training and follow up workshops for the staff and familiarizing sessions for users, it was able to successfully implement the Circulation module, Serial module, Online Public Access catalogue and report module in September 2014. Users are able to search the OPAC using Sinhala keywords, can renew their borrowing period, and make reservations from anywhere using the Internet.Item Users’ Searching Behavior Patterns in Library OPAC of University of Ruhuna: A Follow-up Study.(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka., 2017) Hettiarachchi, N.; Ramanayaka, K.H.; Jayasekara, P.K.The use of ILS for library services has been growing rapidly over the years and plays an enhanced role compared to its traditional physical library while providing a wide variety of library services to its users. OPAC is considered as a one of major outcome of ILS while it provides an online bibliography of a library collection that is available to the public.The present research was undertaken in order to identify the mostly utilized search fields by patrons and the searching behavior of undergraduates from different faculties in University of Ruhuna with referencing Library OPAC in relation to user profile during 1stJanuary 2012 and 31stDecember 2016. The data, collected from the searching history records kept by the patrons’ user profiles, were processed and statistically analyzed. The findings of this study revealed that the OPAC searching was heavily used by undergraduates, i.e. 79.43% out of 17168 total searching frequencies. Furthermore, the highest number of searching (27.34%) was done in year 2013 while searching from the keyword option was become the most popular (56.72%) term followed by the title (17.54%) and author (13.13%) terms.ISBN was identified as an underutilized search field. On the other hand, the highest number of searching (29.02%) was done by the Faculty of Science patrons and then Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (28.69%). When patrons use keyword option as a searching field, OPAC performs the searching process by matching the requested word pattern in every place in the bibliographic records. As a result, the number of results is in high number and patronsneed to put more effort to filter required sources. Patrons can be used other searching fields like title, author, ISBN to obtain required information with minimum effort. Hence, librarians must design user training programs to emphasize the importance and ways of using different types of search fields to obtain specific search results effectively and efficiently.