CHAPTER- 2

LIBRARY NETWORKS

Bottom

2.1 LIBRARY NETWORKS : MEANING, NEED & OBJECTIVES

2.1.1 Meaning

2.1.2 Need for Networking

2.1.3 Aims and Objectives of Library Networks

2.2 FUNCTIONS OF LIBRARY NETWORKS

2.3 STRUCTURE OF NETWORKING

2.4 NETWORK TECHNOLOGY: A BRIEF IDEA

2.4.1 Basic Network Architecture/Topology

2.4.2 Hardware Components of a Network

2.4.3 Types of Networks

2.4.4 Network Protocols and Standards

2.4.5 CD-ROMs

2.5 ESSENTIALS & REQUIREMENTS FOR LIBRARY NETWORKING

2.5.1 Hardware and Software Requirements

2.1 LIBRARY NETWORKS : MEANING, NEED & OBJECTIVES

Top

2.1.1 Meaning
The development of sophisticated technologies in computer and communication field
has upset libraries world wide in storing and transmitting information. The computer
and its communication circuits link to other computer or to terminals constituting an
integral information machine. This technology introduced the `Network System’.
When a group of libraries using computers decide to exchange information, a
network is developed. The National Commission on Libraries and Information
Science (NCLIS) in its National Programme Document (1975) defines a network as:

"Two or more libraries and/or other organizations engaged in a common pattern of

information exchange, through communications, for some functional purpose. A
network usually consists of a formal arrangement whereby materials, information and
services provided by a variety of libraries and other organizations are available to all
potential users. Libraries may be in different jurisdictions but agree to serve one
another on the same basis as each serves its own constituents. Computer and
telecommunications may be among the tools used for facilitating communication
among them".

According to Martin:

"A network is a group of individuals or organizations that are interconnected. The

linking must include a communication mechanism, and many network exist for he
express purpose of facilitating certain types of communication among their members.
In the library world, institutions from network primarily to achieve better sharing of
resources – resources consisting of bibliographic information and of collection – and
better services to patrons". It must be emphasized that the particular focus in this
gathering will be on online networks, those using computers and linking members to
the computer resources by means of telecommunication connections.

A library network is a description of an activity which existed before the term itself
was devised. When any two libraries talk to each other, we have the fundamental
condition for networking, that is exchange. When one library provides a service to
another, we have the rudiments of network behavior. Inter-library loan or
bibliographic exchange in any form, is the chief justification of a network.

Networking is a system with a predominant How of service and a reverse flow of

demand. When a librarian asks his neighbour for a book or a citation and his request
is honoured networking begins. Librarians now tend to view a collection as not
merely what they possess in their institution, but all materials they have access to
through photocopying, inter-library loan and reciprocal borrowing privileges.

A typical network (though various models) looks like

Where A, B, C, D, E are participating libraries, the central node (A) has the
responsibility of maintaining and operating the centralized databases. In such
environments, the participating libraries have the obligations to contribute all the
bibliographical data pertaining to their respective collection to the central node. The
libraries may be linked through telephone lines or through satellite depending upon
the situation. In whatever way, they are connected the most important issues in such
a network are related to creation, maintenance, and operation of centralized
databases.

So on the basis of above explanations, we notice that library networks have the
following characteristics:

Data : Bibliographic records (MARC) frequently

Retrieval : Author/title/number (subject) (keyword)

Access : Telecommunication network/Private network/Hard wired network

Users : Librarians (Public)

The above classification shows that library networks have the following features:

 One type of data

 Committed user base
 High Professional needs
 Low end-user needs

Networks enable librarians, faced with clients’ information needs beyond their local
resources, to identify and obtain materials and services for those clients. As we
move increasingly into electronic information era, we see technology and networks
working together to reduce the physical movement of materials.
2.1.2 Need for Networking

Top

As a universal phenomenon, libraries the world over are facing two major problems.
These are:

0. Information explosion
a. Price escalation of library documents
b. Increased cost of library services

The number of publications in various disciplines, especially in Science and

Technology is alarming. It is estimated in the past that the primary source of
literature in the field of Science and Technology is doubling in every 15 years
whereas it now doubling in 10 years. According to UNESCO statistics of World Book
Production, about three lakh books are published every year. The number of learned
journals in the field of science and technology alone has now come to the tune of
60,000 adding at the rate of 1000 journals a year approximately.

Another important problem the librarians/information professionals are facing is the

constant increase in the prices of library documents. Since Indian libraries have to
depend mainly on foreign publications, especially in the case of science and
technology journals they have to face sharp increase in the rates of subscription and
downward changes in the value of rupees. This hydro-headed problems have forced
the librarians and information specialists to cut down the number of journals they
procured to manage the situation within the available resources.

Another problem is increasing cost of library services as costs of library services

have skyrocketed, libraries have realized that through cooperative arrangement
there is the possibility of providing new services whose cost would be spread over
many institutions. The concept of cooperation proves much effective and satisfies
the user needs in a better way.

Thus, we notice in order to find a solution to the problems faced by

libraries/information centers regarding information explosion and costs, library
networks have been established for cooperation and resource sharing among
libraries so that one individual libraries may not feel burdensome while handling vast
amount of information and price escalation of library documents and services.

2.1.3 Aims and Objectives of Library Networks

Top

As we have seen earlier, the basic purpose for creating a network is to provide
information services to member libraries through sharing of resources of the
participating libraries of the network. This may lead to member libraries to depend
more on access to documents held in the other member libraries than on depending
only on their respective collection. The main aims and objectives of library
network are stated as the following:

( i ) To promote resource sharing and co-operation activities among libraries by

providing efficient and reliable means of resource sharing, e.g.

 Inter library loan for maximum use of resources

 Document Delivery Services – providing the copies of the copies of the
document what is not available in their respective libraries
 Manpower training and refresher course facilities – stimulating, promoting and
co-ordinating research and training programme for library staff and network
members
 Access to national and international databases
 Communication link through publication and inter-personal communication.

(ii) To improve resource utilization and service level at the individual libraries by
providing automation facilities in the following areas:

 Acquisition and fund accounting

 Cataloguing – assist member libraries in cataloguing of books, serials, non-
book materials and catalogue production
 Serials control
 Circulation
 User services – implementing electronic services in the libraries for fast
communication of information

(iii) To coordinate efforts for suitable collection development and reduce

unnecessary duplication wherever possible. The purpose is

 To develop collection by mutual cooperation

 To reduce the operational cost of the collection development
 To control the rate of rising cost of the collection development

(iv) To establish referral centres to monitor and facilitate catalogue search and
maintain a central on-line union catalogue of books, serials and non-book materials
of all the participating libraries.

(v) To develop a specialist bibliographic database of books, serials and non-book

materials for search and access.

(vi) To create a database of projects, specialists and institutions for providing online
information services.
(vii) To coordinate with other regional, national and international networks for
exchange of information and documents for the use of libraries and users.

(viii) To evolve standards and uniform guidelines in techniques, methods,

procedures, hardware and software, services and so on and promote adoption in
actual practice by all libraries, in order to facilitate pooling, sharing and exchanging
resources and facilities towards optimization.

2.2 FUNCTIONS OF LIBRARY NETWORKS

Top

Library Networks have been established with the main purpose of sharing resources
so that unnecessary wastage of limited finance with them can be avoided. However,
not all networks conform to the essential functions of library networks. It is noted that
the essential functions should include the promotion of resource sharing, creation of
resource sharing tools like union catalogues, rationalization of acquisitions and
adoption of international standards for creation of records uniformly and delivery of
documents. Keeping these things in view, functions of a typical library network
might fall into the following three categories:

(i) Information services to users

(ii) Technical services to member libraries

(iii) Management service to the network administration

Information and technical services are goal-oriented, i.e. to fulfill the primary goal of
the network. Functions that serve the users directly, i.e. information services to users
are:

Information services

 Inter-library loan service – it means that each member library may require to
have the facility to photocopy for delivering the documents.

 Reference and Referral – each member library may require the facility of
having dedicated telephone and/or E-mail service.
  Access to databases – to prepare retrospective bibliography for the purpose
of browsing to know whether or not a document is available.

Technical Services

Functions that serve the libraries i.e. the technical services are:

 Co-operative collection development programme

 Technical processing involved in acquisition
 Cataloguing and other means of resources to identify and to locate
documents
 Circulation control system

Management services

The management services, i.e. functions that support the network administration are:

 Establish an operational system that implement the functions mentioned

above
 Evaluation of the networks. This is done through
 collection of statistics
 analysis of performance of the network
 user studies

 Training activities. These are done through

 staff development programmes

 user oriented programmes

 Cost analysis

It involves

 determination of costs, fees to be collected, etc.

 allocation of budgets

 Communication of activities such as

- holding of meetings

- publication of newsletters, etc.

2.3 STRUCTURE OF NETWORKING

Top

The earlier stated functions of a network can be implemented in different models of

networks.

The structure of a network will depend upon the purpose for which libraries use it. A
number of libraries should join the network that offers the facilities to make their
functioning simpler, better and more cost effective. For instance, university libraries
in a state may choose a model which is of totally decentralized type. However, the
affiliated colleges in a university system can be linked to the respective university
library, such a model may be known as distributed type. The public library system
may choose a model of hierarchical type. Special libraries in a city may choose a
model, which is of totally decentralized.

These are three basic anatomical structures, namely:

 Star network
 Hierarchical network
 Distributed network

Star Network

In a star network, one of the members maintains and operates a centralized

bibliographical database. This database consists of all the bibliographical records of
every member libraries. The configuration may be
The node P holds all the bibliographical resources (databases) with all other
members A, B, C, D, E utilizing these resources. It is the obligation of the node P to
maintain and update the databases.

Hierarchical Network

Each member shares resources locally; each participating library at the lower level
passes unsatisfied needs to the participating library which is at the higher level. The
requests remaining unsatisfied are referred to the `library of last resort’ which may be
obliged to check other centres to locate required materials. The configuration is:

Users of the network, members A1, A2, A3, A4 are mostly satisfied with the resources
available in their respective libraries. Unsatisfied requests are passed on to the
higher level resource centre B, finally the few remaining unsatisfied requests are
referred to the library of last resort C which may be obliged to check other centres B 2
and B3 to locate required materials.

Distributed Network
In a totally decentralized model, a type of distributed model, all network members
hold in theory different resources which they may share with one another.

Here all members A, B, C, D, E, have different resources which they share with one
another.

A modified model of a decentralized network looks like

Here A, B, C and D are themselves a network, either to star type or a hierarchical

type.

2.4 NETWORK TECHNOLOGY: A BRIEF IDEA

Top

The world over, library networks and consortia have developed technologies to
facilitate the process of accessing databases, retrieval of information, processing of
interlibrary loan requests and the delivery of documents. So we must have some
idea about the network technology in general – various terms used in the context of
networking, standards, protocols and the software that convert data from one format
to another and the technology relevant to Information and information Service field in
particular.

2.4.1 Basic Network

Architecture/Topology Top

A network’s architecture is the way the data flows within the network. The basic
building blocks of a network are nodes, hubs and backbones

Node -a node is any piece of hardware on the system that can be addressed by a
message from another node, that is, a computer, printer, fax, modems or CD-ROM
drive.

Hub -It is a device that accepts multiple connections. Nodes are connected to it. It,
also known as concentrator, simplifies the wiring of the nodes to each other and
routes signals between the nodes. There are many different types of hubs. Some are
simple hardware devices that only accept connections called passive hubs; others
are complicated electrical components that monitor and control the flow of
information to various network locations called active hubs.

Ring Architecture

It arranges the nodes on the network in a circle. When one of the computers on the
network sends a signal, it passes it to the next node on the network. If it is not
addressed to that node, it is retransmitted to the next node and so on around the
circle until it reaches the node it is addressed to. The connections between
computers are not direct, instead, each computer attaches to a hub and the ring itself
resides inside the hub.

Star Architecture

It has the nodes connected to a central, host, computer when one of the computers
as the network sends a signal, the next routes it to the node it’s addressed to. There
are no direct connections between the nodes on the network except through the host
computer.

Bus Architecture

Bus, or linear, architecture connects all nodes to a single bus much as the
components are organized within the computer. A signal addressed to another node
is sent to the bus. All other nodes on the network examine the signal to see if it is
addressed to one of them. Typically, wires connect each node to the network’s
backbone, which is a fixed length of cable with terminator at both ends to stop
reflections when signals hit the end.
2.4.2 Hardware Components of a Network

Top

(i) Servers

A server on a network is any computer that can shared by other computers working
on the network. In many cases, the server has to be the most powerful computer on
the network, because it is shared among so many users or clients. These clients
(computers) depend on the server for programs and data, or connection to other
computers and devices.

File Server

It stores data files and some application programs. It has large amounts of
secondary storage in the form of hard disks, CD-ROM drives, tape drives and other
storage dievices.

Print Server
It stores print jobs on a hard disk until the printer is ready to handle them.

Communication Server

It can be a fax or modem over which data from any other node can be sent. It can
also be used as a gateway to the Internet.

(ii) Network Interface Card

It is the key component of the network workstation. It serves a number of purposes:

 It makes the physical connection or bridge between the

computer and the network.
 It converts the parallel data on the computer’s bus into
serial data for the network.
 It boosts or amplifies the signal’s strength so it can flow
through the cables.

(iii) Cables

When signals are sent through a hard-wired network, they are sent along a common
set of wires or cables, the network’s circulation system. Three types of cables are
used to connect the devices:-

(a) Twisted Pair

They are the least expensive way to connect computers because the wire is cheap
and easy to install. However, they are relatively slow and have a tendency to pack
up noise that can cause high error rates.

(b) Coaxial

It is the most common type of networking cable. It consists of an inner wire

surrounded by a layer of insulating material that is, in turn, surrounded by a braided
wire. They are more reliable and durable.

(c) Fiber-optic

It connects of the glass or plastic filament, protector by thick plastic padding and an
external plastic sheets. It uses a pulse of laser light instead of an electronic
frequency to transmit a signal. Fibre optic cables are fast and reliable, as well as
small and light. They have an extremely wide bandwidth, so a large number of
signals can be sent simultaneously.

Baseband Cable:

A cable that transmits only one signal is called a baseband cable.

Broadband cable:
This can handle simultaneous transmission of different signals by sending them at
different frequencies. Broadband cables are more expensive and require additional
frequency modulating equipment.

(iv) Network Devices

When signals are sent through a network, they must be sent in the right direction,
and they must also sometimes be amplified so they travel farther or converted so
they can be transferred to a different network. These are the roles of a series of
hardware devices called repeaters, bridges, routers and gateways.

(a) Repeaters (or Physical relays)

They connect segments of a network, and since signals get weaker and less distinct
with distance, these small devices refresh and enhance them before sending them
along. They are usually used to extend the network in effect joining two networks
together by passing a cable signal between them.

(b) Bridges (or Data Link Relays)

They connect networks, which use different physical links. For example, a network
running on twisted pair wires is connected to one using coaxial cable with a bridge.

(c) Routers

They control where messages are sent on networks. The router keeps the addresses
of other nodes in a table. If the address of a message sent through the router is on
the network, the message is forwarded. If the address is not on the network, the
router towards the message to another network by sending it to a gateway.

(d) Gateways

Gateways are used to connect different types of networks. Since two networks may
not share a common protocol, these devices translate each network’s protocol so the
other network can understand the data.

2.4.3 Types of Networks

Top

(i) Client Server Based Networks

In this system, clients are usually computers on the network that are operated by
human beings, making changes to the data files they receive and when these
changes are complete, sending the data back to the file serve for storage.

This arrangement has the virtue of processing efficiently, especially on large

networks with dozens or even hundreds of machines. With the full processing power
of a very powerful computer allocated solely to sending and sorting files, individual
clients are not kept waiting for data and they can process different files with different
software independently of each other.

The only disadvantage with this kind of network is that if file server goes down, the
whole network comes to a halt.

(ii) Peer-to-Peer Network

Each computer has the same potential to access and process data. These types of
networks are called peer-to-peer network. A peer-to-peer network has the virtue of
simplicity in both design and maintenance. It is usually less expensive to set as well.
However, it is also slower and less secure than the client/server network. It is
suitable for smaller organizations with a limited number of computers on the network.

(iii) Complex Networks

A network can be connected to other networks and networks can consist of different
types of machines from different vendors each with its own unique way of handling
electronic information, not directly understood by other machines on the network.
Special software and hardware can be attached to the network to handle this
complicated set up. These devices are called bridges, routes and gateways, perform
in different ways the task of "translating" the electronic information supplied byt one
machine into a format that can be understood by another.

(iv) LAN, MAN, WAN

These networks are classified according to their geographical coverage

(a) LAN – Local Area Network

A network is called Local Area Network if the computers comprising it are located
within the same building or within a distance range less than one kilometer from
each other.

(b) MAN – Metropolitan Area Network

It inter-connects computers within a metropolitan city. Cellular phone networks are a
good example of such networks.

(c) WAN – Wide Area Network

A network is called Wide Area Network if the computers comprising it are distributed
over a large geographical region may be all over the country, all over the world or
any distance range more than 30 kilometer. Parts of the network may be connected
by the cables and other parts by microwave or satellite transmission. Typical wide
area networks are those operated by the telephone companies. The Internet is
probably the widest of all networks in that it links not only LANs but also other
WANS.

2.4.4 Network Protocols and Standards

Top

If computers are to talk to each other, they need an agreed set of rules called
protocols by which they can communicate. The protocols are techniques to govern
the flow of data from one computer to another. For different types of computer to be
able to communicate effectively, standards need to have been set for the periodicals.

(A) Network Standards

These standards may result from international agreement or do facts, from a

particular manufacturer becoming dominant in the networking field. The three most
important bodies involved in setting standards in the field of computer networking are
CCITT, ISO and IEEE.

CCITT (Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique)

International Consultative Committee for Telegraphy and Telephony, are responsible
for the V, X and I standards. The V standards are for data communication over in
Public Switched Telephone Network (PZSTN), e.g. the modem standards V21, V22 of
300/300, 1200/1200, 2900/2900, 1200/75 and 9600/9600 bets per second. The X
standards are for dedicated data communication services e.g. X.25 for packet
switching services and X.400 for messaging. The I standards are for Integrated
Services Digital Networks (ISDN)) e.g. I.400 series specifies the interface between
the user equipments and the network.

ISO, the International Standard Organization, have developed a 7 layer model

known as Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model to describe the way in which
computer networks operate. This model ranges through from the physical
connections at level 1 through the transport protocols at level 4 to end-user
applications at level 7. The purpose of this model is to help develop `open’
standards.
IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, an American body, have
developed and recommended standards for the physical connection of computers. In
the networking field, since 1985 they have developed standard 802.5 for Token Ring
Networks and 802.3 for an Ethernet connection between computers. These
standards have been adopted by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and
ISO.

(B) Protocols controlling data transfer over the network

In the early 1960s when researchers tried to connect computers with each other,
they thought of various techniques to govern the flow of data from one computer to
another. Some of them are:

(i) Netware Core Protocol (NCP)

Developed by Novell Netware, it manages the flow of data between Netware Clients
and File Server for maximum efficiency. It is earliest of the protocol among different
Network protocol to govern the flow of data from one computer to another. It is a
combination of Bits with different portions representing functions to be performed.

(ii) Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

TCP/IP works on the principle of packet switching which involves breaking the data
into small chunks and sending these chunks along the network. TCP devides the
data into small chunks with each chunk not exceeding 546 bytes and pass them to
IP, the next protocol in the transmission process. Each pocket is attached with
information about source and destination; this resulted into many packets flowing
through the same network line with each data pockets reaching its correct
destination.

(iii) Internet work Packet Exchange (IPX)

It handles data verification and addressing responsibilities for flow of data between
different networks, e.g. between Netware Networks and other networks. It adds a
header to the information received from TCP Protocol containing the address of the
destination, then it passes the data to Network Interface Card for transmission.

(iv) Sequenced Packet Exchange (SPX)

It verifies the accuracy of the data by using Network Operating System (NOS). It also
verifies the accuracy of the remote station to which the data is to be sent by
performing some initial communications with the destination workstation. If it gets a
confirmation back from the remote or destination station only then, it sends out the
data, otherwise it reconfirms by sending the repeated communications. If it fails to
get a response from the destination, it issues a notification to the application
programme about the failure of the data transmission.
(C) Standards & Protocols : Library and Information Science Field

Resource sharing technology cannot work effectively unless appropriate tools are
developed. These tools include the creation of standard bibliographic databases
such as union catalogue of books and periodicals, union lists of serials, bibliographic
databases of articles and other types of materials, such as CDs, Video-recordings,
Sound recordings, theses and dissertations. It becomes necessary to use the
methods and tools that help in quick and identification and deliver of documents.
However, the adoption of different bibliographic standards creates incompatibility
problems and that acts as a major barrier in the use of bibliographic and related
information. The standards, protocols and the software that convert data from one
format to another should be of international standard.

(i) Bibliographic Standards

Format compatibilities are necessary for computerized catalogue data and these are
being standardized by the International Standards Organization. ISO 2709 has been
adopted the world over and the efforts to harmonize MARC formats are on. The
Library of Congress and National Library of Canada achieved the result in
harmonizing their MARC formats in 1997. It is hoped that various MARC formats will
also get harmonized in due course.

Maintenance of bibliographic standards uniformly is essential for quick exchange of

records, e.g. Delhi Library Network (DELNET) has adopted the following standards:

 AACR-II. It is widely accepted code for cataloguing. It helps in the creation of

standard records.
 MARC format
 LCSH, Library of Congress Subject Headings. These are used by many
networks and libraries in the world. They are a major guide for creating
subject headings. Other thesauri available on specialized subjects are also
used whenever needed in specialized libraries.
 DDC is commonly used.

Standards have been developed by the International Standards Organization and

National Information Standards Organization of the US besides a number of national
standards organization for creating standard bibliographic and information products.
Some examples are as following:

National Information Standards Series : ISSN 1041-5653

z39.2-1994 - Information Interchange Format

z39.901992 - International Standard Serial Numbering

z39.14-1997 - Guidelines for Abstracts

z39.14-1993 - Guidelines for the Construction, Format and Industry

z39.44-1486 - Serials Holding Statements

The other standards include:

 z39.50-1995 Information Retrieval. Application Service Definition and Protocol

Specification (version 3)
 z39..53-1999 Code for the Representation of Languages for Information
Interchange
 z39.57-1989 (R1995) Holding statements for Non-serials Items
 z39.58-1992 Common Command Language for Online Interactive

Information Retrieval

 z39.63-1989 Interlibrary Loan Data Elements

 z39.64-1989(R1995) East Asian Character Code for Bibliographic use
 ANSI/NISD/ ISO 2108 International Standard Book Numbering (ISBN)
 ANSI/NISO/ISO 9660 Volume and File Structure of CD-ROM for Information
Exchange
 TRO2-1997 Guidelines for Indexes and Related Information Retrieval
Services

(ii) Communication Standards

The effective electronic resource sharing has been hampered by the inability to
interconnect, effectively and economically, many diverse electronic library and
information databases, which exist worldwide. These standards provide the
mechanisms to reduce the existing fragmentation of information and service delivery.

Top

z39.50

z39.50 (ANSI/NISO z39.50-1995 (ISO 23950)) is an American National Standard for

Information Retrieval Prepared by the National Information Standards Organization
(NISO), it defines how one system can cooperate with other systems for the purpose
of searching databases and receiving records. As a network protocol, the z39.50
standard provides a set of rules that govern the formats and procedures for the
exchange of messages between a client and server, enabling the user to search
remote databases, identify records which meet specified criteria and to retrieve some
or all the identified records. It is concerned, in particular, with the search and retrieval
of information in databases. It simplifies the search process and enables uniform
access to a large number of diverse and heterogeneous information sources.

In library networking, z39.50 has assumed greater importance and is the most
important protocol available today. In sum, this protocol:

 Provides a mechanism, using clients server model for

transmitting and managing queries and result sets
  Is a generalized mechanism and can be used for bibliographic,
full text and other types of databases
 Enables the client to perform searches and creates result sets.
The records pertaining to the results can be presented to the
client or used for creating new result sets with other searches
 Conforms to one or more common syntaxes and yet it is not
necessary that he same syntax is shared in all databases.

The methodology for interaction between a client and server is as follows:

1. A client sends an INITIALISE request and server responds with INITIALISE

response.

2. As soon as the session is established, the search request can be made by the
client.

3. The server respects with the search results

4. Only one search result is made at one time and is served.

5. Records are transmitted to the clients as soon as the client makes the PRESENT
request.

There are other facilities like account control, deletion, termination of the session and
enhanced features like sort, browse, ILL, etc.

For libraries, z39.50 could very well provide a single interface allowing libraries to
support a number of different services. Various library applications include

 Reference searching of other system

 Copy cataloguing
 Collection Development and Interlibrary loans
 Virtual libraries : Access to digital collections

In India, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Road, New Delhi has taken the
lead to install the first z39.50 server in India and make to databases available to the
z39.50 clients.

ILL Protocol

The ILL protocol is used to provide just ILL services. Several vendors use it in their
software. In the ILL protocol, the services represent the activities. These services are
such as ILL request, RECEIVED, RETURNED, RENEW, LOST (item requested is
lost) and CANCELLED (cancellation of the request). There are optional messages
such as SHIPPED, RETURNED, RECEIVED and CHECKED-IN. When the requests
are in operation, the messages such as PENDING and IN-PROCESS are used.
These are several other services used by the protocol and they are requested by
messages such as ILL-ANSWER, FORWARD-NOTIFICATION, etc.

The National Library of Canada has developed a protocol for ILL communications in
order to facilitate resource sharing in a networking environment. The protocol has
been designed to encourage software developers and members of the library and
the information community to adopt the protocol and incorporate it into ILL systems.
The protocol is expected to be POST (Open System Interconnection) based and is
able to communicate with all types of hardware, software communication facilities
used. OSI provides interconnectivity and interoperability in order to communicate
with all types of hardware and allow transfer and communication of data among
them. Improvement of interlibrary loan facility through electronic messaging is
possible if we use Open System Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model and
improve the telecommunication infrastructure.

2.4.5 CD-ROMs

Top

The CD-ROMs technology influenced its wider applications in libraries since 1980s
as a major resource of information, which can be used for

 Creating catalogues, bibliographies, union catalogues, full text databases, etc.

 Distributing catalogues among libraries of a network for resource sharing
 Cooperative collection development
 Promoting cooperation among libraries of a network
 Increasing access to resources by users who are at a distance within or
without a country
 Making access user friendly
 Reducing costs of accessing and disseminating information
 Storing large databases at several locations simultaneously for research and
references.

For example, a CD-ROM union catalogue can offer an offline access to the
resources of a library network which is both convenient and inexpensive. When an
online system fails in a participating library, the use of CD-ROM could be proved
very useful. Besides, information stored on CD-ROM attached to one of the
computers on the network, can be accessed by users on another computer on the
network. This is known as CD-ROM networking.

Initially, CD-ROM was distributed on a single workstation configuration, which was

too expensive for the small institutes and information centers. However, introduction
of multi-user and multi-disk CD-ROM system have made cost and sharing of
information more economical for most of the organizations, especially where the
same data or database are required for several users.

2.5 ESSENTIALS & REQUIREMENTS FOR LIBRARY NETWORKING

Top

Since Library Networking is meant to promote and facilitate sharing of resources

available within a group of participating libraries, several factors are to be considered
for planning such on a network. The following are very important:

(i) Member libraries must justify need for a network. The development of a viable
network demands planning not only among the network members but also between
the members and users themselves.

(ii) Member libraries must agree upon a network policy is to be implemented. The
policy must clearly state:

(a) Objectives of the Network- e.g the main objective may be to share the resources
among the member libraries. It may be achieved in several ways, for example,

 Users of the member libraries may be allowed only to refer the

documents in any of the other participating libraries.
 Limited number of periodicals/book may directly by issued to users of
all the member libraries.
 Providing photocopies of the articles/monographs
 Co-operative collection development programmes

(b) Network Structure

Member libraries should adopt that structure of a network, which will fulfill the
purpose for which libraries use it. The lack of arrangement in developing a network
structure undermines both the approach of functions and planning.

(iii) Member libraries must identify the funding agencies and mobilize the resources
in advance. The financial resources must freely flow while implementing the system.
If necessary, network fee may be collected from each of the member libraries. The
examples of library networks in the western countries suggest that all networks
based on a fee structure can be maintained without grant and are viable in the long
run.
(iv) For resource sharing among member libraries, it is necessary to create
bibliographic tools like union catalogues and union lists based on the resources
available in the participating libraries.

Depending on the objectives or type of network model, databases of library

collections should be developed. If the network is of star type, a centralized database
consisting of all the records in all member libraries is necessary. If the network is of
any other type, database for each of the library collections has to be developed
separately.

(v) For the purpose of creating databases, it is essential to agree upon a standard.
All libraries should follow a standard MARC format, AACR-II, a standard thesaurus
like Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) etc. uniformly.

(vi) Although efforts should be made to have one classification scheme in all
participating libraries but use of different numbers should not become a hurdle as
search requests are mostly by authors, titles, editors and subject descriptions.

(vii) Member libraries must agree upon indexing system to be followed. In a

centralized database system (a star network), it is preferable to adopt a single
systems of indexing, i.e. POPSI, chain indexing or any other system. However, in a
decentralized or in a hierarchical system, each library may have a freedom to adopt
an indexing system of their choice. In such cases, the software must be developed to
switch from one database to another database and then one indexing file to another
indexing file while searching.

(viii) For the success of network in a long run, each of the member libraries must
have a policy to automate every function of the library – acquisition, cataloguing,
classification, serials control, circulation, SDI, current awareness services etc. – in
the shortest possible time. This helps the library to have computer culture which is
required to design, develop, maintain and to operate several databases, to reduce
the cost of library operations as well as network operations.

(ix) The major problem in each of the member libraries when attempts are made to
prepare the machine-readable records for the existing catalogue. Prior to creating
such records, one has to identify frequently used and infrequently used documents.
Then prepare the machine-readable catalogue appropriately for the frequently used
documents or alternatively use the existing machine-readable databases by down-
loading from CD-ROMs or from other databases and reformatting them, one can
select the appropriate records for their respective database.

(x) The network should be able to recommend to participating libraries the type of
hardware and software they need for their in-house functions and for networking
purposes. Hardware should be selected considering the number of entries the
participating libraries can generate within the next 3-5 years. The hardware at the
Central Host speed with which participating libraries generate records and the
network pools them into the Central Hose.

The network software may or may not support the in-house operations of the
libraries in the beginning but eventually the network software should not only be able
to create union catalogues or full text databases, etc. but also get integrated with the
in-house operations.

(xi) If there is no adequate trained manpower in each of the member libraries,

attempts should be made to train or/and recruit library personnel.

(xii) In addition to the databases, hardware, software and trained manpower, it is

preferable to have certain communication facilities such as Fax, Telex, Telephone,
etc. as a part of the network system in each of the member libraries for the effective
working of the network. E-mail and INTERNET facilities should be available with the
libraries and they should be able to access international databases, preferably
individually or through the network host to begin with.

(xiii) Inter-libraries loan services should grow and may be interlinked with the search
of the union catalogues. Delivery of documents should be fast, either electronically
through fax or through courier or Mail. Rationalization of acquisitions needs to be
undertaken.

(xiv) The member libraries should be willing partners, ready to buy hardware, etc.
and should be willing to send professional staff for training. They should be willing to
pool bibliographic records to the Central Host of the network besides adhering to
other network obligations.

(xv) A performance criterion should be developed and agreed upon to evaluate the
working of the network.

2.5.1 Hardware and Software Requirements

Top

(a) Hardware Requirements

Each of the member libraries must have at least some of the following hardware.
However, the main library (Central Host) may require most of the hardware
mentioned below, but with additional disk space. Hardware specifications are given
below:
I. Server :

- Pentium @233 MHz with 64 MB RAM

- 1.2 GB HDD
- 32 x CDROM Drive
- 1.44" Floppy Drive
- Color Monitor (SVGA)
- Windows-NT Operating System
- MS-SQL Server 6.5

II. Client :

- Pentium @233 MHz with 32 MB RAM

- 1.2 GB HDD
- 1.44" Floppy Drive
- Colour Monitor (SVGA)
- Windows-98 Operating System

III. Other Hardware

- Fax (with dedicated phone line)

- Modem (with dedicated phone line)

- Telex

- CD-ROM drive

- At least two determine printers

- One letter quality printer (preferably laser printer)

- Cartridge type drive

(b) Software Requirements

Each of the participating libraries must have the following:

- Software for effective network operation as well as the library automation

- DOS (latest version) and/or

- UNIX (latest version, to begin with, it may be optional)

- LAN (Novel/Ethernet, to begin with, it may be optional)

- Software for E-mail (at least PROCOMM)

- Word processors

- DBMS packages

- IR packages CDS/ISIS

- Library automation : Libsys/Granthalaya/any other similar packages

- Programming languages : C/C++

Top

(c) Software Evaluation

Software evaluation is quite often a difficult task. We have to consider the following
procedure, criteria and features to evaluate software packages.

c.1 Procedures for Evaluation

The following procedures may be considered to evaluate software packages:

- Select a software after carefully examining the existing literature

- Examine carefully its literature and documentation

- Compare it with various other packages, keeping in view the following points

 Is it easy to understand?
 Is a separate training required?
 Is it menu driven?
 Can it handle records of variable sizes?
 Is it easy to edit a record?
 Is it difficult to update the files (inserting or deleting
records?)?
 How much memory and hard disk space are
required?

- On-site evaluation

- Post installation service (if the software is corrupted for various reasons, will the
vendor replace it?

c.2 Criteria for Evaluation

Some of the criteria for evaluation of software are::

  Ease of operation
 Quality of documentation
 Hardware limitations
 Speed of operation
 Security in multi-user environment
 De-bugging facility and proper error messages while executing
 Support from vendor

c.3 Features of Software

Some of the important features of software are:

 User friendly
 Provision to on-line interaction, especially while editing
inputting, retrieving and in data management.
 Provision to obtain outputs in various formats
 Compatibility and portability.

(d) Factors to be considered

Finally, one has to consider several factors while acquiring a computer. These are:

 Memory and Storage Capabilities

- memory size

- auxiliary storage devices like tape, disk, cassette, etc.

 Availability of input output devices

- availability of terminal

- speed and capabilities of input and output devices such as the ability to process
lower case letters and special symbols.

 Facilities to extend the memory and input-output devices

 Maintenance facilities provided by the manufacturer
 Compatibility with

- other machines especially with locally available machines

-with main frame computers, which may be available in the parent organization

 Availability, capabilities and portability of software

- availability of computer for popular languages

- capabilities of operating system

- availability of special purpose software are

Therefore, we should take into account various specifications regarding

establishment of a Library Network. The objectives, functions, requirements for
hardware and software and structure of the network sh