Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Automation has become increasingly prevalent in academic libraries, revolutionizing the way information is stored, accessed, and managed. This research project aims to investigate the impact of automation on academic libraries, focusing on its benefits and challenges. The study will explore how automation has enhanced efficiency in library operations, such as cataloging, circulation, and resource management. It will also examine the implications of automation on library staff roles and skills, as well as user experience and satisfaction. Through a comprehensive literature review, this research will analyze the various automation technologies implemented in academic libraries, such as integrated library systems (ILS), RFID technology, and discovery tools. The study will assess how these technologies have transformed traditional library services and improved accessibility to resources for library users. Additionally, the research will investigate the financial implications of automation, including initial investment costs, maintenance expenses, and cost savings achieved through increased efficiency. Furthermore, the project will explore the challenges associated with automation in academic libraries, such as staff resistance to change, data security concerns, and the need for continuous staff training and development. By identifying these challenges, this research aims to provide recommendations for addressing them effectively and maximizing the benefits of automation in academic libraries. The research methodology will involve a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, including surveys, interviews, and data analysis. Library staff, administrators, and users will be involved in the data collection process to gather diverse perspectives on the impact of automation. The findings of this study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on library automation and provide insights for academic libraries looking to implement or improve automation systems. Overall, this research project will shed light on the transformative impact of automation on academic libraries, highlighting both its advantages and limitations. By examining the experiences of libraries that have adopted automation technologies, this study will offer valuable insights for academic institutions seeking to leverage technology to enhance their library services and better meet the needs of their users.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

We use automated library to denote a library in which the collections of library materials are primarily on paper but in which the library procedures have been computerized. Libraries are very record-intensive: Not only is each title different but, for many purposes, the records needed for library operations must necessarily be concerned with individual copies of each title. A circulation system must know precisely which copy of which volume of which edition of which title was borrowed by precisely which borrower and when it is due back. Attributing the loan to some other borrower will not do; nor will substituting the return of some other document, even by the same borrower, be acceptable as a discharge of the loan. Acquisition records need to show precisely how many

copies of a given work were ordered from which bookseller and which, if any, have so far been received. A library not knowing which titles it already has (and in how many copies) could not function efficiently. Serials records contain minute details of copies of issues, indexes, binding, and invoices in order to assure that each set is complete and properly acquired, bound, and paid for. Library records, then, must be specific to individual copies. In general it is desirable that library record-keeping be automated for three reasons:

1. Much of the work involves the accurate updating of records in files. The tasks involved are generally tedious, repetitive, mechanical in nature, and lend themselves to computerization, even though the records may be complex and arranged in complicated ways.

2. Automation is likely to improve cost-effective performance by increasing accuracy, by reducing the rate of increase in costs in labor-intensive activities, and by increasing effectiveness. It should become possible to do some tasks more thoroughly than levels of staffing

usually permit with manual procedures, such as the regular claiming of unsupplied issues of periodicals, or by doing things that cannot in practice be done in paper files, notably searching for combinations of characteristics.