Project Abstract

Abstract
The automation of academic libraries has become a prevalent trend in recent years, as institutions seek to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their library services. This research project aims to investigate the impact of automation on academic libraries, focusing on various aspects such as user experience, library staff roles, resource management, and overall library operations. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights gathered through interviews and surveys. The research will examine how automation technologies, including library management systems, self-checkout machines, and electronic resource management tools, have transformed the way users interact with library services. By analyzing user feedback and usage data, the study will evaluate the extent to which automation has improved accessibility, convenience, and satisfaction among library patrons. Additionally, the research will assess the challenges and limitations of automation in addressing the diverse needs of library users, particularly in academic settings where research and academic support are critical functions of the library. Furthermore, the project will explore the impact of automation on library staff roles and responsibilities. By conducting interviews with library personnel, the research will investigate how automation has influenced the day-to-day tasks of librarians and support staff. This analysis will provide insights into the changing skill sets and training needs of library professionals in the context of an automated library environment. Moreover, the study will evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks of automation in terms of staff productivity, job satisfaction, and professional development opportunities. In addition to user experience and staff perspectives, the research will examine the implications of automation on resource management in academic libraries. Through an analysis of circulation data, collection usage metrics, and budget allocations, the study will assess the impact of automation on collection development strategies, cataloging processes, and inventory management practices. By comparing pre- and post-automation data, the research aims to identify trends and patterns that illustrate the effectiveness of automation in optimizing library resources and services. Overall, this research project seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the impact of automation on academic libraries. By exploring the perspectives of users, staff, and library administrators, the study aims to provide valuable insights into the benefits, challenges, and future directions of library automation in the context of higher education.

Project 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.