Evaluation | Library Automation

Whenever we make a substantial investment of money, energy and time or other resources, we like to know what kind of return we are getting. The ability to evaluate the return on our investment gives us the basis on which we can choose between alternatives. An evaluation is judgement of worth. Software evaluation is quite a difficult task; we have to consider the following procedures, features and aids to evaluate software packages.

Preliminary Step

Consult other – consult the other library/person that have already used the software or already experienced the software.

The reputation of a person/ institute, his/her experiences on that particular software also be justified at that point.

Reputation of manufacture and vendor – who has developed the software? Whether institution or company or an individual?

Documentation

Existing Literature – carefully read and examines the literature, review of literature, document, and information available on that particular software.

Training – Does the company/authority provide training? Where and how training is conducted? Whether it is online or onsite?

Manual – does the training is provided with print material/ manual? Giving information about how to use software? How it can be customized?

General Features of Library Automation Software:

It should be available on various computer operating system like Linux, Windows, etc. and multiuser environment.

It should handle number of database, information, records effectively.

It has flexibility to handle record in variable sizes.

It should provide various parameters for each module.

Software should have the facility to import and export bibliographic data in ISO2709 Format.

It should provide training and guidance while installing.

Network based software – whether it is web interface able? Whether it supports data security through password? Whether it can be interfaced with email system of the campus network.

Software should be user-friendly.

Software should give effective and reliable result.

Software should permit to add collections.

Software should offer OPAC with basic and advanced search.

It should also give different rights to users, staff, and head.

Cost of the software has also to be taken into account and compared with different software available in the market. If particular software provide good facilities with high cost and other software provides the similar facilities with slightly less cost than later will be preferred. Therefore comparative study of its cost factor should be done while evaluation and before installation.