Library automation system
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A library automation system is a computer system designed to automate tasks in a library.
Such systems primarily host a catalog of the library's collection, replacing the old card catalog once used. Under the card catalog system, several cards may be prepared for each book, to be used in a sorted series of cards by Title, Author and Subject. Each card would also bear a call number, denoting the item's location within the library's collection (for example, according to the Dewey decimal system or other library classification scheme).
Automation of the catalog saves the labor involved in resorting the card catalog, keeping it up-to-date with respect to the collection, etc.
Other tasks automated include checking out and checking in books, generating statistics and reports, acquisitions and subscriptions, indexing journal articles and linking to them, as well as tracking interlibrary loans.
