Reengineering Library Services with
Emerging Technologies
BY
Devashri Shastri * and Pradipsinh Chudasma**
*Librarian, Aadhrshila Knowledge Valley, Gandhinagar
** Library Assistant, Institute of Technology, Nirma University
Date: March 21-23, 2013.
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Objectives:
To understand and analyze structure and utility value of new
technologies in the library scenario.
To find out technological challenges and areas of application
of emerging technology in the automated library system.
To evaluate application of technological services with their
advantages and disadvantages.
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 INTRODUCTION:
Libraries and Information centers have to evolve
measures continuously to keep up with the changing
requirements of their patrons. The father of library science
in India, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan’ s philosophy reflects “Right
information” to the “Right user” in a “Right Personal way” at
a “Right time” in his pioneer work “Five Laws of Library
Science.” Due to information explosion and information
pollution knowledge professionals and librarians are facing
many challenges. ICT, Internet and library automation
softwares made it possible for users to locate what they
want without going to library and fulfill their needs.
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE LIBRARY
SCENARIO:
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MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
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CLOUD COMPUTING
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GIS (Geographic Information System)
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INTERNET BASED LIBRARY SERVICES
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DIGITAL REFERENCE SERVICE:
SYNCHRONOUS REFERENCE SERVICE
ASYNCHRONOUS REFERENCE SERVICE
CONSORTIA BASED SERVICES
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APPLICATION OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN
LIBRARY SCENARIO
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MOBILE BASED LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES:
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User orientation programmes
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Upcoming Events
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Information literacy programs
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New Arrivals / Book Reservation
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Circulate significant circulars of library and institute
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Renewals notification alert
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Due and overdue documents messages
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OCLC Released it
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LIBRARY AND MOBILE TECHNOLOGY:
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APPLICATION OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN
THE LIBRARY SCENARIO
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CLOUD COMPUTING AND LIBRARY:
• Definition of Cloud Computing:
Cloud is a virtualization of resources and services
that maintains itself and in cloud computing,
distributed, grid and utility computing combined to
perform functions with dynamically changing
requirements. Resources like software, hardware and
platform are provided on demand as well as it is a
secure, reliable data storage center.
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CLOUD SERVICE MODEL :
 Platform as a Service (PaaS)
 Software as a Service (SaaS)
 Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
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PLATFORM AS A SERVICE (PAAS)
• Build web-applications and deploy application without
installing any tool or their system
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advantage: Simplified deployment, lower risk, pay-peruse model and scalability
Disadvantage: some applications are local and some
are in cloud so increased complexity
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SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SAAS)
 Benefits:
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Install, run and maintain software
Service delivered through the browser and no expert
team is required
Provide this service by downloading the application for
customers
Host the application on the web server either on contract
basis or on the basis of license agreements.
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INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE (IAAS)
Libraries can share hardware and other
computing resources, so the cost of server and
maintenance will be saved.
Examples of IaaS providers :

ServePath’s GoGrid
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Skytap’s Skytap virtual lab
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3 tera’s
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Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud
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AT &T, IBM & Unisys, Gni’s GNi Dedicated
Hosting, and IBM’s Computing on Demand
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CLOUD COMPUTING FEATURES:
 cost-effectiveness
 security
 scalability
 versatility
 virtualization
 user-friendliness
 scalability and resource optimization
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CLOUD BASED SERVICES
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Google Apps Service
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World Wide Web
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RSS Feeds
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Remote Access Facility
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Collaborating online Databases
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Collaborative Virtual Reference Service (CVRS)
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IM, IR, Online Streaming, Blogs, Wikis
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PROBLEM SOLVED BY CLOUD COMPUTING:
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IT infrastructure
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Shortage of I. T. experts
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Financial problems
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Data integrity
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Upgrade and Maintenance
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Intellectual Property Rights Management related issues
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Backups
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APPLICATION OF GIS SOFTWARE IN LIBRARY
SCENARIO
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
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Tomlinson (1998), the leader of Canadian Geographic
Information System, coined the term ‘Geographic
Information System’ in the early 1960s to refer to any
computer application that perform functions with geospatial
data (data related to space).
•
1960 – 70s Innovation
First GIS – Canada Land Inventory
DIME US Bureau of Census
Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics
Major vendors started (e.g. ESRI, Intergraph)
Landsat satellite launched
Key academic conferences (e.g. AutoCarto)
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DEFINITION OF GIS:
 A Geographical Information System is a tool, which can
accept large volumes of spatial data derived from a variety
of sources, retrieve, manipulate, analyze and display them
according to user-defined specifications.
 It brings together the ideas developed in various fields such
as Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Mathematics,
Surveying, Economics, Agriculture and Geography to name
a few.
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SELECTED DEFINITIONS OF GIS:
Aronoff (1989) - Any manual or computer based set of procedures used to
store and manipulate geographically referenced data
Dueker (1979) - A special case of information systems where the
database consists of observations on spatially distributed features,
activities, or events, which are definable in space as points, lines, or areas.
A GIS manipulates data about these points, lines and areas to retrieve
data for adhoc queries and analyses.
DoE (1987) - A system for capturing, storing, checking, manipulating,
analyzing and displaying data which are spatially referenced to the Earth.
Carter (1989) - An institutional entity, reflecting an organizational structure
that integrates technology with a database, expertise and continuing
financial support over time.
Parker (1988) - An information technology which stores, analyses, and
displays both spatial and non-spatial data.
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Geographic Information System consists of:
 GIS is Organized collection of
Software
People
 Hardware
Data
 Software
 People
Network
 Data
Procedures
 Network
 Procedures
Hardware
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•
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Key Components of GIS:
Hardware
High end workstations to desktop systems
Software
Geo processing engine of GIS
Major Functions – collect, store, process, manage,
analyse and presentation of data.
GIS data base (spatial and related data)
Live ware
People are responsible for designing,
implementation and using GIS
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WHERE IS A GIS FROM ?

Geography, Cartography

Remote Sensing and space technology
 Computer Aided Design (CAD) and computer
graphics

Surveying and photogrammetry
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TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS:
 Transaction Processing Systems
 Decision Support System (DSS)
GIS belongs to second type that is Decision
Support System (DSS), used for resource planning,
data manipulation, analysis and formation of
modeling to provide guidance to decision makers.
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SPECIAL FEATURES OF GIS:
GIS basically handles two kinds of data:
Spatial data also referred as geographic co-ordinate
data (records point, line, area) and another is,
Attribute data, information related with particular
geographical feature.
It is Multidimensional and Voluminous.
Requires projection to flat surface and use unique
analysis methods.
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•
•
Analyses require data integration and data updates are
expensive and time consuming, GIS can solve this
problem.
Map displays require fast data retrieval.
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GIS industry is worth around $13 billion:
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Software
•
Services
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Data
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Publishing
•
Education
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•
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Global Positioning System (GPS) and GIS:
Contribution of GPS to the development of
bases is very significant.
GIS data
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite based
navigation and surveying system for determining precise
position and time using radio signals from satellites in
real time or in post processing mode. Mainly GPS is
used for determining the coordinates of important
geographical features, precise cadastral surveys, vehicle
navigation and on highways using GPS-GIS integrated
systems.
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GIS SOFTWARE CLASSIFICATION:
Type
Software
Type ofof
Software
SystemSystem
Professional
Professional
Desktop
Desktop
Hand-held
Hand-held
Component
Component
Viewer
Viewer
Internet
Internet
0
0
1000000
2000000
1000000 Users
2000000
3000000
3000000
Users
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POPULAR PROPRIETARY GIS SOFTWARES:
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Esri– Products include ArcView 3.x, ArcGIS, ArcSDE,
ArcIMS, ArcWeb services and ArcGIS Server.
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IGiS
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MapInfo
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Intergraph
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Autodesk
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SuperMap Inc.
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SOME POPULAR FOSS GIS SOFTWARES:
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TerraView
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TatukGIS
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GRASS GIS
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SAGA GIS
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Quantum GIS (QGIS)
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uDig
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JUMP GIS / OpenJUMP ((Open) Java Unified Mapping
Platform) –The desktop GISs, OpenJUMP, SkyJUMP,
deeJUMP and Kosmo all emerged from JUMP.
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FOSS SOFTWARE
PLATFORM & FEATURES
TerraView
Windows, Linux, Handles vector and raster
data stored in a relational or geo-relational
database, i.e. a frontend for TerraLib.
TatukGIS
Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8 and Server 2003,
2008 & 2012). System requirements same
as for the Windows operating system
MapWindow GIS
Windows, Free desktop application and
programming component.
GRASS GIS
Windows, Max OS X, Linux, BSD, Unix,
Originally developed by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers: a complete GIS.
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FOSS SOFTWARE
PLATFORM & FEATURES
SAGA GIS (System for
Automated Geoscientific
Analysis)
Windows, Linux, Free BSD, A hybrid GIS
software, has a unique Application
Programming Interface (API) and a fast
growing set of geoscientific methods, bundled
in exchangeable Module Libraries.
Quantum GIS (QGIS)
Runs on LINUX, UNIX, Mac OS X and
Windows.
uDig
LINUX, UNIX, Mac OS X and Windows, API
and source code (Java) available
JUMP GIS / Open JUMP
((Open) Java Unified
Mapping Platform) -
JAVA base, The desktop GISs, OpenJUMP,
SkyJUMP, deeJUMP and Kosmo all emerged
from JUMP.
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GIS TECHNOLOGY AND LIBRARY:
 The significant steps involved in application of GIS in
libraries are drawing library building map, floor maps
and designing the database, developers can take
help of AutoCAD for preparing accurate architectural
layout of library building.
 For a multi-storied library building GIS technology
can be applied. Nowadays Global Position Systems
(GPS) and web-based mapping applications like
Google Maps are also play active role, LIS research
will also continue to organize and disseminate
geospatial data.
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
AREAS OF APPLICATION OF GIS IN THE LIBRARY:
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USER EDUCATION
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SYSTEMATIC SHELVING MODEL
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DETAILS ABOUT LOCATION OF LIBRARY USERS
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MAPPING OF BOOK SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS
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ASSISTS TO FIND LOCATION OF PARTICULAR DOCUMENT
ON RACK THROUGH MAP
FORM VIRTUAL LIBRARY NETWORK
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Advantages of FOSS GIS:
One can visualized information spatially using map and
images, not only a bunch of data inside table.
Good support of open standards and unrestricted use of
the software.
Customization at API level.
No loss of support to a particular programming language,
source codes freely Available.
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FOSS GIS Disadvantages:
Know-how on installing the software may be needed, but with
some time spend on the net plenty of advice will be available.
FOSS GIS have some limitations while compared with powerful
proprietary GIS softwares (proprietary GIS softwares are coastly)
such as ArcView or ArcGIS especially FOSS GIS are unable to
create automating labeling and usually proprietary softwares are
better in terms of support for various projection, navigation and
coordinating systems.
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Training costs may be high
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New projects may have initial starting troubles
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Application of GIS in library is resource intensive as well as too
much amount of data needed to enter in the beginning.
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LIBRARY MAP FROM ARC VIEW GIS 3.2:
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Image of library books - status using GIS :
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 INTERNET
BASED INFORMATION SERVICES AND
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT:
 Search Engines : Alta Vista, Hot Bot, Lycos, Infoseek,
Excite…
 Multithread Search Engines: Metacrawler and Dogpile
 E-resources : E-books, e-Journals, IR, Information
Portals
 Subject Directories
 Listeserves
 Webinars
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LIBRARY AUTOMATION:
 LMS: Koha, NewGenLib, OpenBiblio, Evergreen,
PhpmyLibrary, GNU Library Management
System and Libsys
 CMS : Drupal, Jumala, Wordpress, Mambo,
Typo3
 IR : Dspace, Fedora Commons, CDSware,
Eprint, Ganesha, XTF, VuDL
 Synchronous Digital Reference Services
 Asynchronous Digital Reference Services
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INFORMATION MANAGEMENT:
• Blogs
• Tagging
• Folksonomy
• Podcast
Prove useful for creating, sharing and distributing
information in library scenario.
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Role of Consortia:
Some significant consortia in India are:
Government funded consortium (National Knowledge
Resource Consortium), INDEST-AICTE consortium (open
consortia, funded by MHRD), UGC-INFONET (funded by
UGC), CeRA, HELINET, ERMED consortium and many
voluntary consortia like FORSA. IIM Libraries…
There is need to emphasis conference papers, research
articles etc. along with other e-journals and e-books.
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 Conclusion:
 With the help of technological advances, library and
knowledge professionals need to redesign library
services to support learning, teaching, research, and
other developmental activities.
 To provide virtual and digital library services via
technologies such as Cloud computing and GIS, high
bandwidth is required so country wide strong I. T.
infrastructure is pre-requisite.
 GIS platform in the library opens many new gateways and
provides several opportunities to the libraries for
contributing their share in planning and decision making
in the area of handling geographic information,
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which they did not avail earlier. The system is quiet
expensive, especially the GIS software. But, nowadays
there's development of open source GIS that able to
overcome this problem.
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