Current Situation
The aim of the study is to provide meaningful background information on the evolving library systems market in India, with a view to improve the user experience of a library user.
The key finding of the survey was a strong call from the libraries for the integration of system services for end users. A seamless, easy-to-use service which utilizes both local and networked information sources is required. Traditional library housekeeping functionality is no longer an issue for the libraries – they believe new systems development should be concentrated on the more effective provision of information to the end user.
The libraries were not generally constrained in their implementation of the systems which they require by lack of finance, but rather by the lack of technologically advanced systems in the marketplace.
The Library Survey was designed to determine the library’s current use of technology, and how much it cost them, together with their view of the library market in general. It then goes on to discuss the likely future needs of libraries that can be met by the use of technology.
Process
The first stage of the study involved an investigation into the types of Library systems that exist and the factors that govern the type of users to the library . Consideration was also given to the extent to which general, non-library specific, technological developments could be used to meet current and future library requirements.
1. National Institute of Design Library
2. IIM, Ahmedabad Library
3. British School Library
The following categories of libraries were contacted in order to provide a range of results.:
- public; university;
- small academic;
- government department;
- commercial;
- national.
The selection criteria was not not limited to that they should be relatively advanced and forward thinking.
Indentifying the key players / users of the library. The freqency with which they access the books and the ways they did so.
Contextual inquiry was conducted to see real users accessing books in the library and understanding the problems they face.
Interviews were conducted with the librarians to understand their need of using the library system.
At the end of analysis a series of suggestion were made which related to not only smaller navigational issues but the system as a whole and presented as series of scenario sketches
