Library automation programme at DU begins haphazardly

Experts concerned said it would take at least one year more to make the programme fully operational.

The 1.11 crore taka project, aimed at computerising the library data systems, was initiated in January 1998 with a fund from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

After five years and three months, the authorities launched the programme without completing the project.

For the automation programme, barcode level of books containing an accession number, borrowers' ID cards for users and data input for the main server are needed, said Khandaker Fazlur Rahman, acting librarian (planning and development) and member-secretary of the library automation programme executive committee while talking to The Daily Star.

To date, barcode levels have been transplanted to only 1,05,700 books out of total 6,00,000 books at two libraries.

The project needs 31,400 digitised borrower's cards, but the authorities could provide only 700 such cards.

"If we get full cooperation from the administration, teachers, students, researchers and implementation team, we hope to complete the project within next one year," said Rahman.

But one high-up at the Central Library requesting anonymity said the project team does not get full co-operation from the administration.

If sufficient manpower and budget are not available the project may end in vain, he added.

The project team lacks automation officers, technicians and office helps resulting delay in finishing the work, officials alleged.

Most of the computers are about ten years old and it is very difficult to work with those obsolete computers as most of the time they remain out of order.

Yearly budget for the project is Tk 3,00,000 which is 'very negligible', said the officials.

"It is not possible to complete the project with current logistic support and manpower on time," Rahman said, adding that the budget should be increased to Tk 7,00,000 a year.

DU Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz inaugurated the automation programme at the Central Library on March 16.

He directed the project team to complete the work as early as possible.

He also assured them of giving all cooperation in this regard.

The automation of the library input system would help about 28,000 students 1,400 teachers and 1,000 researches to have access to any books in a few seconds which under the manual cataloguing system, takes upto two hours in the largest library of the country.

Under the project the users would need digitised borrower's identity card to find books at the library.

After inserting the borrower's ID card into a computerised device, the users would be able to see the catalogue on screen at the library counter.

They would receive the book within a minute after verifying necessary information.

Bibliographical data input has been transplanted to main server of around 1,14,342 English language books published since 1980.

However, most of the students are not aware of the automation programme.

When asked, 12 out of 15 students at the Central Library just gave a blank look in this regard.