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.
1
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.
2
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.
3
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE LIBRARY SCENARIO:
MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
CLOUD COMPUTING
GIS (Geographic Information System)
INTERNET BASED LIBRARY SERVICES
DIGITAL REFERENCE SERVICE: SYNCHRONOUS REFERENCE SERVICE ASYNCHRONOUS REFERENCE SERVICE
CONSORTIA BASED SERVICES
4
5
APPLICATION OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN LIBRARY SCENARIO
MOBILE BASED LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES:User orientation programmes
Upcoming Events
Information literacy programs
New Arrivals / Book Reservation
Circulate significant circulars of library and institute
Renewals notification alert
Due and overdue documents messages
OCLC Released it
6
LIBRARY AND MOBILE TECHNOLOGY:
7
APPLICATION OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN THE LIBRARY SCENARIO
8
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.
9
CLOUD SERVICE MODEL :
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
10
PLATFORM AS A SERVICE (PAAS)
• Build web-applications and deploy application without installing any tool or their system
advantage: Simplified deployment, lower risk, pay-per-use model and scalability
Disadvantage: some applications are local and some are in cloud so increased complexity
11
SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SAAS)
Benefits:
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.
12
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
Skytap’s Skytap virtual lab
3 tera’s
Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud
AT &T, IBM & Unisys, Gni’s GNi Dedicated Hosting, and IBM’s Computing on Demand
13
CLOUD COMPUTING FEATURES:
cost-effectiveness
security
scalability
versatility
virtualization
user-friendliness
scalability and resource optimization14
CLOUD BASED SERVICES
Google Apps Service
World Wide Web
RSS Feeds
Remote Access Facility
Collaborating online Databases
Collaborative Virtual Reference Service (CVRS)
IM, IR, Online Streaming, Blogs, Wikis
15
PROBLEM SOLVED BY CLOUD COMPUTING:
IT infrastructure
Shortage of I. T. experts
Financial problems
Data integrity
Upgrade and Maintenance
Intellectual Property Rights Management related issues
Backups
16
APPLICATION OF GIS SOFTWARE IN LIBRARY SCENARIO
17
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)
18
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.
19
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.
Geographic Information System consists of:
GIS is Organized collection of
Hardware
Software
People
Data
Network
Procedures
PeopleSoftware
Data
Procedures
Hardware
Network
21
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
22
WHERE IS A GIS FROM ?
Geography, Cartography
Remote Sensing and space technology
Computer Aided Design (CAD) and computer
graphics
Surveying and photogrammetry
23
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.
24
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.
25
26
• Analyses require data integration and data updates are expensive and time consuming, GIS can solve this problem.
• Map displays require fast data retrieval.
GIS industry is worth around $13 billion:
Software
• Services
• Data
• Publishing
• Education
27
Global Positioning System (GPS) and GIS: • Contribution of GPS to the development of GIS data
bases is very significant.
• 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.
28
0 1000000 2000000 3000000
Users
Internet
Viewer
Component
Hand-held
Desktop
Professional
Type of Software System
GIS SOFTWARE CLASSIFICATION:
0 1000000 2000000 3000000
Internet
Viewer
Component
Hand-held
Desktop
Professional
Users
Type of Software System
29
POPULAR PROPRIETARY GIS SOFTWARES:
Esri– Products include ArcView 3.x, ArcGIS, ArcSDE, ArcIMS, ArcWeb services and ArcGIS Server. IGiS
MapInfo
Intergraph
Autodesk
SuperMap Inc.
30
SOME POPULAR FOSS GIS SOFTWARES:
TerraView
TatukGIS
GRASS GIS
SAGA GIS
Quantum GIS (QGIS)
uDig
JUMP GIS / OpenJUMP ((Open) Java Unified Mapping Platform) –The desktop GISs, OpenJUMP, SkyJUMP, deeJUMP and Kosmo all emerged from JUMP.
31
32
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.
33
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.
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.
34
AREAS OF APPLICATION OF GIS IN THE LIBRARY:
USER EDUCATION
SYSTEMATIC SHELVING MODEL
DETAILS ABOUT LOCATION OF LIBRARY USERS
MAPPING OF BOOK SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS
ASSISTS TO FIND LOCATION OF PARTICULAR DOCUMENT ON RACK THROUGH MAP
FORM VIRTUAL LIBRARY NETWORK
35
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.
36
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.
• Training costs may be high
• New projects may have initial starting troubles
• Application of GIS in library is resource intensive as well as too much amount of data needed to enter in the beginning.
37
LIBRARY MAP FROM ARC VIEW GIS 3.2:
38
Image of library books - status using GIS :
39
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
40
LIBRARY AUTOMATION:
41
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
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT:
• Blogs
• Tagging
• Folksonomy
• Podcast
Prove useful for creating, sharing and distributing information in library scenario.
42
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.
43
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,
44
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.
46
