ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Background of the Study

A library is an organized collection of information sources which is made accessible to the people. The library usually contains the information physically or in a digitized format. In the olden period the access was usually in the library room as the technology grew up the access was made online (Dinesh et al., 2015).

Library is a fast-growing organism. The ancient methods to maintain it are no longer dynamic and efficient. For expeditious retrieval and dissemination of information and better service for the clientele, application of modern techniques has become absolutely indispensable (Neelakandan et al., 2010).

Computer software has played a vital role in book management of library now. Computer software can retrieve books quickly and it also has high effective, long operating life, low costs advantage. It is the information and scientific trend of book management. However, existing large scale library management system used in some small and medium-sized library directly will lead to resources wasting. So, developers adopt a popular software development technology and propose the computerized library stock control solution. System which is designed can be divided into presentation layer, business logic layer and data processing layer. This technology can realize code separation and enhance system maintainability and reusability. In the process of the software development based on software component, component library plays a key role. To retrieve and extract the most satisfying component among the library of components is important in component library stock control (Praveen et al., 2018).

Computerized library stock control system is an application that portraits library system which could be generally small or medium in size. It is used by the librarian to categorically manage the library by the virtue of using a computerized system where he/she can record various transactions like issue of books, return of books, addition of new books, addition of new students etc. (Ashutosh et al., 2011).

1. 2. Statement of the Problem

Presently, transaction of books in the NACEST library have been done manually in most cases, thereby taking more time for transaction like borrowing of books or return of books and also searching of students and books. Series of problems occur as a result of this thereby resulting to inefficient library stock control. In most cases as a result of human error there maybe loss and damages of records due to not using a computerized system in the library. Nevertheless, the difficulty in the searching of books which could be termed to be inadequacy in book Management is a problem in the manual library thereby causing inefficiency and time consuming in the library. Also the problem of space consuming erupts after the number of records become large the space for physical storage of file and records also increases if no computerized system is implemented as well as the issue of cost. Due to problem of lack of prompt information retrieval and time wastage in using the library. In addition due to the cumbersome, in this project computerized approach will be used to solve these problems. Each of the manual procedure will be analyzed and automated.

1. 3. Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this research work is to design and implement a computerized library stock control system that will serve as a repository for storing library materials in NACEST library and also serve as a source where students can borrow books from the school library stock thereby monitoring and controlling the in and out flow of stocks in the library.

The objectives include the following;

1. To review related literatures pointing to computerized library stock control system.
2. Allow the quick and constant availability of library materials in stocks.
3. Enable a proper management of books in the library.
4. Enable a quick and easy search of books in the library stock.
5. Reduce the rate of theft and books damage in the library.

1.4     Significance of the Study

The project computerized library stock control system will aid the school library section to monitor the inflow and outflow of NACEST library stocks, which in turn will reduce theft and lose of stock materials and also ensure easy and efficient access to library materials by students.

1.5     Scope of the Study

This research work covers the design and implementation of a computerized library stock control system for NACEST that will aid students borrow books from the library stock and also help the school Liberian to manage the inflow and outflow of library stocks within the library.

1.6     Limitation of the Study

The researcher faced some limitations during the course of this research. Some of this limitations/constraint includes;

i.        Time constraint: Time factor were also the major factors as the timeframe to submit the project was too short for an extensive research.

ii.       Financial constraint:  Lack of adequate finance to fund the researcher as to visit many places was another major setback.

• 7. Definition of Terms
• Accession Register: A book in which the following information about the book is listed when it is obtained: accession number, title, price and source of supply, date of withdrawal and reason for withdrawal.
• Bibliography: A list of books and articles to be found at the back of many non-fiction books, or at the end of articles in encyclopedia on the same subject.
• Blurb: Blurb tells what the book is about. It is found either in the front, inside flap of the jacket, or on one of the first few pages of the book or on the back cover.
• Book Card: A card kept in the pocket of a book when the book is on the shelf.
• Catalogue: Contain cards with information about each book in the library.
• Cataloguing: The description of each book on to cards as it comes into the library.
• Contents: A list in the front of most books (after the title page) which gives the chapter heading or story titles and their page numbers.
• DELNET: developing library network is an organization promoting resource sharing among libraries through the development of a network of libraries.
• Electronic: This is a device having or operating with components such as microchips and transistors that control and directs electronic currents.
• Library: A library is a curated collection of sources of information and similar resources, selected by experts and made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing, often in a quiet environment conducive to study
• Management: Management is a process of planning, decision making, organizing, leading, motivation and controlling the human resources, financial, physical, and information resources of an organization to reach its goals in an efficient and effective manner.
• OPAC: An online public access catalogue is an online database of materials held by a library or group of libraries. Users search a library catalogue principally to locate books and other material available at a library.
• Stock: The goods or merchandise kept on the premises of a shop or warehouse and available for sale or distribution.
• Technology: This is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.
• Upload: This is simply a process of transferring data or files from peripheral or subordinate system to a larger or more central one, especially from a personal computer to an internet server.