Ranking of selected library software packages in India
Authors: Lihitkar R.S. , Lihitkar Shalini R. 
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative study of selected existing library automation software available in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature search was carried out to collect the data regarding library automation, library software. Survey, questionnaire and personal visit to local library software developer, method were used. The questionnaire was designed on the basis of software application, operating system used, hardware requirement and modules provided. These questionnaires were sent to all software developers. On receiving of the ten questionnaires, data were analyzed and tabulated. The last step was report preparation and drawing conclusions.

Findings

It is observed that total ten software provided acquisition, cataloguing, online public access catalog (OPAC), circulation and serial control facility. Only five library softwares provide online facility. Out of ten library software; LibSys is the highly rated one having 37 software features followed by SOUL software having 36 points followed by 35 points of Wolk Soft Tech software. SLIM 21 and SLM+ + has 34 points. It is necessary to improve the quality of software for providing effective services. In circulation, 18 features are added. Out of 18 features, SOUL has all the 18 features and is highly ranked followed by Libman, SLIM 21, SLIM+ +and Wolk Soft tech have 17 point each, respectively. Libtech has 16 circulation features. In the OPAC module, 20 features have been studied. Out of 20 features, Libman has all the 20 features and is highly rated followed by SOUL software, which includes 19 features. Out of 20 features, LibSys has 18 software features. Out of 11 features, LibSys, SLIM 21 and SOUL has all 11 features followed by DELPLUS, Libman and Libtech having ten points each. In serial control, six features are added. Out of six features, I‐Lib, Libman, LibSys, Libtech, SLIM 21, SLIM++, Softlib and SOUL have all the six features followed by four features in DELPLUS, and Wolk Soft tech. The credibility of library software packages is evaluated on the basis of their salient features and the facilities available in the software. On the basis of the salient features, and the facilities provided, the software is ranked by giving points to each facility as per features. SOUL software scored first rank (90 points) among all ten software followed by Libman (84 points) and LibSys (83 points).

Research limitations/implications

In total, 72 library automation software packages have been developed in India. But for this study, ten selected software packages have been chosen on the basis of their usability and implementation to libraries.

Practical implications

After this study, one can enable to evaluate the library automation software packages and ranks them according to their features so that they can implement the particular software for library automation to their own library.

Originality/value

The paper provides a comprehensive picture of features, facilities available and services rendered by various library automation software packages in India. None of the research has been done till now on evaluation of these ten library software in India.