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INTRODUCTION

An integrated online library system, also known as a library management system(LMS), is anenterprise resource planningsystem for alibrary,used to track items owned, orders made, bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed.This is usually comprised of arelational database, software to act on thatdatabase, and twographical user interfaces(one for patrons, one for staff). Mostintegrated online library system separate software functions into discrete programs calledmodules, which are then integrated into a unified interface. Examples of modules include:acquisitions (ordering, receiving, and invoicing materials),cataloging(classifying andindexing materials), circulation (lending materials to patrons and receiving them back),serials(tracking magazine and newspaper holdings), and theOPAC(public interface for users). Each patron and item has a unique ID in the database that allows the integratedonline library system to track its activity.Larger libraries use an integrated online library system to order and acquire,receive and invoice, catalog, circulate, track and shelve materials. Most sizableFirst Worldlibraries use this system. Smaller libraries, such as private homes or non-profit organizationslike churches and synagogues often forego the expense and maintenancerequired to run the system, and instead use alibrary computer system.In order to chose the good integrated online library system we should consider some criteria that can help we to decide to buy the system or not. We must identify thatthe system can give more advantages for the library and the user. The system must alsohave the flexibility to give some options for their user to satisfy the services. It also provides some facilities that can be use by the library. The first criteria in order toselecting integrated online library system.1

1)INDEXING

Almost all library system provides access to basic index types. The example is browse and keyword indexes. A good library system allows staff and users to performmultiple searches or Boolean searching as known as OPAC searching. It helps in guidingto the user in order to search information that they want. Indexing has the ability to getinformation from its source. They can obtain information that is relevant from the sourceswhether the information is emphasized or not.We should find out whether this give the choice for the user in doing selection by prefer some multiple answer for their question. For example through the OPAC searchingwe can find the terms that are related by Keyword, Pattern, Boolean and Leftstring.Besides that we can also find the book that we want by the title, name, subject, year, publisher, place of publisher, ISBN number and call number.The use of this index is to make the access become easier and faster. Such as if theuser chose the keyword to find the book that they want, they just only type the shortkeyword that are related to the title. For example if they want to search the book aboutmanagement, they can just type management in the box that are provided and the systemwill try to search all the book that are related to the keyword. For the use of leftstring theindex will search all the term that are related which is in the leaf position of the book. Theuser can also try to search through the title if they know the title of the book. Beside titlethey can find the book from the subject and also form the publisher.Identify that by using this index it gives advantages in order to satisfy the user need. The staff or the student can use indexing which the OPAC is searching without any barriers. It gives the multiple choices to the user in order to find the book with easily,faster and in systematic way.2

2)TYPES OF USERS

Depend on the types of library. Some libraries might want some kind of flexibilityfor different types of user. There are some categories of library and their have their owntypes of user. Examples of the users are academic staff, students, the expertise, public people, researchers and the visitor from the oversea.For the academic library such as the Tun Abdul Razak library in Uitm Shah Alamis to provide services of reference and lending material appropriate to the need of the staff and students of the institution. So for that they only have several type of user that onlycan use their services. The users are from the student, faculty members, academic staff and non academic staff. The collection and services designed to match the needs of theirsusers. The good integrated online library system should have the flexibility to the types of user in order to give some option to them to access the book. We should find out that thissystem can cooperate with any kind of user and give customize within with specificcondition. This library use more computerized in their services.Some of the library it gives services to all the types of user. The book is availablefor the all kind of people. For example are the children, the teenagers, adult, old people,working person can also access the material in the library. Public library is the library thatserves the entire of community. They give lending and reference services to professionaland non professional. The good integrated online library system can cooperate with anykind of type user. It can give more flexibility in their system and will be accept by anyorganization. Some library do not consider about this system because they only have thelittle amount of user. Usually only the big library and have the biggest role that willselect this integrated online library system.3