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Issues in Library Automation
Issues in Library Automation
Library automation can be defined simply as the use of computer and networking technologies in
the library.
"The greatest marvel of technology is that if it breaks down, we can fix it; if it has flaws, we can
debug it; if it doesn't work at all, we can ignore it; and if it works well , we can make it work
better. No one has as yet figured out a way to debug the human factor. It is the most
complicated aspect of any technological system, yet it's the one that gets the least attention, is
least discussed, the least researched, and perhaps the least understood." -- Fine (1982, p. 209).
In Information technology : critical choices for library decision makers / edited by Allen Kent
and Thomas J. Galvin. New York : M. Dekker, 1982.
Teacher Librarian
Principal and Supervisors
IT Coordinator and Staff
Library Staff
Teachers
Students
Resistance to changes
Loss of control; uncertainty; more work; concerns about future competence; disruptions
of other plans and works; loss of status; etc.
Automation Costs
Risks in Automation
Loss of commitment
Vendor viability
Support of higher-level administrators
Computer center support
Inadequate resources
Organizational changes
Staff attitudes
Patron attitudes
Planning is time-consuming, but it is usually cost-effective because time spent planning reduces
the amount of time required for system implementation. Steps involved are:
Designing specifications
Preparing and distributing the Request for Proposal (RFP)
Contract negotiations
Hardware and software installation
Training
Automation Options