Training of Librarians of Western Region on Open Source Library Automation Software (KOHA)

Abstract

To strengthen the academic system of any country it is inevitable to have a meaningful library set up with all academic institutions. The role of such academic libraries must to support the teaching learning environment with the institution they are attached to. In no way these libraries can contribute in the progress of the curriculum transactions unless equipped with latest technologies. Particularly in the digital age when demands come from the society to serve information through digital medium, computerization of libraries should be in top priority. But problem comes as a matter of budget involvement in the procurement of library automation software, which are not normally in the affordable range of any small educational institution. As a matter of privilege some open source library automation software are freely available in the Internet that are downloadable and customizable at end users point. Among the lot of open source Integrated Library Management Software (ILMS) the KOHA (no full form) is the most popular and widely used one. The present training programme is meant to provide practical exposure to the librarians on KOHA with hands on practice for the following reasons: Firstly, the demands were received from the states like Gujarat, Maharastra, Goa, MP and Chhatishgarh for providing training to their school and other institute librarians on Open Source Library Automation Software. Secondly, according to NCF-2005 the school library should be conceptualised as an intellectual space where teachers, children and members of the community can expect to find the means to deepen their knowledge and imagination. Further, it emphasises that a school library should provide access to new Information Technology, apart from books and magazines, to enable children and teachers to connect with the wider world. Training of teachers in library management and use is required to meet the demands of this situation. The notion behind the above statements in the NCF is to modernise the school library to the extent that students and teachers can access and use the information available inside the library as well as outside all across the world. To achieve this objective, the school library need to be automated first and then further developments can be taken place in libraries.