Digital Library Management System

Project Title

Digital Library Management System

Project Area of Specialization Information & Communication TechnologyProject Summary

Digital Library Management System (DLMS) is a web-based application for assisting a librarian in managing a book library for any learning Institution. In many institutions of learning in Pakistan, library management has become a problem due to the continued use of manually supported systems (Burke 2007). The institution has been lacking an electronic library management system to properly manage its kinds of literature and relies on a manual catalog system for managing its books and other literature, this process is tedious and time-consuming. This is seen when students queue for a long time to borrow books from a librarian who has to register each student and the book borrowed manually, hence wasting a lot of time. In many cases, these books are never returned due to the lack of a proper tracking system by the library hence the loss of valuable books and other academic materials that are very important to library users.

A web-based library was designed and developed to address the problems faced by the institution. Our system's main target is to develop a computerized system that can accomplish the activities in the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Naushahro Feroze Campus (SBBU NF Campus) by providing easy access to library usage for librarians and users of the library. In this system we provide the features like a registration form, user's dashboard, librarian dashboard, and profile where he can add/update members (these could be students or lectures/teachers), add/update books, add/update categories, add/update author, add/update issue books or modify and delete system and also monitor other activities within the system like the definition of book categories in the system, tracking of members who have not returned the books past due dates, archiving of old or stolen books for the sake of record-keeping, categorization of books by status. i.e. new, old, stolen, damaged books, etc. Additionally, the librarian has the responsibilities of managing members, issuing books and keeping track of what's in the inventory, and managing check-in specifications for the systems based on the client's statement of need.

The motivation to propose a Library Management System for the Campus of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto NF in order to increase the efficiency and manageability of the processes in searching, borrowing, returning, and managing books also to maintain the number and record of books under the care of the Campus librarian. A digitized system was needed on our campus so that's why we chose to make the project in the library so the maximum students can get many benefits from this project and also it's a huge help for the librarian along with the staff and the most important students. after this system, it will create ease for them to get their accounts registered, and also they can issue books without waiting in a queue. the librarian will also feel relaxed because finally the paperwork is dismissed and they have an automated system.

Project Objectives

The objectives of this project are defined as followed and they will be discussed in detail too.

To develop a project titled “Digital Library Management” is developed to maintain the operations done in a library.

Objectives

• Improvement in control and performance

The system is developed to cope with the current issues and problems of the library. The system can add users, validate users, and is bug-free.

• Save cost

After a computerized system is implemented, less human force will be required to maintain the library thus reducing the overall cost.

• Save time

Librarian is able to search records by using a few clicks of the mouse and a few search keywords thus saving his valuable time.

Information Technology has changed the life of human beings and has made lives easier through various kinds of applications. In the light of the rapid changes in the use of Information Technology, there are many tools, technologies, and systems that have been produced and invented. A library is an organized collection of information sources that is made accessible to people. The library usually contains the information physically or in a digitized format. The primary objective of this project is to eliminate the paperwork because its time consuming and not efficient. The world has moved through digitization so it’s obvious we have to take maximum advantage of the latest developments. Another motive is to make the library system automated so the librarian can easily manage the record and he should not have to write in pages but store the data online.

Some other objectives of this project

• Avoid duplication of work
• To improve control over the collection
• To improve the existing services
• To have effective control
• To maintain bibliographical records of all the materials
• To share the resources through library networking
• To provide access to information at a faster rate

In the Library automation system or we can say the digital library system, computers, and other semi-automatic devices are used to automate the database. Computers play an important role in the library automation system, like:

• Speedy processing of information and its retrieval
• Standardization of library procedures
• Flexibility in information search
• Participating in network programmers and resource sharing

• Nowadays library automation systems are increasing day by day with an increase in demand in schools, colleges, universities, and many more places. Here we will discuss the need for library software.

• Increased operational efficiencies of the library staff.
• Improve the quality, speed, and effectiveness of services.
• Facilitate wider access to information for their clients.
• Improve the management of their physical and financial resources.
• Enable participating libraries to resource-sharing activities.
• The whole idea is to get the maximum benefits from the latest technologies along with learning the usage of emerging technologies which will create easiness for us.

Project Implementation Method

During the development of this application, we have gone through many professional techniques like SDLC. It is the lifecycle of software development that is used in the software industry to create and manufacture high-quality, reliable, cost-effective, and time-bound software products. The following are the set of different steps that are followed to ensure that all requirements are met within the least amount of time for the design, coding, and maintenance of this application. These methodologies assist us to produce a quality product on time and efficiently.

 

Database Design:

Database design controls the duplication of data and it is the method of producing a comprehensive data model of a database. The data model consists of all the required conceptual, logical, and physical storage parameters required to create a design in a Data Definition Language (DDL). DDL is used to create a database. A completely attributed data model holds full attributes for each entity. The method of database design usually contains several stages that are supported by database designers. Generally, the designer needs to follow those procedures:

Conceptual Design
The objective of the conceptual design stage is to construct a conceptual model based upon the previously recognized requirements, but nearer to the final physical model. A commonly used conceptual model is known as an Entity-Relationship (ER) model.

Logical Design
The development of logical design includes organizing data into a sequence of logical relationships known as entities and attributes. An entity denotes a piece of information. In a relational database, an entity regularly maps to a table. An attribute is a module of an entity and supports defining the exceptionality of the entity. In a relational database, attribute maps to a column, however entity maps to raw.

Evaluation Method
The system testing process aimed to determine all defects in our project. This program was subjected to a set of test inputs and various observations were made based on these observations it will be decided whether the program behaves as expected or not. Levels of testing.

Unit Testing
In the V-Model, Unit Test Plans (UTPs) are developed in the module design phase. These UTPs are implemented to remove bugs at the code level or unit level.

Integration Testing
Integration Test Plans are implemented in the Architectural Design Period. These tests prove that units formed and verified independently can coexist and communicate among themselves. Test results are shared with the customer's group.

System Testing
System Tests Plans (STP) are developed in System Design Stage. Disparate Unit and Integration Test Plans, STP is composed of the client's business group. System Test certifies that expectations from an application designer are met.

User Acceptance Testing
User Acceptance Test (UAT) strategies are developed in the analysis phase. Test Strategies are composed of business users,

Benefits of the Project

Library automation benefits both the library staff and the users as it reduces the level of job stress on the staff and enhances the remote and timely provision of up-to-date information to the users. Additionally, a digital library management system or automated library system will simply reduce the cost of paper, prevents the wastage of time, and it prevents the loss of books or records. Librarians can easily manage everything with this system. The whole idea is to move through digitization as the world always does. In our area, it was the need of the hour because the student’s faced a lot of difficulties while issuing the books. As they are fresher’s so they have to go through a procedure to fill a form manually. Once this system will be implemented it will be easier for the students to get their selves registered in the library and they can easily issue and return the book. Each student will get a unique ID on the account registration. Another benefit is teachers can easily share their notes on the portal and students can view them at any time. It will create easy for the librarian to add the records of books along with their ISBN number, category, author name, publisher, and so on. Without an automated system, it becomes difficult for the librarian to add and manage the record of each and everything manually and that was not so efficient. Libraries presently are confronted with issues that cut across; geometrically progressive information growth and shrinking space, change in users’ information behavior, means of organizing the flood of information, Cost hike of printed reading materials, and need for resource sharing. The need to overcome these issues and also make the library more efficient and effective in its service delivery makes automation of library services imperative. The traditional method of managing the library is no longer efficient as the use of computers and other technologies are conventionally adopted to enhance services provided by the library. Library automation enhances the speed, productivity, adequacy, and efficiency of the library staff. Time and the manpower that could be expended in performing some technical and readers services routine and clerical tasks such as filing, sorting, duplicating, etc, are conserved when the library is automated. The above-mentioned are some points for library automation.

• Better access to the collection: One can access the collection easily with a systemized database.
•  Save time: It saves time for the user as the database is automated.
•  Easy maintenance: It provides the facility of easy maintenance.
•  Provide report: Report can be generated in this system.
•  Speed up searching: It improves the searching process by advancing the searching option.
•  Better interface with the library users: It provides a better interface to the users.
•  It provides integrated information.
• In short Digital libraries have reduced the burden on librarians as well as students.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

This project is purely based on the PHP language that’s the server-side language and additionally, we have used HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery, and Bootstrap for its design and to make it attractive. For the database, we have used SQL. To test the project whether it works fine or not we have used the Xamp server. To use this project, we have given an admin an account where he can view his profile. There he has access to the dashboard where the admin can change his/her password. In the dashboard, the admin can add/update records of books, categories, author names, and issue books. Moreover, the admin can view and change his profile. Admin can view and edit the registered students. Admin can view the report daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Admin will have registered and approved the request of the students after their biometric by the given device. Later on, we will be providing the bar scanner to the admin from that it will be more effective and easier. Under this system, the details of the books are captured using a bar code scanner which is later stored in a central database. Scanning of bar codes for the books is done both at the time of entering the book in the system and during the time when the book is being lent out. This system is usually implemented by big universities because of its complexity and its being cash-intensive during implementation.

The main components of the automated library system are:

•  Computer System: It is an electronic device that has the ability to accept data, store data, and automatically execute an instruction.
•  Networking Device: It is a device that helps in connecting the system to a network or internet. It includes the various devices that are:
  • Modem
  • LAN
  • WAN
•  Software: It consists of a computer program that instructs the computer to perform any function. This software is helpful in the smooth functioning of the library automation system.
•  Database: A database is essential for keeping all the records of the library.
•  Server: It helps in sharing the various resources of the library with the help of the server.

• This project also uses the Bar Coding System; the details are defined below about how does it work

  A bar-coding system is simply an arrangement of bars that show numbers and letters. when using the Library Management system, each barcode image is programmed to identify the title of the book, author name, item number, volume number, etc. All this information is shown in one barcode with the help of coding.

• To sustain this project, we should have a smartphone or tablet, or computer along with a stable internet connection. For the internet, we have used a wireless controller and also a barcode reader as a beginner in the project. A WLAN is a wireless architecture that aims to meet changing network demands. A WLAN controller manages wireless network access points that allow wireless devices to connect to the network. What a wireless access point does for your network is similar to what an amplifier does for your home stereo.

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry ITOther Industries Education Core Technology Clean TechOther Technologies Cloud InfrastructureSustainable Development Goals Quality EducationRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	80000
WLC	Equipment	1	60000	60000
Bar Code Reader	Equipment	1	10000	10000
Printing	Miscellaneous	10	1000	10000