Library Management System

Introduction
Management is an organized group activity which is a vital aspect of the economic life of
man [2]. A central developing and controlling system is indispensable for any
organization. With the introduction of IT (Information Technology) Management System has
taken a huge leap over a past few decades. Management may also be defined as a planned and
integrated system for gathering relevant data, converting it in to right information and
supplying the same to the concerned executives [1]. In present era time is considered as
money, so in order to integrate the multiple processes happening simultaneously there is a
need of a centralized system for every organization, even a Library.

The purpose of this project is to develop an application for automation of the Library
processes using object oriented programming which is more efficient and easier to handle
and obviously more secure than the previously used manually operated System.

Problems in Brief
Even though many automated Library systems are present many library systems are operated
manually by group of people. In such situations though many people are involved in the
processes of managing the library, the problems that exist are:

 Fast report generation is not possible.

 Information about books and members can be lost due to fire or accidents as it
is paper based.
 Update of the information of book is difficult and time consuming
 Add/Delete of book is difficult
 Tracing a book is difficult.
 Information about issue/return of the books is not properly maintained.
 No central database can be created as information is not available in database.
 Cost efficiency is lacking as hand keeping large amount of maintenance
workers may cost a lot.

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Manual record keeping is also not a reliable method as people tend to forget things. On the
borrower’s point of view, in manual system borrower can’t find a book exactly at once as
they are not ordered well. Sometimes user might be searching for a book that is not available
in the library in such situations people get annoyed or depressed. Therefore there should be a
reliable way to manage the library system.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this project is to develop an application which is more efficient and easier to
handle and obviously more secure than the previously used manually operated paper based
system. Less managing personnel & easy searching availability & user profile managing are
major goals in this project.

Objectives
Develop a system that can replace the manual library managing system.
Develop a database which stores user details & book details.
Give reliable and efficient search facility for the users.
Administrator, librarian & users should have separate logins.
Create an easy to understand user friendly environment.
Develop the system documentation with detailed UML specifications.

This project gives us the complete information about the library. We can enter the record of
new books and retrieve the details of books available in the library. We can issue the books to
the students and maintain their records and can also check how many books are issued and
stock available in the library. In this project we can maintain the late fine of students who
returns the issued books after the due date.

Research method
Research is a process of investigating, examining of a subject and taking in
consideration a different point of view. Research method is an organized and systematic
way of finding answers to questions. There are many ways to get information. The most
common research methods are: literature searches, talking with people, focus groups,
observation, personal interviews, telephone, mail, email, and internet.

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Qualitative research method

Qualitative research seeks to provide understanding of human experience, perceptions,

motivations, intentions, and behaviours based on description and observation and
utilizing a naturalistic interpretative approach to a subject and its contextual setting [4].
It takes a subjective approach and Qualitative data provides depth and detail
information through directs quotation and careful description of situations, events,
interactions and observed behaviours [5].

Quantitative Research Method

Quantitative research tends to focus on measurement and proof. This research adopts a’
scientific and objective approach’. It is based on the principle that something is
meaningful only if it can be observed and counted. Quantitative methods have their aim
in dividing into clearly defined parts, or variables.

For the purpose of data collection for the project, visit to different Public libraries and
consultation with the Librarian of OCL have been planned. Questioners will be
prepared and distributed to different libraries and their members for the process of
requirement gathering. If needed personal interviews can also be done.

Proposed system provides with following solutions:

 Provides convenient and efficient service to members.

 Reduce the workload of employee.
 Easy Update and Delete facility.
 Faster retrieval of information about the desired book.
 Provide proper monitoring reduce paper work and improve data security
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Types of Users in the Proposed Library Management System:

 Administrator
 Librarian
 Borrower

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Borrower/Student can
 Search for a book – by Title, Author Name and Category.
 View the user details regarding books taken and fines due.

Administrator can
 Maintain book information – change book details and add/delete books
 Maintain database
 View user details
 Maintain user details – change user details and add/delete Users

Librarian can
 Issue books
 Return books
 View User Details
 View Book Details

Action plan and Schedule for the Project

The project will be carried out according to the schedule; the planned time-table is as follows:

Start Date End Date Duration Task

8/8/2010 22/8/2010 14 days Topic selection and Proposal Preparation

23/8/2010 23/8/2010 1 day Proposal Submission

24/8/2010 30/8/2010 7 days Analysis and Design

31/8/2010 20/09/2010 21 days Coding, Testing and Documentation

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Resources Required:
 A computer with minimum of 512 MB of RAM
 Microsoft Windows XP/Vista installation.
 Microsoft Visual Studio 8 or Higher.
 Microsoft SQL server 2000 Personal Edition
 Microsoft Office Package

Bibliographies:
1. Management-Hub.com (2010), Various Advantages of Information Management
Systems, Available: http://www.management-hub.com/information-management-
advantages.html.
Last accessed 10 August 2010.

2. Rauf,T (2010). Principles of Management Lecture Notes for MBA.

Available:http://www.scribd.com/doc/30457447/Principles-of-Management-
Lecture-Notes-for-MBA.
Last accessed 10 August 2010

3. Brigham Young University (2010), Definition of Research, Available:

http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/researchmethods/RM_1_01.html. Last
accessed 16 August 2010.

4. Morrison,W and Gilbert,A. (2010). Data-Driven Decision Making, Available:

www.iacac.org/conference/2009/.../B8_Data_Driven_Decision_Making.ppt. Last
accessed 16 August 2010.

5. Labuschagne,A . (June 2003). Qualitative Research - Airy Fairy or Fundamental? ,

Available: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR8-1/labuschagne.pdf. Last accessed 16
August 2010.