CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Virtual Library System extends and integrate approaches adopted in

traditional libraries as well as in distributed information systems, to yield

high-end information systems, services and institutions. Here we will

explore some of the parts or components of Virtual libraries and discuss

several of the developments in this emerging field.

Building a comprehensive virtual library system will help users to

manage all phases of the information lifecycle. Of particular importance is

to simplify the authoring and creation process so that wider population can

participate by adding all types of multimedia content directly into virtual

libraries. Downstream access allows readers to benefit from this type of

computer-mediated communication, across time and space. Ultimately, it is

believed that knowledge will be shared and then lead to yet another cycle of

discovery, authoring and utilization that is facilitated by digital libraries.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Times are fast changing; we now live in a jet age which is mainly

characterized by rapid changes in technology, lifestyle and value. This is

indeed an age of information explosion. One of the major inventions that

have driven the world to a fast pace of technological advancement is the

computer. The computer is primarily an electronic information processor

that is rapidly changing the way we acquire, organize, recall, access,

analyze, synthesize and apply information. The effectiveness with which

the information is generated and communicated determines the rate of

progress of a society and the fulfillment of its people. Modern society is

information driven and information today is a universal need. Moreover,

computers have affected the ways which people use information. It has

changed the rate of work done, the method for accomplishing the work

alongside the relationship among the people carrying and using the

information. However, computers and libraries are not left out in the

utilization of computer to carry out their day-to-day activities especially as

it concerns the amount of information generated. Libraries have evolved

over the years which gave rise to digital libraries.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There are numerous problems with the traditional libraries.

These in-adequacies are enumerated below.

1. The users of the traditional library need to go the library physically

which most times could lead to congestion of the library?

2. Inability for the library resources to be accessed 24/7.

 3. The library resources cannot be simultaneously used. It is one at a

time.

4. Traditional libraries are limited by storage space.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The proposed system Virtual Library System has its general

objectives which it is set out to achieve. They are as follows:

1. To create variety of access services for searching, browsing and

discovering resources.

2. To organize and index digital objectives for different purpose which

includes cataloging, finding aids and database.

3. Reduction of loan and acquisition through the use of virtual library.

4. Comprehensive storage of large repository of data that can be

accessed by authorized users.

5. Reduce the cost of maintaining a traditional library.

1.4 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this proposed system has been narrowed. This is

geared towards ensuring that the objectives are achieved.

They are as follows:

 1. Removal of Physical Bounding: Ensure that the users do not always

go to the library physically, but can access library resource once

he/she is connected to the server.

2. Round the Clock Availability: To enable users to be able to gain

access 24/7 to the information.

3. Information Retrieval: To make it easy and convenient for the user

to use any search term (Title OR Authors name) to search the entire

collection, thus providing user-friendly interfaces, and giving

clickable access to its resource.

4. Preservation and Conservation: Provide access to materials that

would otherwise fall to degradation from repeated use.

5. Multiple Access: Ensure that the same resources can be used

simultaneously by a number of persons.

6. Space: Able to provide storage for information digitally by using

little physical space to contain them.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In implementing the objectives of this study, the advantages of a

virtual library over the traditional library are enormous. Users will be able

to access library resource digitally without the inconveniences of users

carrying books, journals, magazines etc. which could result in rapid wear
and tear of this library resource. Besides, it will afford users the

opportunity to access digital books simultaneously without waiting for the

book to be returned to the library. The proposed system will provide

security to help track library resources through the development of a

comprehensive database that will be used to house the library resources.

The system will also eliminate some of the routine manual work prevalent

in a traditional library.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The findings of this research work for the proposed system (virtual

Library System) was carried out in the Federal Polytechnic Bali (FPB) in

their virtual library section. The scope of this study will include the

following:

1. Information indexing/cataloguing.

2. Classification of library resource.

3. Searching and retrieval.

4. Registration of books/uploading of digital resources

5. Registration of users.

6. Database management.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

 This proposed system will not take into consideration audio

collections. It is web based not a standalone delivery system with its own

user file and login ID and password. Also, time constraint during the time

for this project work is short. Financial resources is a limitation encountered

in the course of this research work.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 INTRODUCTION

With the expansion of the World Wide Web, the topic of digital libraries

has become more and more important. Some scholars has numerous

contribution and research work targeted at making the topic digital library

system an educational tool which will help drive learning and academic

research to its grass-root. The research and development of digital libraries

are no easy task. They involve a large number of topics in library,

information and computer sciences such as information indexing, retrieval,

collection development, database management, reference services, human-

computer interaction, interface design, digitalization and preservation,

intellectual property, networking and interoperability.

2.1 EARLY STAGE OF VIRTUAL LIBRARY

 The first virtual library that came into existence was Project

Gutanberg (PG). Project Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and

archive cultural works, to encourage the creation and distribution of

electronic books (Har, Michael, 2004). Most of the items in PG collections

are full text of public domain books. The project tried to make these

resources as free as possible in a form that can be downloaded and used by

any computer. However, the emergence and development of digital libraries

at this stage are driven by two main forces. First, digital technological

development, especially in multimedia and networking, offered more-

efficient and sometimes new ways in information processing and

management. Secondly, people wanted to better share important

information like library materials, scientific in educational and research

materials. Most early “virtual libraries” were various types of digital

collection and information system. Personal information resources,

workgroup and organizational information collections and collaboration

environment are some examples. Edward Fox in his book “virtual Libraries

Overview” offered a detected account of some early projects in the field.

According to his timeline, electronic thesis started as early as 1987 (Edward

Fox, 1992). Libraries were also working towards this direction. Many

libraries started to replace their card catalogue with OPAC systems, and
were beginning to store abstracts and periodicals on CD-ROMs. In 1989,

the World Wide Web project was first proposed and since mid-1993, it

quickly grew at an exponential rate. User could browse and set up a node

on the network to use information on it. It was called by some people the

beginning of a true virtual library. But the web is a library without a card

catalog, and many search tools or services were crude at the early stage.

2.2 BOOMING AGES

High levels of attention and findings were first given to digital libraries in

the early and mid-1990s, which led to a booming era with a large number of

visions and projects. Scholars in the field wanted to find ways to apply or

create technologies in order to better use and share information on the

network systems, which themselves are developing at an amazing speed.

The shared vision is best illustrated in the mission statement of Digital

Library Initiative (DLI). The initiative focus is to drastically advance the

means to collect, store and organize information in digital forms, and make

it available to searching, retrieval and processing via communication

network (Available Research, 1998). Digital Library Initiative (DLI) is the

biggest and the most important digital library research project among all.

2.3 DEVELOPING PERIOD

There is no clear cut between the above era and this period. In many cases

they co-exist. The rapid expansion of the internet and web triggered in

some way, the sudden advances in the research and development in virtual

libraries, and at the same time proposes many questions to researchers.

Since 1995, various kinds of conferences, workshops and forums on digital

libraries were held and articles flooded discussing all kinds of questions

from various perspective and virtual libraries. Recently, virtual Libraries

Initiatives Phase Two is proposed which seeks to provide leadership in

research fundamental to the development of the next generation of virtual

libraries to advance the use and usability of globally distributed networked

information resources and to encourage existing and new communications

to focus on innovative applications area (virtual Libraries Initiative Phase

Two, 1994). We believe virtual libraries will continue developing with all

these efforts.

2.4 Challenges of virtual Library in Nigeria

The challenges and prospects of library in Nigeria especially the

universities are enormous. Most university libraries in Nigeria are in a

deplorable state due to inadequate funding. This manifests in libraries

having few current books, journals and other reading resources, staff

shortages, deterioration of facilities, inadequate equipment and even library

buildings. Such situations are not conducive environment for reading. The

virtual library project has the capacity of solving this problem. In this

period of information explosion, there is the need for university libraries in

Nigeria to use appropriate technology to access the world information in

other to enable universities carryout their traditional functions of teaching,

research and public service effectively and efficient. Virtual library is been

introduced to the library system worldwide. The industrialized world is

creating virtual libraries because of the high value placed on the availability

of information. The increasing acceptance of digital library might be due to

the diverse information that they contain, the options for what they can

include are virtually endless, as well as becoming more and more boundless

as technology advances. University libraries in Nigeria are virtually non-

existent in both rural and urban marginal areas. Where they exist, the

orientation is narrow and book-centered on outdated and inadequate

collections with services undermined by poor funding obsolete and

inadequate collections (Atinmo, 2006). The roles of university libraries as

sources of learning, education, innovation and research, tools for social

development and as a means of communication have becoming seriously

eroded. It was suggested that for university libraries to cater effectively for

the social, cultural and developmental needs of library users in Nigeria,

virtual library has to be put in place. With virtual library, the quality of

academic library collections will be bolstered up, staff and students will be

able to access database for teaching and research. Okebukola (2002) is of

the view that virtual library would improve the quality of teaching, learning

and research in higher institutions through the provision of current

electronic books, journals and other library resources. Ya’u (2003) asserts

that the virtual library has an opportunity to address the pancity of teaching

and research materials in the libraries of higher institution in Nigeria, as

well as giving room for sharing of research outputs with the global

community amongst the institutions and the local researchers. More so, the

implementation of a virtual library implies that libraries will spend more

money on computer hardware and software, licensing, training of librarians

in new technologies especially in the area of text selection, scanning,

verification and indexing of the materials to be digitized as well as

employment of experts with web technology skills to support and manage

them. Copyright holders have to be contacted and rights obtained. Money

is needed to translate content into digital form and to access the resources.

A powerful server is required, supported by specialized software and

personnel. The server must operate all day, and new materials should

constantly be added. Building and sustaining a virtual library requires the

proper technological infrastructure which includes telecommunication,

servers, application platforms and software applications (Gbage, 2007).

Web technology skills are needed to maintain web servers that host locally

digitized materials and other digital resources hosted remotely as well as

maintaining proxy access to restricted resources. Aschroff and Watts (2004)

observed that Nigeria’s has an acute shortage of digital system libraries to

install and manage technology networks. The erratic nature of electric

power supply in Nigeria is a major problem. Digital library cannot exist in

this situation because web servers that host locally digitized contents and

proxy server that provide authentication and remote access to subscribed

electronic resources need to be powered twenty-four hours a day. Another

challenge is the lack of purpose-built library buildings. Ifidon and Okoli

(2002) observed that the first and second generation universities, those

established between 1948 and 1970, and 1971 and 1979 respectively have

completed their library buildings while the situation of the third generation

universities i.e. those established between 1980 and 1983 is very bad. Also,

difficulties are always encountered while downloading or printing.

Everything is not available in digital format. There are restrictions, which

vary from vendor to vendor, on how the product can be used.

2.5 Conceptual Issues

 A library is an organized collection of items which may be in form of

books, journals, videos, CD-ROM etc, along with the services required to

make them available to a given user group or groups. It can also be referred

to as a place to get information and to get help information. The “place”

can be physical, virtual/digital or a combination of both. The virtual library

can be referred to as a child of necessity arising from the need to use

technologies in accessing the world information. There is a need to access

information globally through the internet because we are now in the period

of information explosion. In order for the universities in the world in

general and Nigeria in particular to function effectively and efficiently, it is

necessary to have a digital library system. The term virtual library has been

defined by many different people in many different ways. According to

Riccio (2001), it is a library in which the holdings are found in electronic

stacks without any regard to a physical space or location. It is a

technological way of bringing together the resources of various libraries and

information services in one place, so that users can find what they need

quickly and easily. A virtual library can consist of materials from variety of

separate libraries that are organized in a virtual space using computers and

computer networks. Virtual library is a collection of machine readable

documents made available through an internet site. Digital library can then
be taken to be a computerized library system which provides multiple

accesses to the entire collections of a library by means of electronic media.

Irokwe (2001) defines digital library as a library that harnesses digital

technologies as infrastructure to search, collect, organize, store and

distribute cultural, historical, and scientific information whether it is text,

visual, images or sound. Gapen (1993) defines digital library as the concept

of remote access to the contents and services of library and other

information resources, combining on-site collection of current and heavily

used material in both print and electronic form with an electronic network

which provides access to, and delivery from external worldwide library and

commercial information and knowledge sources. Sherwell (1997) has

identified the following characteristics of digital libraries:

1. There is no corresponding physical formats.

2. Availability of document in electronic formats.

3. Document are not stored in any one location.

4. Accessibility of document from any workstation.

5. Retrieval and deliverance of documents and when required.

6. Availability of effective searching and browsing facilities.

 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 METHODOLOGY AND SYSTEM ANALYSIS

3.1 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

During the course of this research, data was collected from relevant

authorities through the following:

 Interview: This is a face-to-face discussion between the researcher

and the respondent. It is indeed a direct communication involving

the relation of facts and figures.

 Observation: This is the use of visual and visual aids like the eyes to

study, compare, and analyze situations. I used these mediums during

the course of this project work.

3.2 ANALYSIS OF THE EXIXTING SYSTEM

I visited the ICT section of the Federal Polytechnic Bali Library to

investigate the way activities are carried out. I found out that the

Polytechnic Library operates a virtual library which some calls Digital

Library. The virtual library is not very efficient because the processes

involved is carried-out manually. A staff in the ICT department informed

me that they have electronic books or resources stored in CDs. Once a

student wants to read electronic books, the CD is sorted out and it is

uploaded into the computer, where the student now reads. The library does
not have a software that is database-driven that stores these electronic

books, so much so that if a student wants to read a book, he have to search

for the book electronically via the computer. Also, there is no provision of a

student accessing the digital library of the university from a remote, which

is an impediment to learning and research. The volume of electronic

resources available for use in the Federal Polytechnic Bali library include:

1. CD ROM in Agriculture = 10

2. CD General Studies = 29

3. CD ROM Management = 29

4. CD ROM Science = 76

5. Encyclopedia Britannica on CD

3.3 PROBLEM OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM

The problems of the current system is in the very fact that it lacks an

efficient and effective way of allowing students access to electronic

resources. These are some of the weaknesses.

1. Users that want to access electronic books must go to the library before

they can be able to do so.

2. There are no friendly user interface that can enable users to

electronically search for resources using search terms like name of

authors, title of books, ISBN etc.

3. Increase in loans and acquisition due to lack of a suitable software that

can make the use of virtual library interesting.

4. High cost of maintenance of CD-ROM to ensure they are workable.

3.3 OUTPUT DESIGN

Output design is the representation of a design template or database content.

In the output design of the system Digital library is being fixed and

monitored.

3.4 INPUT DESIGN

Input design focused computing the amount of input required controlling

the errors, avoiding delay, avoiding extra steps and keeping the process

simple. This design provides security and ease of use with retaining the

privacy.
 CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

This chapter takes into account the way the new system is designed and its

process description. It embraces also the way new system files are

designed, their data flow diagram, the database structure of the entire

parameters, or input variables to be used in the new system. To be able to

effectively implement this system; Digital Library System (DLS), detailed

and thorough study was carried out on the operations of the ICT of the

FUTO library and an appropriate design of a Digital Library system for the

FUTO library was generated.

4.1 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The program is designed in such a way that it would not be difficult to

implement. A description on how the program was designed will help you

the user to run the program effectively. Below is how the program was

designed in module.

4.1.1 Administration

A dedicated staff takes care of the administration of the Digital Library

System. These staffs are saddled with the responsibility of doing the

following (sub moduled):

1. Student Registration.
 2. Staff Regulation.

3. Uploading of Electronic Resources.

4. Archiving of obsolete electronic books.

The administrators have their password which will enable them gain access

to the operations to be carried out as mentioned above.

4.1.2 Search

This is one of the modules that will be made available to student. In this

module student will be able to search for resources using the DLS. The

search could either be carried out by:

1. Title of book or

2. Name of the author.

Before a student gains access to this electronic material, he or she needs to

register with the ICT center of the library. DLS immediately generates his

unique identity pin upon the completion of his/her registration process.

Archive In this module, obsolete electronic resources are found here. The

student also have access to the module because the student may want to

read old books in electronic format he/she can go to the module and execute

the search command using:

1. Title of book or

2. Name of the author.

Only the administrative staff can determine which electronic resource is

obsolete. An administration staff may decide to recall an obsolete book into

the current books available.

4.1.4 Exit

This module provides a way out of the DLS. After every transaction, the

exit button is used to exit the DLS environment.

4.2 INPUT/OUTPUT DESIGN OF DATABASE

A sample of the input/output design of the database will be shown here. It

is a show below.

4.2.1 Database Files

This section contains the list of database files and what each database file

contain.

Fig 2: Admin Login File

File Name Data Type Width Description

Fig 3: Student Registration File

File Name Database Width Description

Surname NVAR Character 20 Surname

Other Names NVAR Character 30 Other names

DOB Int 12 DOB

Student Reg. No. Int 30

Year Admitted int 20

Course of Study Int 50

Department NVAR Character 30

School/Faculty NVAR Character 100

FIG 4: STAFF REGISTRATION FILE

File Name Database Width Description

Surname NVAR Character 20 Surname

Other Names NVAR Character 30 Other Names

DOB Int 12 DOB

Staff No. int 12 Staff No.

Year Admitted int 15 Year Admitted

Course of Study Int 10 Course of Study

Department NVAR Character 30 Department

School/Faculty NVAR Character 40 School/Faculty

FIG 5: UPLOADING FILE

File Name Database Width Description

Title NVAR Character 100 Title

Author NVAR Character 50 Author

Subject NVAR Character 70 Subject

Publisher NVAR Character 40 Publisher

Year of Pub int 10 Year of Pub

ISBN int 20 ISBN

Faculty/School NVAR Character 50 Faculty/School

Department NVAR Character 35 Department

4.2.2 Description of Database File

1. Doming Login: This allows an administrative personnel access to the

system to carryout student registration, staff registration and also

uploads of electronic resources. These duties are specifically meant

for the admin staff.

2. Student Registration File: This holds information about registered

students that makes use of the Digital Library.

 3. Staff Registration File: Contains records about registered staff who

makes use of the Digital Library.

4. Uploading File: This is where the electronic resources are uploaded

and stored in the database which would be made available to readers.

4.3 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

This system - Digital Library System contains an updateable database with

fields, holding information that can be used to locate a resource in the

Digital Library. The system was implemented using ASP.NET on

Windows 7 operating system. When executed, it displays a splash screen

which loads all other screen and then displays the home page screen on. The

home page screen contains four major module which are the Admin,

Search, Archive and Exit while the Admin module contain Sub-module

which are Student registration, Staff registration and Upload. Each of them

will lead you to its database when clicked and manipulated.

4.4 CHOICE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

There are numbers of programming languages available that will permit a

programmer to write instructions to control the Digital Library. In

developing an application package, the development of database has given

programmers better opportunity to manage database particularly in

microcomputer whose capacity has been enhanced greatly. Database

management system is a program that gives users access to a collection of

information stored in the database. Hence, in developing this package, I

chose Php, Ajax, Css and MySQL server. The major reason is that it is

efficient in managing information given to it. In collaboration with

Microsoft Structured Query Language alongside MS-SQL are as follows:

1. User friendliness capabilities.

2. Multi file handling system.

3. Flexibility.

4. Data storage capability.

4.5 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT

Hardware requirement:

1. A Pentium IV and above computer.

2. A VGA (Video Graphic Adapter).

 3. A RAM size of IGHZ and above.

4. Hard disk capacity of 40GB and above with 1.00 GHZ and above

processor speed.

5. A printer that is capable of supporting different fonts and character

size.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT

1. Dreamweaver Cs4 environment.

2. Microsoft Structured Query Language (MS-SQL) 2005.

4.6 USER GUIDE ON RUNNING THE PROGRAM

The program was tested and runned separately during the design time and

then the whole forms were connected. The program was compiled and

runned.

4.7 PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION

The program documentation involves statement of the sequence of the

program, testing, running and output. Since proper documentation helps the

programmer to be able to affect future maintenance on the system, it’s wise

to document the work. This program-digital library system has been

subjected to some tests and has proven effective. The test reveals bugs,

which has been fixed. The process is quite a lengthy and expensive process

but when carefully followed yields dramatic results. A careful and

thoroughly designed Digital Library System in the design stage helps

minimize error during the time of testing and running. It is a good practice

to test each component of a program as it is produced as well as testing the

complete program.

4.8 PROGRAM INSTALLATION

The program documented has been tested and it is password protected to

prevent unauthorized usage. We now carryout change over from the old

system to the new system by using a central computer that houses the

database and from where a student or staff can access electronic materials.

Digital Library System is web-based. A trained personnel should be

employed to handle the new system as well as maintain it during hardware

installation, materials that are durable and efficient should be used.

TITLE

AUTHOR

SUBJECT

PUBLISHER

YEAR OF PUB

ISBN

FACULTY/SCHOOL

DEPARTMENT
FIG 1: SAMPLE OF INPUT/OUTPUT DATABASE
CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 SUMMARY

The investigation and analysis of the present system was conducted

and the problems associated with the old method of accessing electronic

resources were discovered. The new system was designed and

implemented. It took care of the problems identified during investigation.

The implementation stage was successful and it was implemented using

ASP.Net on Windows 7 Starter Operating System. Some sample output

hardcopies obtained will be attached as appendix.

The project was organized into five chapters namely:

1. Introduction which gives an overview of the project.

2. Literature review which exposes the author to a lot of related sources

and research carried-out by the people.

3. Investigation and analysis which x-rays thoroughly the old system,

hence noting the in capabilities.

4. The design and implementation of the new system under which

results were obtained.

5. While the project ended with conclusion and recommendation with

some references.
5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

It is my recommendations to tertiary institutions especially the

Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to fully implement this

system as this will not only boost the efficiency of our library services but

will also have a good boost on the corporate image of the institution and the

quality of books available to student, thus placing the institution in a

leading position in Nigeria. Also, I recommend that the FUTO library

should ensure that books are made available in electronic format as it is in

the hardcopies.

5.3 CONCLUSION

Libraries, information retrieval system in a digital format, and human-

computer interfaces are very paramount in this computer age. Digital

libraries have exploded the scene-numerous research and practical effort

and large resources are expanded on Digital Libraries research and practice.

The ultimate evaluation of digital libraries will be in relation to the

transformation of their content, the same as of evaluation of libraries

throughout history. Digital Libraries provide for an interaction among

people, human knowledge, organizations and technology. A presently

digital library is transforming research, education, learning and living.

Hence, I look forward to the time when digital library will move to the next

level in Nigeria, where it will be a conglomerate of electronic resources

made available through the use of Digital Library. A situation where digital

resources will be made available in Nigeria through a global network where

collections are created, stored at one library and made available to others

through an agreement about the requirements for systems architecture,

metadata, indexing and retrieval. The development and adoption of

common standards will require significant additional effort and exploration.

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