Winds of Change - Centar za ljudska prava Univerziteta u Sarajevu ...

All of the plans above incorporate the bare minimum of equipment: a desk, a chair, computer,
phone/fax, file cabinets and shelves. Your computer will need an internet connection,
preferably one that does not interfere with the regular telephone usage of the organisation.
Minimum Software
The librarian will need general office software, in addition to more specialised programmes
for organising the collection and keeping track of users. The software and packages the
librarian chooses should be suitable for cataloguing, classification, indexing and generating
bibliographies.
Bibliography, Integrated Library Software & Research Tools
On the market there are hundreds of software packages available 9 . Those recommended here
are just a selection of the software used and tested in small libraries. Before purchasing the
librarian may wish to consult the local, national or university library.
There are two kinds of software used in libraries: bibliographic software and integrated library
software (ILS). Bibliographic software (for example, Refernce Manager) is primarily intended
for use by authors creating bibliographies while working on an article or book. Some
libraries, however, use it to create bibliographies of special collections (dissertations, press
clippings, etc.). But, because there is no limit on the number of records it can hold, it can also
be used to catalogue all the materials in a library. Bibliographic software has three basic
functions: cataloguing (describing the materials), searching the catalogue and generating
bibliographies. Note that, while bibliographic software can be used in small libraries, it is not
a completely adequate substitute for ILS, which includes many more features.
In addition to basic cataloguing, ILS also allows for registering users, maintaining an online
catalogue, keeping track of inventory, tracking borrowing, generating reports (e.g. usage,
shelving plans, various statistics, etc.), and bar code support – in other words it automates
every major library process. This is why ILS is more than ten times more expensive than
bibliographic software.
9 Please note that neither the Human Rights Centre at the University of Sarajevo nor the Center for Victims of
Torture is connected with any of the companies whose products are mentioned here. The only reason for their
inclusion in this text is their usability and easiness of use.
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