“Koha” Integrated Library Management System Implementation at the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan
The main purpose of this paper is to highlight and explain the practical experience of the Koha integrated library management system installations, data migrations, configurations and integrations with RFID at the University of Agriculture Peshawar Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. The study is the practical experience of the author whiles the implementations of Koha ILMS. Koha is an open source integrated library management system and has all kind of functionalities which are required by any type of library. This will a bench mark for others librarians who which to implement Koha in their libraries The AUP library is the biggest and state of the art library in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. It’s a two stories building with equip modern library facilities. AUP library is the center for intellectual pursuits on campus. The library provides state of the art library information services thousands of users, faculty members, researcher, extension workers, farmers, policymakers, and general public. The Library is one of the best complexes in the University building and located is the center of the campus. The library has a good number of personal computers, latest books on different subject, Thesis and other information mistrials. The collection of the library is approximate 0.15 million.
The Library is considered the center of intellectual resources of the University. The collections solely on Agriculture Science, Natural Science and Social Science. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Library has witnessed a tremendous growth, both in terms of increased size and use of its collection. It receives publications on reciprocal basis from organizations both in Pakistan and abroad.
Need for new ILMS
There were several problems faced due to existing software for routine works of the library and user based services some of the major problems are i.e Lack of webopac module for browser based searching throughout the campus. Lack of good configuring features to set circulation privileges for various type of users and documents. Lacking more features and flexibility related to fine management. Lack in User friendly and non-standard Cataloguing module. Lack of features related to Bar-code and User ID card generations and configurations and Integration with RFID
Installation and testing of Koha
The major challenge was to gain reasonable knowledge of INMAGIC architecture and install KOHA on LINUX.
Ø The Live DVD of koha and Dspace on Ubuntu (LIBSOL) made by the undersigned and available online make the task easier.
ØA testing server was made in order to test the data and all other technical work for the period of one month.
Configurations, Administration and management was done according to the requirement of the software and library.
Thee main finding of this paper is:
1.Koha is an international standard open source software and has those functionalities which can fulfill the library automation need of the all kind of libraries.
2. Other librarians can easily implement Koha in their libraries.
3.The data conversion of INMAGIC to koha will be help other librarian to implement koha in their libraries
Integration with RFID is now easy for those who already use koha in their librari
Implications/Conclusions
1.This paper will help librarians to implement Koha in a practical way to their libraries.
2.The author implemented Koha at the AUP Library within six months, and the author used migrated data from Computerized Documentation System/Integrated Set of Information System to MARC-21 for books .
3.This practice will influence librarians to learn Koha and implement it in their libraries
4.libraries might be able to plan a similar project with some of the migration outsourced. The Author would be glad to talk to libraries considering migrating to Koha across the country
Koha Integration with RFID
The koha library data base was integrated with RFID by making another custom built software. The koha was successfully integrated with RFID system and the circulation services is now being functional. This is the second example in Pakistan at any Public Sector University after the University of Malakand.
The data was successfully migrated from the old LIS In Magic to koha. After converting the data to csv format and excel finally the Marc edit tools were used to converted the data to MARC format. After that the data was successfully migrated to koha ILS. The staff was trained accordingly. Please visit the following link for further details: http://121.52.146.89/