Database Management Systems (DBMS) are important. They underpin all the activities of a library management system by providing the basic storage and retrieval technology. The library application software sends data to and receives data from the DBMS which if operating correctly is hardly noticed at all. Yet great claims are made for different types of database and their particular offerings. In order to understand which system is best applicable where one should at least know the basics of what you might be getting – or missing when you choose a Library Management System (LMS).
Early library systems developed their own systems for storing and retrieving records. Geac’s GLIS, IME’s TinLib, BLCMP’s Circo all developed a methods of storing bibliographic records that were peculiar to themselves. By the early eighties, commercial products began to appear that offered advantages to application developers. Library software began to become more than just a fetch and display operation – the complexity of the business rules in all modules of library management software meant that off-loading the efficient storage and retrieval of records to a specialist piece of software became very cost effective.
This book will enrich the reader with the basic knowledge and skills of the functions of a good LMS. It will be especially beneficial for people who are involved in the functioning and management of libraries.