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SLIM21 AND KOHA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Baban Kumbhar Mrs.Minakshi Baban Kumbhar

Librarian, Rector (Women’s Hostel)

E-mail:kumbharbn@gmail.com E-Mail:minakshibkumbhar@gmail.com

Rayat Shikshan Sanstha’s

Dada Patil Mahavidyalaya, Karjat, Dist Ahmednagar

Abstract

The paper deals with comparative study of SLIM21 and KOHA. SLIM 21 is Multi-user, multi-

tasking integrated library management software working either on a single machine or in a

client-server multi-platform environment. Koha is the first open-source Integrated Library

System (ILS). Koha includes modules for circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, serials, reserves,

patron management, and branch relationships.

Keywords: SLIM21, KOHA, Library software.

Introduction

Software package is the most crucial for the success of library automation as it has many

implications for a library is operations services staff and users. The success of library automation

depends largely on the selection of right software and its effective implementation. A wide

variety of library software packages are available in the market. Selection of an appropriate

package suited to a particular library and its intelligent implementation are challenging computer

task in library automation process. Therefore libraries should evaluate and compare all the

available software packages carefully in order to select the best one that can match both the

priority requirements and available financial resources.

Need of the Study

Today’s Libraries are hybrid libraries. Resources are available in print format and digital format

to provide quality services to the user’s efficient administration of the library. Automation of the

library is very essential. Library software the main part of the library automation, hence the

selection of the library software is very important. SLIM21 software is available commercially.

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Some Open Source Software (OSS) packages are available on Internet. KOHA is Open source

software for library information management.

Review of Literature

Two years on: Koha 3.0 in use at the CAMLIS library, Royal London Homeopathic Hospital Gerhard

Bissels, and Andrea Chandler, The purpose of this paper is to describe the further development of the

Koha 3.0 library management system (LMS) and the involvement of external software consultants at the

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Library and Information Service (CAMLIS), Royal London

Homoeopathic Hospital.

Software Problems in Library Automation in India A.T. Francis Important software problems

faced by the library professionals in India are analyzed and points out various compatibility and

suitability issues in the selection of library software. The paper also hints that these problems

have affected the progress of computerization of libraries. Up to date and detailed information on

software’s available in India can prevent several issues that may arise in the course of

computerization. An agency/mechanism to continuously evaluate the software’s may be formed

to meet this requirement.

Library Automation in Academic Libraries in India: Problems and Prospects Yogendra Sing

Traces briefly the history of library automation in India. Tries to analyze the various factors that

directly or indirectly affect the progress of library automation such as management issues,

resources available with the libraries, level of skill of staff, availability of suitable software,

geographic location area. Also discusses the areas in which automation has taken place and why.

Role of INFLIBNET has also been discussed. Concludes that thing is changing for the better as

library automation in academic libraries is now being regarded as an urgent need.

Objectives of the study

1. To Study the SLIM21 Library software.

2. To study the KOHA Library Software.

3. To study comparatively SLIM21 and KOHA Library Software’s

Hypothesis

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1. Open Sources Software’s (OSS) for library Management are available.

2. KOHA software users are less.

3. SLIM21 is users are more than KOHA.

Scope of the study

The topic of the research work reflects its scope is to determine and analysis true various

dimensions of SLIM21 and KOHA users in Pune city. It may be desirable to explain have as to

why only two software packages were selected for present study. Researcher is interested to

study SLIM21 because many libraries in Pune city are using SLM21.KOHA is Open Source

Software (OSS) package, available freely but use of this software are less in Pune city.

Research Methodology

Comparative research is a logical extension of descriptive studies. While descriptive studies

focus on a single object / entity/ sample / system, comparative once cover description of more

than one. Here more than one similar systems or samples are compared based on predetermined

parameters that are relevant to the objective / hypothesis. Comparative studies lead to better

understanding of the object of the study.

Colleges and Institutions are using SLIM21 and KOHA Library Automation Software’s

Following chart shows the users of SLIM21 and KOHA open source Library automation

software. There are five Colleges are using KOHA Open Source Software and nine colleges are

using SLIM21 software.

Figure No.1

Who selected library software for your library?

9, 64%

5, 36%

1 2

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Table No.1

Library Software Selection

Sr. No Software Selection by No. of Colleges

1 Library committee 08

2 Principal’s Recommendation 02

3 Librarian 07

4 Any other 0

Table No. 1 gives the information about Library software selection, this table shows that more

57 % Colleges are selecting Library Software by the Library Committee., and 14.28 % Colleges

are selecting Library Software by Principals recommendations and 50% Colleges are selecting

Library software by the Librarian.

Figure No 2

Library Software Selection

Is demonstration facility available?

Table No.2

Availability of demonstration of Library Software

Sr. No Demonstration No. of Libraries Percentage

1 Yes 12 85.71 % 2 No 1 7.14% 3 Not mentioned 1 7.14%

Total 14 100

8

2

71

2

3

Library Software Selection

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Above table shows that 12 (85.71 %) Librarians have got demonstration of Library

software. Against that one (7.14%) Librarian didn’t get the demonstration of library

software, and one librarian (7.14%) not responded this question.

Figure No.3

Table No. 3

SLIM21 and KOHA Availability of Demonstration

Sr. No Software Libraries Yes No Not Responded

1 SLIM21 09 100% 0% 0% 2 KOHA 5 60% 20% 20%

Total 14 85.71% 7.14% 7.14%

Above table describes nine (100%) Libraries demonstration is available in SLIM21 Library

software. Against that out of five libraries only three (60%) Libraries have got demonstration in

KOHA Library software.

Is library Software Company providing training to library professionals? Table No.4

Availability of Software Training facility

Sr. No Software Training No of Libraries Percentage 1 Yes 9 64 % 2 No 5 36%

Total 14 100 %

Above table describes nine, (64 %) Librarians got software training against that five (36%) Librarians are not trained.

Demonstration Available,

85.71%

Demonstration Not Mentioned

7.14%

Demonsration Not Available

7.14%

1

2

3

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Figure No. 4

Availability of Software Training facility

Table No.5

SLIM21 and KOHA availability of Training facility

Sr. No Software Libraries Yes No

1 SLIM21 09 88.88% 11.11% 2 KOHA 5 20% 80%

Total 14 64.28% 35,71%

Above table describes eight (88.88%) SLIM21 Librarians are trained and only one

(11.11%) Librarian of SLIM21 software is not trained. On the other side only one (20%)

KOHA Librarian is trained. And four (80%) KOHA Librarian is not trained.

Figure No.5

SLIM21 and KOHA availability of Software Training facility

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

1

2

Series1

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Are software manual / documentation provided by the company?

In the answer of the question, following information got by the Librarians of the concern

Libraries.

Table No.6

Availability of Software Manual

Sr. No Software Manual No. of Libraries Percentage

1 Yes 11 78.57 %

2 No 3 21.43 %

Total 14 100%

Above table expresses, out of 14 colleges 11 (78.57%) colleges are getting software

manual or documentation. And 3 (21.43 %) Colleges are not getting software manual or

documentation.

Figure No.6

SLIM21

KOHA

SLIM21

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 2

Series1

Series2

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Availability of Software Manual

Table No.7 SLIM21 and KOHA Availability of Software manual

Sr. No Software Libraries Yes No

Not Responded 1 SLIM21 09 100% 0 0 2 KOHA 5 60% 20% 20%

Total 14 85.71 7.14`% 7.14%1 Above table explains that SLIM21 Nine Librarians (100%) availability of software

manual. Against that KOHA three (60%) Librarian’s availability of software manual and

one Librarian (20%) don’t have software manual. also one Librarian not responded the

question.

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

1 2

Series1

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What about maintenance and support facility for Library software? Table No.8

Maintenance and support facility for Library software

Sr. No Maintenance and Support No. of Libraries Percentage

1 Yes 12 85.72% 2 No 02 14.28%

Total 14 100%

Above table explains that twelve libraries (85.72%) are getting Maintenance and support

facility for Library software. and two (14.28%) Libraries are not getting maintenance and

support facility for Library software.

Table No.9 SLIM21 and KOHA Maintenance and support facility

Sr. No Software TOTAL

Libraries Yes No Not Responded

1 SLIM21 09 100% 0% 0% 2 KOHA 5 40% 40% 20%

Total 14 140% 40% 20%

Above table explains that SLIM21 Nine Librarians (100%) availability of maintenance

and support facility for Library software. Against that KOHA three (60%) Librarian’s

availability of Maintenance and support facility for Library software and one Librarian

(20%) don’t have maintenance and support facility for Library software also one

Librarian not responded the question.

Is your software having multi-script facility? Our Indian literature is available in multi-language.

Table No 10 Availability of multi-language facility

Sr. No Multilanguage No. of Libraries Percentage

1 Yes 13 92.85% 3 No 1 7.15%

Total 14 100%%

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Above table explains that thirteen libraries (92.85%) are having multi-language facility in

the Library Software. and one (7.15%) Library doesn’t having multi-language facility in

the Library Software.

Table No .11 SLIM and KOHA Availability of multi-language facility

Sr. No Software Libraries Yes No Total

percentage 1 SLIM21 09 100% 0% 100% 2 KOHA 5 80% 20% 100%

Total 14 92.85% 7.14% 100%

Above table explains that SLIM21 (100%) libraries are having multi-language facility in

the Library Software. and KOHA (80%) Libraries having multi-language facility and

(20%) Libraries don’t multi-language facility the Library Software.

Are software user group / Forum of software is available?

Table No.12

Availability of User Group

Sr. No Software User Group No. of Libraries Percentage

1 Yes 8 57.14%

2 No 4 28.57%

3 No Response 2 14.28%

Total 14 100%

Above table explains that eight (57.14%) libraries having user group for the Library

Software. And four (28.57%) Library doesn’t having user group for the Library Software.

And two (14.28%) Librarian not responded this question.

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Table No.13

SLIM21 and KOHA availability of Software User Group

Above table explains that SLIM21 (44.44%) libraries are having user group for the Library

Software. SLIM21 (44.44%) libraries don’t having user group for the Library Software. and

SLIM21 (11.11%) libraries not responded this question. KOHA (80%) Libraries having user

group and (20%) Libraries not responded this question.

Findings and Suggestions

1. Only two Private colleges are using KOHA .It indicates that very less private colleges are

using advanced software’s.

2. Three Government Institutes are using KOHA. It indicates that government Institutions are

using advanced software in Libraries.

3. In the selection of Library software Library Committee is playing crucial role.

4. Demonstration of SLIM21 is available to all libraries. But demonstration of KOHA is not

available.

5. SLIM21 provides training facility to the library professionals.

6. KOHA is unable to provide training facility to the library professionals.

7. Manual / Documentation of both software packages are available ,

8. Maintenance and support facility is available in SLIM21 i.e. Annual Maintenance Contract

(AMC)

Sr. No Software Libraries Yes No No Response

Total

1 SLIM21 09 44.44% 44.44% 11.11 100% 2 KOHA 5 80% 0% 20% 100%

Total 14 57.14% 28.57% 14.28% 100%

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9. Maintenance and support facility is available in KOHA by software companies.

10. Software user group is available in both software’s.

11. Continuous development and improvement found in both software’s

12. KOHA more user friendly than SLIME21.

13. All academic Institutes / Colleges can save the money of parent organization by using

KOHA open source software for Library and Information Management.

14. Library software’s KOHA and SLIM21 demonstration is very essential for the

implementation in Libraries.

15. Library Software training is very essential for the all Library staff.

16. Academic Institutions must organize regularly workshops, training programs on Library

software packages.

17. If SLIM21will be available on open source platform, it will be beneficial to all library

professionals.

18. Government bodies like MHRD, UGC, NAAC, AICTE, NBA, DTE, must force to the

Universities, Colleges and Institutions to implement the Open Source Software’s especially

in Libraries.

19. Library and information science education provider i.e. Colleges, Universities, Institutions

should incorporate advanced software’s in the syllabi.

20. Library Software selection Committee / Librarian should select the Library Software which

is available free and advanced.

21. KOHA software consultancy companies should provide AMC.

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CONCLUSION

Software Companies are developing Library software packages for Library Automation; only

few software companies are using advanced technology in Library software Package. KOHA is a

very good library software package for all the libraries.SLIM21 is used by all types’ college

Libraries. If we compare overall performance of SLIM21 and KOHA, KOHA is very good

Software, and SLIM21 is satisfactory and good.

REFERENCES:

1. Kavle R. L (2004) Modern Trends in Library and Information Science (MTLIS) Latur,

Rajarshi Shahu Mahavidyalaya,

2. Moorthy A. L., Rao Laxman N, (2006) Technology Management in Libraries, New Delhi,

Allied Publishers

3. Rama Reddy E, Library Automation Course Material, Hyderabad Center for Distance

Education, University of Hyderabad

4. KOHA: User Manual

5. SLIM21: User Manual

6. www.koha.org

7. http://www.slimpp.com