Software is defined as a set of related computer programs (stored set of instructions) that governs the operation of computer system and makes the hardware run. The software for a computer system may be classified as system software (e.g. Operating System) and application software. System software is responsible for the overall management of the computer resources whereas application software is designed to perform certain tasks and thereby make computers able to perform different predefined jobs. Library automation software, as application software, performs day-to-day library activities through human interventions. Library automation packages are developed in view of the two most essential activities of any library – housekeeping and information retrieval.

1. SOUL: LIBRARY
AUTOMATION
SOFTWARE
Dr.P.PADMA
Assistant Professor

2. INTRODUCTION
• Software is defined as a set of related computer programs (stored set of
instructions) that governs the operation of computer system and makes the
hardware run. The software for a computer system may be classified as
system software (e.g. Operating System) and application software. System
software is responsible for the overall management of the computer
resources whereas application software is designed to perform certain
tasks and thereby make computers able to perform different predefined
jobs. Library automation software, as application software, performs day-
to-day library activities through human interventions. Library automation
packages are developed in view of the two most essential activities of any
library – housekeeping and information retrieval.

3. LIBRARY
AUTOMATION
Library automation is the general term that is
used when information communications,
technologies (ICT) are used to replace
manual systems in the library. Modernization
of library housekeeping operations mainly by
computerization is known as 'Library
Automation'

4. LIBRARY AUTOMATION SOFTWARE
• The software that is used to
automate a library is called as
library automation software. The
software may either commercial
or open source.

5. SOUL
• Software for University Libraries (SOUL) is an Integrated Library
Management Software (ILMS). It is developed by the University
Grants Commission’s INFLIBNET centre located at Ahmedabad.
Although it was primarily developed for fulfilling the requirements of
college and university libraries, it can be used by all types of academic
libraries. It works under client -server environment. The lattest version
of this software is compliant to all popular international standards for
bibliographic description, protocols relating to networking and
circulation. While checking its history, its first version. SOUL 1.0
was released during CALIBER in 2000. Its latest version SOUL 2.0
was released in 2009.
• SOUL is acquired through payment. If any institution acquires it after
due payment, INFLIBNET may be installed on the desired system and
sufficient training on its operations is also provided.

6. Features of SOUL
• Windows based user-friendly software, well-designed screens, and logically arranged functions with extensive
help messages.
• Based on client server architecture allowing scalability to the users.
• Uses RDBMS to organize and query the data
• Does not need extensive training to use.
• Specially designed to work in large academic libraries as it is capable of handling large records.
• Multi-user and multi-lingual software
• Supports internationally known standards such as CCF, MARC 21 and AACR2 etc.
• Provides export and import facility and adhere to ISO 2709 format
• Versatile OPAC and very user-friendly with all in-built options
• OPAC accessible aver the web
• Provides comprehensive list of reports, master databases and authority files
• Provides facility to create, view and print records or other regional languages of India
• Functionally it covers every conceivable operation of a university library
• Affordable cost
• Fully tested at a number of university libraries and critically evaluated by a team of experts and practicing
librarians.

7. Procurement and Installation
Procurement
• For procuring SOUL , one can approach Information and Libraries Network Centre(INFLIBNET) .Ahmedabad. There are two
version available, that is Limited and Full version. Limited version is useful for less that 50,00 books.
Installation
• After purchasing SOUL from INFLIBNET, it provides on-site installation support and data conversion support on payment
basis. Installation of SOUL 2.0 has been divided in to following parts
• 1.Database installation
• 2.Application Installation
• 3.Utility Installation
The basic technological requirement for using SOUL are as follows.
• Computer processor :Pentium Iv or higher version
• Minimum processing speed:1.6 GHz
• Minimum RAM:512 MB
• Hard disk space required: Minimum 400 MB
• Windows based operating system like XP or vista or 2003 0r 2008 server

8. Modules
• The SOUL 2.0 consists of the following modules. Each module has further
• been divided into sub modules to cater to its functional requirements:
• Acquisition
• Catalogue
• Circulation
• OPAC
• Serial Control
• Administration
• The in-built network feature of the software will allow multiple libraries of the same university to function together as well
as access to the distributed databases installed at various university libraries and union catalogue mounted at INFLIBNET
using VSAT network

9. Acquisition
The module enables library staff to handle all the major functions,
such as
• Suggestions management;
• Order processing, cancellation and reminders;
• Receipt, Payment and budgetary control;
• Master files such as currency, vendors, publishers etc.;
• Reports.

10. Catalogue
The strong features of catalogue module are:
• allows cataloguer to create their own templates for data entry of different library
resources;
• different templates for leaders and fixed fields of MARC21;
• allows user-generated customized reports;
• facilitates authority database of person name, corporate body, subject headings and series
name;
• supports copy cataloguing in MARC21 format by using ISO-2709 standard;
• master database of publishers;
• multi-lingual database by using Unicode Character set;
• Supports full MARC 21 bibliographic format.

11. Circulation
This module takes care of all possible functions of circulation. Sufficient care has been taken in designing this
module starting from membership management, maintenance and status of library items, transaction, ILL, overdue
charges, renewals & reminders, search status and report generation according to the status of the items. The
circulation module is fully compliant with the NISO Circulation and Interchange Protocol (NCIP) version 2.0 for
299 electronic surveillance and RFID based transaction of the items. Major functions of the circulation module:
• Membership;
• Transaction;
• Inter-library loan;
• Overdue charges;
• Reminder;
• Search status;
• Maintenance of the items such as binding, lost, replace, missing, withdrawal, etc.;
• Report generation based on the various requirements.

12. On-line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
• One of the major attractions of SOUL is its robust On-line Public Access
Catalogue (OPAC). The OPAC has simple and advanced search facility with the
minimum information of the item by using author, title, corporate body,
conference name, subject headings, keywords, class number, series name,
accession number or combination of any of two or more information regarding
the item. Major functions provided in the module are:
• Simple Search;
• Boolean Search;
• Advanced Boolean Search;
• Displaying and downloading of records in MS Excel, PDF or MARCXML;
• Search support for the items that are in the acquisition process in the library.

13. Serial Control
Managing serials is the most complicated job for a library. The module keeps track of serials
in the library effectively and efficiently. The serial control module is developed based on the
KARDEX system and has following functions built into it:
• suggestions;
• master databases;
• subscriptions;
• check-in of individual issues of journals;
• payment, reminder, binding, and title history;
• export / import by using ISO 2709 bibliographic exchange format;
• article indexing of journal/book articles;
• cataloguing of electronic journals;
• keeps track of the history changes of the journals.

14. Administration
• In addition to the features available in the Administration Module of the SOUL 1.0, some
more features have been added to the administration module of the SOUL 2.0. With the
inputs from the various SOUL users and requirements of the library staff and their user
rights. The module has been divided into three major sections for accommodating the
new features; those are User management, System Parameters and Masters. These
Administration module include following features:
• grouping of users based on the policy;
• transactional rights over the systems;
• transaction level security to users;
• various configuration settings such as labels, e-mail and other parameters related to the
software use;
• Common master databases being used in modules.

15. Conclusion
• Library profession is very important in the current era. Users, management
of institution, government authority, NAAC, Staff, etc. anybody can ask
information of library day to day work. All types of information like
acquisition of books, cataloguing of reading materials, circulation of
reading materials, serial control, etc. is essential for the future
development. In the SOUL2.0 integrated library management software
various reports are available in each module. In the software
customization of reports is good option is available for the libraries for
their requirements