This document discusses the application of local area networks (LANs) in libraries. It begins by defining LANs and their key characteristics of short distance coverage and high transmission speeds. It then outlines the main advantages and disadvantages of LANs. The document discusses how LANs can be used in libraries for various functions like acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, and educational and administrative purposes. It also notes constraints to applying LANs in developing country libraries, such as lack of automation, technical expertise, and financial resources. In conclusion, the document emphasizes that while LANs can benefit libraries, their use is still limited in developing world libraries.

1. LAN application in Libraries
Topic of my seminar-

2.  Introduction.
 Advantages and disadvantages of LAN.
 Types of LANs.
 Application of LANs in libraries.
 Constraints in applying LANs in the libraries of
developing country.
 Conclusion.
 References.
Contents-

3. Local Area Networks are concerned with the
interconnection of items of computing equipments,
which are distributed over a localized area. LANs
can be distinguished from other networks because
of their short distance. The total coverage may be
from 1 to 10 km. The data transmission speed of
LAN is much higher than other types of networks.
The error rate in data transmission is slow because
of the shorter distance between the equipments.
Since LANs are within a single building or smaller
area, they are owned by the specific organization.
Introduction-

4.  It permits sharing of expensive hardware.
 LAN improves the productivity, because information
storage processing and retrieval and other
functionally can be improved.
 It provides cost-effective multi-user computer
environment.
 It provide high transmission rate to accommodate the
needs of both user and equipments.
 Error rate is very less because in-built method of
detecting and compensating for systems error is
implied.
Advantages of LANs-

5.  Installation and reconfiguration always requires
technical and skilled manpower.
 Due to sharing of resources, sometime operational
speed may be slow down.
 Insufficient knowledge of network administrator
creates improper authorization and security problems .
Disadvantages of LAN-

6. LANs can be divided into two categories based on
their topology and communication media. According to
topology LANs can take several forms but three core
forms can be identified easily as follows-
1. Star
2. Ring
3. Bus
Types of LANs-

7. Although LAN has been in existence for some time, their
use id fairly recent in the field of libraries. The arrival of
ICT takes a revolutionary change in the field of library.
The following sections will describe how LANs can be
used in a library environment-
q Housekeeping applications-
Library has some housekeeping activities, which are
need to be maintained properly for the well
development of a library. In several LANs have been
used to assist the housekeeping applications or it
would be more correct to say that test projects were
undertaken to experiments on this aspects-
Application of LANs in libraries-

8. Ø Acquisition- The users of the library can directly
send their book orders to the acquisition
department via LAN, and also they can keep a
track of the books received conveniently through
the LAN. These orders could be directed online to
the book seller if a gateway is available to their
network. Once a connection is established between
the finance branch of parent organization and the
library, a correct record off expenditure can be
obtained without delay, which will enable the
proper utilization of funds.

9. Ø Cataloguing- The requirement of a union
catalogue can be eliminated when a LAN is
available since each branch library can have their
own catalogue in site and provide access to other
catalogues via the network. This saves the time of
the users by eliminating the requirements to visit
each branch library in search of books. Further
when cataloguing the material details can be
obtained from the acquisitions department where
most of the bibliographic details are available. The
cataloguing staff will only have to add what is not
there.

10. Ø Circulation- The facility of returning the books at
any branch library within the geographical
coverage of the LAN course be provided in order to
save students time, but of course the books will
have to be delivered to the respective library at the
end of the day. Checking the details of the
borrowers could be easily traced when circulation
data are attached to a network.

11. LANs can be utilized in the library for educational
purpose too. Library can provide an online database
advisory with trained staff for users engaged in remote
database search and secondly they were having plans
to run tutorial classes in online searching
simultaneously in various locations. In this manner
there users will have a better understanding of the
electronic media with which they have to interact in the
library. Staff time and money will be saved by providing
training for a larger group of students simultaneously.
q
Educational services-

12. Installing higher cost of hardware and readers in a
LAN allows sharing of them by a multitude of library
users. This reduces the cost of the purchasing
several of them for a single library. Many of the
libraries have installed multiplatter which is a
CD/ROM LAN allows multiple users to access the
same CD/ROM disc at the same time. Where
software is concerned, several copies have to be
purchased if several computers are using them. But
purchasing a network version of the software to be
installed in the LAN makes things much easier.
q
Resource sharing-

13. The library office could be connected to various other
offices, for instance personal, finance and branches
etc. To avoid wastage of time used to obtain
information manually from different branches, LANs
can be employed to transfer data, with a certain
amount of security to the library office. Using the
concept of electronic mail library staff could be
contacted easily instead of calling for meetings,
further electronic mail facility could be used to
prepare news letters and memos to be circulated
among the library and through a gateway among the
other libraries too…
q
Office administration-

14. ü We have been unable to extract the full benefits of
LANS technology in our libraries, mainly most of our
libraries are not yet automated in its true sense.
ü The absence of qualified professionals in the field
of the library automation.
ü Procuring of electronic data processing
equipments, suitable software and establishing
sophisticated communication links which is
essential for LAN application is very costly. The
financial problems also trouble a lot.
Constraints in applying LANs in libraries-

15. LANs can be defined as the interconnection of
computers and peripherals within a limited
geographical area and they can be distinguished.
Application of LAN in libraries is first introduced in the
American and British libraries. Housekeeping
activities, educational services, resource sharing and
office administration are the major areas in which
LANs can be applied in libraries. Yet this technology is
still not employed in the libraries of developing
countries because of the computer applications are not
yet wide spread to feel the necessity of networking,
because of the lack of technical knowledge of the
librarians and above all because of the lack of financial
Conclusion-

16.  Wijuntunga, Pradeepa. “Local Area Network and
their applications in Libraries”.
 Winfield, Bob. “An introduction to Local Networks”,
Netlink, (1) 4-6.
 Atha, Bhupendra R. “Network”.
References-

17. Thank you