DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB BASED STUDENT
COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter
discusses the background to the study, statement of the problem, objectives of
study, significance of study, scope of study, limitations of study and
operational definition of terms.
1.1 BACKGROUND TO
THE STUDY
Times are fast
changing; we now live in a jet age which is mainly characterized by rapid
changes in technology. It is indeed an age of information explosion.
One of the major
inventions that have driven the world to a fast pace of technological
advancement is the computer. The computer is primarily an electronic
information processor that is rapidly changing the way we acquire, organize,
recall, access, analyze, synthesize and apply information. The effectiveness
with which the information is generated and communicated determines the rate of
progress of a society and the fulfillment of its people. Modern society is
information driven and information today is a universal need.
Moreover, computers
have affected the ways with which people use information. It has changed the
rate of work done, the method for accomplishing the work alongside the
relationship among the people carrying and using the information. However,
computers and libraries are not left out in the utilization of computer to carry
out their day-to-day activities especially as it concerns the amount of
information generated. Libraries have evolved over the years which gave rise to
digital libraries. The idea of the project is to make Federal University of
Technology, Minna; School of Information and Communication Technology in
particular to be part or benefit from this rise of digital libraries.
1.2 STATEMENT OF
THE PROBLEM
There are so many
problems with the current way of operating libraries in Federal University of
Technology, Minna. Some of which are:
1. The users of the library need be physically present
which most times could lead to congestion of the library.
2. Inability for the library resources to be accessed
twenty-four hours per day.
3. The library
resources cannot be concurrently used. It is one at a time.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF
THE STUDY
The proposed system
Web-based Student Collaborative Library has its objectives which it is set out
to achieve. They are as follows:
a) To explore the current process of operating library
in the School of Information and Communication Technology, Federal University
of Technology, Minna.
b) To design and
implement a Digital Library System for the School of Information and
Communication Technology (SICT), Federal University of Technology, Minna
(FUTMinna).
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
In implementing the
objectives of this study, the advantages of a web-based student collaborative
library over the current way of operating library are enormous. Users will be
able to access library resource digitally without the inconveniences of users
carrying books, journals, magazines etc. which could result in rapid wear and
tear of this library resource. Besides, it will afford users the opportunity to
access digital books simultaneously without waiting for the book to be returned
to the library. The system will also help to eliminate some of the routine
manual work prevalent in the current way of operating library in SICT,
FUTMinna.
1.5 SCOPE OF
STUDY
The scope of this
study includes the following:
Ø
Reading and downloading.
Ø
Registration of
books/uploading of digital resources
Ø
Registration of users.
Ø
Comments by users on books.
Ø
Expert advice/answers to
issues/questions which is in the mode of forum.
Ø Database management.
1.6 LIMITATIONS
OF STUDY
The proposed system
will not take into consideration audio and video collections. It is web based
not a stand-alone delivery system. It is strictly limited to the School of
Information and Communication Technology in Federal University of Technology,
Minna. Also, time constraint during the time for this project work is short.
1.7 OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION OF TERMS
§
Web: Often called World Wide Web is a complex
system of interconnected elements i.e. computer devices.
§
Collaboration: Means working with others to do a task or
share ideas.
§ Collaborative learning: is a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn
something together.
Digital: Relating to or using signals or information represented by discrete
values of a physical quantity.
§
Library: A building or room containing collections
of books, periodicals and sometimes films and recorded music for people to
read, borrow or refer to.
§
Digital Library: Is a type of information retrieval system
in which collections are stored in digital format.
§ Information: This
is a collection of facts or data.