e-Granthalaya is a library management software facilitating automation of in-house activities of library as well as member services. This web-based and cloud-ready application is used online by the member libraries for data entry, return of issues and other key member services. The Software is hosted on NIC Cloud as SaaS model in cluster mode with centralized database for group of libraries. Libraries are social institutions that play a vital role in the over-all development of a society. Libraries form the major source of information services to the citizens. In the modern education system, libraries have become an integral aspect to support learning and research activities. Currently, almost all of the government organizations have their library, which functions as the resource centre for improving efficiency of employees’ duty. It is estimated that, out of over a lakh libraries in our country, only few are fully automated. Most of the libraries are either partially automated or yet to start the automation process. National Informatics Centre (NIC) has thus taken an important step to computerize government libraries by developing e-Granthalaya software and implementing nation-wide . This helps the citizens to access library resources in public domain using the power of latest technologies. E-GRANTHALAYA PROJECT Under the e-Granthalaya project of NIC, the following two applications were developed:
- E-GRANTHALAYA
e-Granthalaya is an integrated library management software, which has been implemented in 4500 libraries successfully.
- EGLIBNET
Union catalog of government libraries hosted on NIC Cloud and accessible at http://eglibnet.gov.in -In this, over 54.41 Lakh copy catalogs of 558+ Government Libraries are hosted. e-Granthalaya is a Library Management Software that facilitates automation of in-house activities of the library as well as member services. The table in Fig-1 shows the release of various versions of the software so far. The Current version of software, e-Granthalaya Ver.4.0 - is a web-based, cloud ready application and is used online by the member libraries for data entry, issue-return and other member services. e-Granthalaya Ver.4.0 is hosted on NIC Cloud as SaaS model in cluster mode with centralized database for group of libraries. Advantages of this version are; non-requirement of installation of the application locally and maintenance free at user end as both the application as well as database are hosted on NIC Cloud. OPEN API INTEGRATED RFID ISBN Downloader News API ILL API KEY MODULES Database Administration Library Administration Master Data Books Acquisition Books Cataloging Circulation Serials Management Micro-Document Manager Library Budget Staff Search OPAC STANDARDS COMPLIANCE MARC21 AACR2 UNICODE SRU/ SRW Z39.50 NCIP / SIP2 for RFID Barcode Smart Card E-Books viewer XML based web services W3C Standards TECHNOLOGY AND ARCHITECTURE Originally, e-Granthalaya was developed using proprietory technologies, however, keeping in view of the usefulness, economy and popularity of Open Sffource technology, efforts are being made to migrate the application to Open Source in phased manner. In the first phase, the back-end database of the application has been migrated from MS SQL Server to PostgreSQL – an Open Source DBMS running at LINUX platform. The front-end of the application will also be migrated to open source platform in the near future. Presently, the front end of the application is developed in ASP.NET 4.0 and running in Windows environment over .NET Framework 4.0. TECHNOLOGY USED Front-End in ASP.NET 4.0 (Front end can connect to any type of DBMS – PostgreSQL/ SQL Server) Back-end in PostgreSQL 9.3/ 9.4 with auto backup implementation Interface is based on latest www technology such as CSS/ JavaScript/ JQuery with AJAX enabled controls, etc. CLOUD RESOURCES Two web servers (Windows VM) with Load Balancer (LB) Two database servers (LINUX VMs) – RHL One file server (Windows) STATUS Four versions have been released during the last 15 years Software has been implemented successfully in 4,500 libraries 154 Training programs conducted in the country, trained over 4000 librarians 820 Libraries are on Cloud, generated 42 Lakh holdings record belonging to 26 lakh books catalog records In Union Catalog – 54 lakh catalog records generated which belong to 551 libraries, accessible in public domain with Inter-Library Loan API STRENGTH OF THE APPLICATION Government ownership Product stability as four versions have been released during last 15 years Standard tool for library automation Built-in data migration service from old version to new version Training and technical support by professionals First cloud based implementation in the Country Shared cataloging Union Catalog as a by-product Most used application for library automation Roll out services available from NIC/ NICSI empanelled agencies SUMMARY With the passage of time, e-Granthalaya has become a valuable service from NIC for Government libraries. With the adoption of e-Granthalaya in government libraries, a network of automated libraries may be enabled to develop a well an integrated “single window access system” in the Country, another valuable service from National Informatics Centre.