Library Automation the Ingredients for Systems Hardware and Software Interoperability

Abstract

The paper provides an overview of some elements that are necessary for ensuring hardware and software interoperability in library and information systems. It specifically proffers meaning to the term system interoperability and identified the need for interoperability alongside some globally accepted standards and mechanisms that will guarantee system interoperability. Based on this, the paper examined library automation standards such as DCMES, MARC-21, OAI-PMH and Z39.50 standards. Bottlenecks in ensuring operability through standardization were highlighted, the way forward in achieving interoperability among libraries in a library system were also itemized and recommendations were put forward.