ILib

The UP Integrated Library System (iLib) is a web-based integrated library system using Open Source technologies to cater to the specific needs of Diliman’s 33 unit libraries. It was deployed last 09 June 2007 for pilot testing in the Diliman libraries and became fully operational last 11 February 2008. As compared with previous library systems implemented in the different library units, this system integrates all library processes, is portable and configurable, accessible anytime and anywhere, more reliable and secure, more manageable, less data redundancy and more consistent, more user-friendly and can be remotely managed.

To design and develop a distributed library information system using open source tools and applications for UP Diliman, two committees were created by then Chancellor Emerlinda Roman on 29 June 2004. The project, known as iLib, has an Advisory Committee chaired by then VCAA Amelia P. Guevara, and a Technical Committee chaired by Director Rommel P. Feria.

Operating on a budget of Php 791,000 for 2004, the Committee started developing the iLib on 15 July 2004 and was implemented in June 2005. Pertinent needs and requirements of the UP Diliman offices were gathered through the iLib Development Project Survey. Some features expected of the iLib are the capacity to make inventory and periodical indexing, including newspapers.

The iLib has six application modules with a Web-based program language and Java-based browsers, as follows: circulation, cataloging, Web OPAC, serials, acquisitions and administration. As such, the iLib can run on any platform and can be accessed anywhere.

The system is centralized in the Main Library server and mirrored to eight clusters as follows: 1) Business Administration (server site), Economics, Law, Asian Center, Institute of Islamic Studies; 2) Engineering (server site), Architecture, Statistics, NCTS, Human Kinetics, AIT; 3) Mass Communication (server site), Music, Center for Women Studies, Social Work and Community Development; 4) Public Administration (server site), Urban and Regional Planning, Institute of Small Scale Industries, Center for Integrative and Development Studies, Film Institute; 5) Science (server site), Marine Science, Geological Studies, Engineering Satellite, Technology Management, Mathematics; 6) Fine Arts (server site), NISMED, Population, Third World Studies, Archaeological Studies, Arts and Letters, International Studies, Vargas Museum, Architecture; 7) Main Library (server site), Education, Home Economics; 8) UP Integrated School; 9) UP Extension Pampanga.

With this clustered structure, the whole system will not be down if one server is down. Transactions will also be synchronized between local cluster servers and the central server. Some innovations of the iLib are: receipts for library transactions; new acquisitions list and statistics of holdings in real time; user classification and privileges.

This system requires all members of the University to have an activated UP Webmail account to enable them to access their respective library account.

Source: http://uplibrarybulletin.wordpress.com/category/automation-of-libraries/up-ilib/