State of Art Library Software (SOUL)

Abstract

The SOUL is state-of-the-art library automation software designed and developed by the INFLIBNET. It is user-friendly software developed to work under client-server environment. Although looking at the name of the software, one may think that it is meant for University libraries only, but in fact it is flexible enough to be used for automating any type or size of library in India. While designing this software, the international standards, bibliographic formats, networking protocols, and typical functions of all types and sizes of libraries, particularly at university level, have been taken into account. The functions have been grouped into six categories, looking into the functional divisions of Indian University libraries. At present SOUL uses RDBMS on Windows N.T. operating system as back end to store and retrieve the data. However, keeping in view the trends in IT towards Linux operating system, efforts are under way also to provide SOUL to work on Linux platform. The inputs received from expert team consisting of practicing librarians and the feedbacks received from users of our earlier software, ILMS, have given a strong base for designing this software. SOUL is near total solution offered by INFLIBNET to Indian libraries. It puts library staff at ease in exploring all the functions to their advantages with the help of professionally prepared manual.