Online Public Access Catalogue is connected to a computer or LAN network while for Web-Online Public Access Catalogue we required the internet. It is a worldwide search facility available to the user to search for any document.
OPAC helps in linking the library systems available in the local area network while Web-OPAC helps in linking to a wider range with the help of the internet.
Online Public Access Catalogue is a catalog for searching online. It is used in the Library Management System and makes searching for library items easy. With the advancement of technology, OPAC is connected to a circulation system for document search. It also promotes a resource-sharing program and bibliographic search done by author, title, keyword, etc.
The features of the OPAC system are:
Web Online Public Access Catalogue provides the facility of searching recourses as well as can request for material online through Web-OPAC and in return receive e-mail communication regarding overdue materials. Web OPAC also provides the facility of downloading or scanning of content pages of books or journals.
The features of Web OPAC are:
The demand for library management software is increasing day by day due to the advancement of technology. Due to which the demand for OPAC and Web-OPAC search facilities is also increasing in the library management system.
The traditional libraries have taken a back seat and are replaced by the modern libraries based on Bar code system and RFID. Between Bar code system and RFID based library management system, RFID is an advance system due to the use of the latest equipment in it.
With the increase in the Education standards, the demand for digital libraries has increased so that students can access the library items quickly and learn new skills. A Digital Library Management System helps in better acquisition, cataloging, circulating and serial control in the library.
OPAC is an existing aspect of library automation. As it is an online catalog it reflects the database available online with the help of a network while Web-OPAC reflects database worldwide to the user using internet facility.
The benefits of E-catalogue are given below:
Both OPAC and Web-OPAC are used for searching library items, it depends upon the library owner which facility he wants to provide to the user.
