DIGITALIZING ITS PROCESSES, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Library, through the Bedan Information Technology Society (BITS), launched its new and improved Library Monitoring System (LMS) at the CAS library last June 3.
Ms. Jennifer Comabig, Head of the CAS Library, explained how this LMS was intended to help gauge whether or not “the library is essential for students and even the faculty” and track if facilities are still utilized.
“Pansin naman po ng lahat ng students, it takes time po talaga to record an attendance here in the library before. So, by making it faster, we can make sure na hindi na mahaba ‘yung pila sa labas. Mas masu-sure din po natin ‘yung records kasi, gaya sa Microsoft natin. Mabilis siya mag overload. So having that so many information sa system, hindi po kinakaya ng Microsoft since online na lang. So, mas okay po talaga na makabase po tayo talaga ng system na focus lang po dun sa ginagawa dun,” added Stanley Añonuevo, the Technical Support Director of BITS.
Describing how the collaboration between the CAS library and BITS came about to formulate the system, Ms. Comabig shared that discussions took place around January through conversing with Asst. Prof Rosemarie Perreras, MIT, chairperson of Department of Information Technology, and Dion Liwanag, outgoing President of BITS. Following this, a series of meetings ensued between January to June. A week before the unveiling, a successful test run was conducted.
As mentioned by Rev. Fr. Paul M. de Vera, OSB during the launch, the previous monitoring system led to difficulties in tracking the attendance of those who entered the library. “Previously we were using the QR code [and] sometimes the students do not want to scan or fill out the form. At least with this new system, we just have to scan the ID, then we already have their data,” Ms. Comabig added, explaining the efficiency of the new monitoring system.
Hence, as specified by Añonuevo, the new ID scanning system allowed for “quicker and user-friendly transactions for students.” As an additional feature, librarians are equipped with administrator roles and can edit information if needed.
Accordingly, Ms. Rosalinda Robles, the Assistant Coordinator of Libraries, added that information gathered within the LMS is protected per the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
Demonstrating the monitoring system during its launch, students and librarians were asked to proceed to the library entrance. Afterwards, using a barcode scanner, student verification was instantly recognized upon having their IDs scanned. Ms. Robles then assured that all floors of the library would be equipped with the new ID monitoring system.
Pleased with the developments, Rev. Fr. De Vera expressed the possibility of the LMS becoming a highlight during the next PAASCU accreditation. Furthermore, he extended his gratitude to the members and officers of BITS, as well as the librarians for the project’s overall success.